For millions of people living in mountainous areas, hunger and the threat of hunger are nothing new. Harsh climates and the difficult, often inaccessible terrain, combined with political and social marginality make mountain peoples vulnerable to food shortages.

As of 2015, one in three mountain people in developing countries was facing hunger and malnutrition.

The 2015 study Mapping the vulnerability of mountain peoples to food insecurity presents a geographic and demographic picture of the world’s mountain areas and assesses the vulnerability to food insecurity of mountain dwellers in developing countries, based on a specially designed model. The final section presents an alternative and complementary approach to assessing hunger by analyzing household surveys.

The results show that the living conditions of mountain dwellers have continued to deteriorate between 2002 and 2015. Global progress and living standard improvements did not appear to have made their way up the mountains and many mountain communities lagged behind the full eradication of poverty and hunger.

This 66-page publication gives voice to the plight of mountain people and sends a message to policy-makers on the importance of including mountain development in their agendas as well as specific measures and investments that could break the cycle of poverty and hunger of mountain communities and slows outmigration from mountain areas.

Updated information available: see the 2020 publication Vulnerability of mountain peoples to food insecurity: updated data and analysis of drivers

Terra Madre event: The restoration of food traditions that change communities' lives

event

The event "The restoration of food traditions that change communities' lives" will take place on 30 September 2024 from 17.30 at Le Fonderie Ozanam in Turin, Italy, as part of the Terra Madre Salone del Gusto 2024. It will explore the vital role of food traditions in improving the lives...

Terra Madre event: How coffee value chains foster climate-resilient livelihoods: experiences from the Business Incubator and Accelerator in the Slow Food communities

event

The event "How coffee value chains foster climate-resilient livelihoods: experiences from the Business Incubator and Accelerator in the Slow Food communities" will take place on 27 September 2024 from 16.30 at Parco Dora in Turin during Terra Madre Salone del Gusto 2024.

This session will explore the critical role of agroforestry...

UN General Assembly declares 2025–2034 as Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences

news

In a decisive step toward addressing one of the most pressing climate issues, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) unanimously adopted a resolution on 13 August 2024, designating 2025 to 2034 as the "Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences". This landmark decision aims to tackle the growing challenges posed by...

Enhancing mountain livelihoods and resilience

publication

This fact sheet, published by the Mountain Partnership Secretariat of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, highlights initiatives aimed at enhancing livelihoods and resilience in mountain and island ecosystems. Recognizing the unique challenges faced by these regions—from climate change impacts to economic vulnerabilities—the initiatives harness local potential...

Download »

Training for change

publication

This fact sheet is published by the Mountain Partnership Secretariat of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. It details the Secretariat's capacity development initiatives aimed at enhancing expertise in sustainable mountain development and addressing the limited availability of specialized courses on mountain themes. Each year, the Secretariat...

Download »

The Mountain Partnership

publication

This fact sheet, published by the Mountain Partnership Secretariat of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, outlines the mission and impact of the Mountain Partnership. Established in 2002, the Mountain Partnership boasts over 550 members, including governments, intergovernmental agencies, institutions and civil society organizations. It harnesses the...