A regional initiative for the National Zero Hunger Challenge is being actively implemented in five Asian countries, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) announced today.  

Representatives from the five pilot countries – Bangladesh, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal and Timor-Leste – gathered in Bangkok to share their experiences and carry forward their plans to tackle hunger and malnutrition.  

Government representatives from the five countries are taking part in an FAO sponsored workshop on the “Regional Initiative to Support the Zero Hunger Challenge in Asia and the Pacific.”

“While good progress has been made in our region in reducing hunger, and while we’re heading toward the achievement of the MDG hunger goal, nearly 12 percent of people remain undernourished,” Hiroyuki Konuma, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative told the workshop. “Stunting of children, a condition where serious nutritional deficiencies impede a child’s growth, is still a major problem,” Konuma added.

“The commitments made by your countries to take on the Zero Hunger Challenge are critical to success of the ZHC and FAO will fully support your efforts,” Konuma added.

Nearly two-thirds of the world’s 805 million chronically undernourished people live in the Asia-Pacific region and stunting rates remain high in some parts of Asia.

“Achieving food security and better nutrition through the Zero Hunger Challenge requires policies that are harmonized through the inputs and collaboration of multiple sectors and government departments,” Konuma said. “I’m confident that can be achieved.”

The regional initiative to support the Zero Hunger Challenge in Asia and the Pacific (ZHC) was endorsed last year by member States at the FAO 32^nd Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The ZHC regional initiative focuses on three key priority areas: Comprehensive food security policy formulation; Promoting child nutrition and reducing child stunting; Promoting the accuracy of nutrition statistics and analytical skills.

The participants in today’s workshop are building upon a common understanding and approaches in tackling hunger which were developed at their first meeting in September.

The Regional Initiative to Support the Zero Hunger Challenge in Asia and the Pacific is one of the means by which FAO aims to meet one of its five Strategic Objectives – namely to “eradicate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition.”