“The World Food Summit: five years later” which ended on 13 June 2002, called for the establishment of an International Alliance Against Hunger in order to accelerate the efforts to reduce hunger in the world. It also adopted unanimously a Declaration asking the international community to fulfill their commitment of reducing to 400 millions the number of hungry people by year 2015. This commitment, with a rather slow fulfillment, was endorsed in the first World Food Summit in 1996, a world meeting that has gathered more leaders than ever before to discuss the hunger and food security problems. The International Alliance against Hunger (IAAH), proposed in the World Food Summit: five years later, must now become operational and rely in national alliances that will lead this fight. Up to now, initiatives have been taken or are being seriously considered in nearly 78 countries of the world to create these National Alliances against Hunger. This spirit of cooperation must be extended to others and maintained if the goal set of reducing by half the number of hungry people by 2015, is to be reached. Even though the advances have been scarce in the last decade, it is still possible to meet the goal. Origin of the International Alliance against Hunger On 16 October 2001, at World Food Day, Johannes Rau, President of the Federal Republic of Germany, appealed for an International Alliance against Hunger to fight hunger and poverty. On 10 December 2001, FAO Director-General informed the Chiefs of State and FAO Member States of the proposal for having this International Alliance against Hunger as a result of the World Food Summit: five years later. The functions of the International Alliance against Hunger The purpose of the International Alliance against Hunger is to have regional and national representations. Regional Alliances
National Alliances What is a National Alliance? A National Alliance gathers a wide range of institutions of a country to carry out a strong movement in favour of the hungry and to allow changes in policies at national and local level. Even though each alliance should be leading to recovery and action, there is no unique way to do it. Each National Alliance must define its own specific initiatives and outlines, its own strategy to fight against hunger. Who may be part of a National Alliance? A National Alliance joins existent institutions of the public sector and private sector groups or organizations engaged in the fight against hunger. There should be a good representation of agricultural producers, consumers, agro-industrial sector, scientists, university teachers, civil society, religious groups, non governmental organizations and donors, international organizations and national or local administrations. The more extended and diversified is the collaboration, the stronger the Alliance may be. Who may start up a National Alliance? Any governmental or non governmental institution may take the initiative. The importance lies in the political will and a coordinated and committed action. In some existent alliances the leadership comes from high government instances, in other places, the NGOs or religious groups have taken the lead, whilst in other countries the initiative was borne at United Nations or donor representatives. The broad experience of the grass root organizations may give them the occasion to recover their condition of main actors in some countries. They frequently know better which are the needs of the hungry, what are their expectations and how to satisfy their demands. But what is of utmost importance in the construction of such a wide alliance is the spirit of cooperation and the determination of all those involved in it. What activities may a National Alliance carry out? A National Alliance may adopt different forms. In some countries it may be an alliance of institutions and individuals which consider that their role is to bear upon public policies, in others, the Alliance may promote the coordination or joint execution of concrete activities. Many countries have already defined their strategies of food security and determined their own priorities, and these may contribute to guide the selection of priorities for the National Alliances. The National Alliances should defend the double approach combining long and short term activities addressing policy reforms and resource mobilization for the fight against hunger. The following are examples of fields of coordinated activities which could be adapted and developed in accordance to each national context.
Countries of the Region that have expressed their interest in participating Up to 13 July 2004, the countries of the region that expressed interest in participating are: Argentina, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru and Uruguay. Links: World Food Summit: Rome Declaration on Food Security and Plan of Action:
World Food Summit: five years later:
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International Alliance against Hunger
© 2005 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations