The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has launched a Zero Hunger Initiative to promote the eradication of hunger until 2025. This bold political commitment was stimulated by the UN Secretary General’s Zero Hunger Challenge that proclaims that “hunger can be eliminated in our lifetimes” and the subsequent declaration by African Union Heads of States and Governments, with the assistance of FAO and the Lula Institute. FAO’s regional office in Africa and the Right to Food Team in FAO HQ support ECOWAS to move from this bold political statement to tangible action on the ground.

From 24 to 26 February 2014, the CAADP focal points of the 15 member countries, delegates from regional organizations, farmers associations and civil society will jointly deliberate how to push this ambitious agenda forward. It invites all actors in the region to join forces in the battle against hunger: The Zero Hunger Initiative unites all who are working for an end to hunger, encourages them to identify how they can contribute effectively from their own perspective, and stimulates a dramatic scale-up of collective efforts.
 
The 15 member countries of ECOWAS have reduced the prevalence of undernourishment from 23% in 1991 to 11.5% in 2012. This means however that there are still close to 40 million people suffering from hunger in the region. ECOWAS wants to break the vicious circle of hunger and declares: Only ZERO is an acceptable number when it comes to hunger!

Map based on the FAO Hunger Map 2013
Progress towards the first Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of halving the proportion of hungry people by 2015.