A recent Economist Impact report calls for a substantial increase in funding in order to strengthen the productivity, sustainability and resilience of agri-food systems worldwide. The Shamba Centre’s Co-founder and Executive Director, Carin Smaller, who was quoted extensively in the report, notes that “Ending hunger isn’t unattainable; it is actually quite an affordable goal.” 

With 828 million people facing hunger each day, which represents an increase of 150 million more than before the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to rethink how funding is allocated. As the report notes, it will require a shift in focus from short-term crisis response to emphasising interventions that strengthen food security in the long term.  

“Almost all of the increase in ODA (official development aid) is going to emergency food assistance, which has almost doubled in the past 7 years... while funding to solve structural, long-term problems is basically stagnating,” says Carin. Instead, she suggests, ODA should be “linked more effectively with the long-term agenda. When responding to emergencies, we should also be financing longer term resilience.” 

Funding should also be optimized to maximize its impact. “The majority of money still needs to be spent on the farm,” notes Carin. Small-scale farms face much neglect despite their significant contribution to global food production and their vulnerability to climate change. In 2020, the Ceres2030 project identified the agricultural interventions that have the greatest impact for transforming the incomes of the world’s poorest farmers while preserving the environment. 

More funding is needed. According to Ceres2030, US$33 billion will be required each year to end hunger by 2030. This funding will need to be sourced from international donors as well as developing country governments. However, because governments face tight fiscal constraints, funding from the private sector will be necessary. As the report notes, the private sector has the potential to play a more significant role in transforming agri-food systems in developing countries. 

Ending hunger is possible. Doing so, however, will require additional funding and maximising its impact.