G7 pledge falls short for global hunger crisis
Response to G7 hunger pledges
29 June 2022Following the G7 leaders’ summit, only $4.5 billion has been pledged towards tackling hunger globally falling well short of that required to tackle the global hunger crisis.
Plan International is deeply disappointed that, following the G7 leaders’ summit, only $4.5 billion has been pledged towards tackling hunger globally. Prior to the summit, we asked for states to urgently and immediately help to fund the $21.5 billion needed to reach 49 million people on the brink of famine.
“Tonight, millions of children will go to bed hungry. Around the world, there are 323 million people facing starvation,” says Andrea Nunez, Humanitarian Policy Advisor for Plan International.
“But despite these warnings, world leaders have failed to step up. Let us be clear – by pledging well short of the $21.5 billion needed to prevent famine, countless people will needlessly die from hunger. An even greater number of children, especially girls, will suffer devastating consequences to their health and life opportunities for years to come.
Inadequate pledge won’t meet girls’ needs
“Hunger affects girls, boys, women and men differently. In many countries, when food and money is scarce, girls eat less and eat last, and are the first to be taken out of school or married at a young age. Girls and women account for most of the world’s hungry, so it’s deeply disappointing that this woefully inadequate pledge doesn’t include any commitments to meet their unique needs. The G7 must do better than this, starting with implementing their gender commitments from their 2021 Famine Prevention Compact.
“This funding is too little, too late. It comes after months of warning calls. And while the conflict in Ukraine has significantly increased the number of people in need of food assistance, this hunger crisis was anticipated well before it started. As well as tackling export issues from Ukraine, world leaders must also redouble efforts to curb the three most common reasons for hunger: conflict, economic shocks and the climate crisis.
“We cannot afford to miss this critical opportunity to save lives.”
G7 must consider additional financial support
Plan International is urging donor governments to not only urgently release the $4.5 billion which has been committed, but consider further new financial support, as the G7 have previously committed to doing so through their Famine Prevention Compact.
As well as fulfilling funding pledges, it is critical that states commit to reporting mechanisms highlighting how they are delivering on their commitments, as well as prioritising age and gender-sensitive responses that impact and minimise the consequences of hunger for children, especially girls.
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