
Joint Report by Chicago Council & Rockefeller Foundation Lays Blueprint for Hunger Free & Fair World Amidst Global Challenges
- foodfightadmin
- May 4, 2023
- Advocacy, Climate Change, Hunger In America
- rsc pages
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The Chicago Council on Global Affairs and The Rockefeller Foundation have joined forces to release a groundbreaking report titled “Defining the Path to Zero Hunger in an Equitable World.” This comprehensive document offers fresh perspectives and innovative solutions aimed at catalyzing transformative change in the fight against hunger.
The report focuses on the critical intersection of food security, climate, and humanitarian spaces, addressing key challenges that have hindered progress in these areas. It identifies three major obstacles: siloed approaches, myopic priorities, and top-down decision making. By acknowledging and tackling these barriers head-on, the authors aim to pave the way to a future where hunger is eradicated and equity is paramount.
One of the primary issues highlighted in the report is the existence of intricate silos, which prevent effective information sharing, collaboration, and communication among stakeholders and institutions. Roger Thurow, a Senior Fellow at the Chicago Council and co-author of the report, emphasizes the experiences of those intended to benefit from development work are often disregarded in these siloed approaches. He points out that smallholder farmers, for example, face a multitude of interconnected challenges such as climate issues, soil health, water scarcity, environmental concerns, crop diseases, human diseases, and poverty. Understanding these interconnected challenges is crucial to finding comprehensive solutions.
Catherine Bertini, a Chicago Council Distinguished Fellow and Managing Director for Global Nutrition Security at The Rockefeller Foundation, stresses the need for collaboration between the agriculture and health sectors to overcome these silos. Recognizing the essential role that food plays in overall well-being, Bertini sees this collaboration as a pivotal first step in breaking down barriers.
The report calls for the integration of development, humanitarian, and climate spaces within local communities. It advocates for a shift in aid infrastructure to promote cooperation and dismantle competitive silos. Moreover, the authors urge a shift from crisis response to long-term resilience, emphasizing the importance of sustained investments that prioritize community needs and prevent emergencies before they occur.
In addition, the report emphasizes the significance of community led decision making. It calls for policies and programs that are responsive to local needs, shifting away from prioritizing government agendas and focusing instead on empowering communities. This approach can be achieved through renewed commitments, participatory research, less restrictive funding, and active listening.
The insights presented in the report build upon discussions held during the 2022 World Food Prize Borlaug Dialogues, where experts and stakeholders from diverse backgrounds gathered to explore the global food crisis. Despite current challenging conditions, including extreme weather events, a fragile post-pandemic global economy, and disruptions caused by the conflict in Ukraine, the Borlaug Dialogues concluded with a resounding message of hope.
Thurow emphasizes the importance of addressing the longstanding barriers and challenges that have hindered progress in the past. By engaging in open and constructive conversations, he believes that hope can be transformed into tangible action, leading to policy changes, reallocation of resources, and the embrace of disruptive thinking and innovative solutions.
The report offers a roadmap for the future, providing a glimmer of hope in the ongoing fight against hunger and promoting the vision of a more equitable and hunger-free world.