Children are at the heart of the global food crisis
As the world emerges from the COVID-19 global pandemic, we face another global crisis that is decimating millions of people, including children. The global food crisis is the largest in modern history. Almost 350 million people around the world are experiencing the most extreme form of hunger right now. Children are at the heart of these frightening statistics, including hidden hunger which is a micronutrient malnutrition that has been identified as a major public health issue:
149.2 million children under 5 years of age are stunted.
45.4 million children are wasted.
2 billion people are affected by hidden hunger, including 1 in 2 prehidden-school age children and 2 in 3 women of reproductive age.
45% of all child deaths worldwide are from causes related to undernutrition. This translates to 3.1 million children each year.
66 million primary school-age children attend classes hungry in the Global South.
Food scarcity and an absence of nutritious food causes a variety of setbacks to children than can derail their path out of poverty and prevent them from thriving.
The global food crisis has pushed 153 million children into acute food insecurity.
World Vision is increasingly concerned at the severity of impact these crisis are having on children not only on their rights but also on their own lives.
As such, World Vision is launching a new global campaign to tackle child hunger and malnutrition to fulfil our vision of a world where every child, no matter where they live and who they are, is able to access and afford nourishing food, produced with respect for children and planet, so they can survive and thrive, now and in the future, even amidst situations of crisis.
A whole of World Vision Global Campaign
Our global campaign is a scaling up of both our development and humanitarian actions to give children a chance to survive and thrive. It will complement existing efforts while focusing on a set of strategic objectives that aim at reaching the most vulnerable girls and boys for improved nourishment and access to affordable and sufficient nutritious food. Further, for children – no matter where they live and who they are –to be better protected due to responsible and sustainable food production, distribution, promotion and consumption practices.
We will work with Governments, multilateral agencies, civil society partners, particularly faith based organisations and private sector to increase accountability, develop and/or consolidate policies and include children in the process.
A whole of World Vision Global Campaign
Our global campaign is a scaling up of both our development and humanitarian actions to give children a chance to survive and thrive. It will complement existing efforts while focusing on a set of strategic objectives that aim at reaching the most vulnerable girls and boys for improved nourishment and access to affordable and sufficient nutritious food. Further, for children – no matter where they live and who they are –to be better protected due to responsible and sustainable food production, distribution, promotion and consumption practices.
We will work with Governments, multilateral agencies, civil society partners, particularly faith based organisations and private sector to increase accountability, develop and/or consolidate policies and include children in the process.
The high-level event
The high-level event represents the global launch of our campaign in the context of the 2023 SDG Summit (the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development under the auspices of the UN General Assembly) when the international community will be taking stock of the SDGs implementation and will come together to commit to accelerating implementation.
At midway point of the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs, it is a decisive moment to join in ensuring commitments to deliver on the promise of the SDGs for people and planet; and most important to children and young people as a group traditionally left behind.”