The Minister of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Combating Hunger (MDS), Wellington Dias, presented this Monday (21), in Rome, Italy, the actions of the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty launched by Brazil, in the rotating presidency of the G20, in July this year, in Rio de Janeiro and agreed by all members of the bloc. The G20 brings together the countries with the largest economies in the world, plus the African Union and the European Union.
Until Friday (25), Minister Wellington Dias represents the Brazilian government at the 52nd Plenary Session of the Food Security Committee (CSA), held at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in the Italian capital . In a parallel event to the FAO plenary, the minister invited governments and organizations from around the world to join the initiative. “It is a State project, not just a pulverized or loose measure, but a project that has a beginning, middle and end. And more: a focus on what was tried and worked.” Wellington Dias listed the experiences developed in Brazil to reduce poverty and hunger, such as income transfer programs, school meals, qualifications and training for employment and entrepreneurship, in addition to low interest financing lines and government subsidies, in some cases.
The minister says he believes that the global alliance will be able to lift the most vulnerable populations out of poverty and extreme poverty around the world.
“There is a need for each country to have its own plan that integrates the fight against hunger, with education, along with health, preparation for employment, with a view to producing food at an appropriate price. And the richest countries can help developing countries”, highlighted the minister.
hunger map
During the meeting, the minister reaffirmed that Brazil must leave the Hunger Map by 2026. “Brazil will do its part and, by 2026, leave the Hunger Map, with a reduction in poverty and extreme poverty. But, we also want this victory for other regions of the world.
The minister commented that Brazil made a commitment to the United Nations (UN) to fulfill Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 2 which, by 2030, aims to end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition and also promote sustainable agriculture.
Sofia 2024
This Monday, FAO presented the 2024 edition of the annual report The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (Sofi). The study – which presents the most recent data and advances in eradicating hunger and ensuring food security – confirmed the worsening of these indicators in the world in recent years.
However, according to Wellington Dias, the study shows that Latin America and the Caribbean are the regions of the world where there has been an improvement in the reduction rates of food insecurity and that Brazil was relevant in this result, as 24.4 million people no longer go through hunger in the country.
“Brazil stands out, with a reduction of 24.4 million people who were food insecure and the number of people in severe food insecurity fell by 85% [em 2023]. There was also a reduction in extreme poverty and poverty”, stated the minister.
The minister listed the Brazilian government’s initiatives that impacted these results: the restructuring of actions in the Bolsa Família, Food Acquisition programs and the National School Meal Program, among others.
This year, the Plenary Session of the Food Safety Committee (CSA) will celebrate its 50th anniversary and 20 years of voluntary guidelines for adequate nutrition in the world are being celebrated.
In addition to government bodies, representatives from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the World Food Program (WFP), the Nutrition for Growth Summit (N4G), the African Union Food Systems, the Second Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development, among other groups dedicated to working on the issue of food and nutritional security.
