Donors from different countries committed to funding the United Nations (UN) to tackle hunger and poverty, as well as to recover from the impact of the pandemic.
UN’s rural development agency International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) will work with this fund to assist the underprivileged. A sum of US $3.8 billion will be invested into the initiative.
The announcement was made at the IFAD’s 44th annual Governing Council meeting on Thursday, held virtually from February 17 to 18 due to the global pandemic.
Sixty-seven countries have announced new pledges, totalling more than US $1.1 billion when accumulated. However, it is still short of their target and a number of large economies are still yet to sign up.
At a time when many nations are facing severe economic challenges, this move demonstrates the importance global leaders place on investing in effective long-term rural development. It is critical in the initiative to achieving sustainable development goals.
Many IFAD top donors have announced their intentions to contribute amounts significantly larger than previous funding in the past.
IFAD’s largest donor, the United States, committed US $129 million in funding, a 43% increase in contrast to the past. France committed $106 million – an additional 50%, Italy $96 million – an additional 45%, Sweden $87.3 million – an additional 60% and Ireland $14.3 million – an additional 66%.
Finland and Norway also increased their pledges by 40% in their national currency. Other large donors such as Germany, Japan, China, Canada, France, Saudi Arabia, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom made significant pledges.
IFAD President Gilbert F Houngbo said: “It costs less to invest in sustainability and building long-term resilience to shocks than it does to respond to repeated humanitarian emergencies. That is why sustainable development goals exist, and this increased commitment to IFAD is an important step to delivering on them. The contributions pledged so far show our member states are determined to eradicate poverty and hunger, and are confident in the impact of IFAD’s work.”
An unprecedented commitment to ensure that the voices and opinions of millions of the world’s most remote rural people are at the heart of the UN Food Systems Summit was announced. The UN plans to involve millions of rural people across the world in the 2021 Food System Summit. The summit will be the “People’s and Solutions Summit”.
This will be achieved through independent summit dialogues, a public platform that gives everyone around the world a chance to contribute towards national strategies for more sustainable food systems.
Houngbo said: “No one is more qualified to contribute to this discussion on how to transform our food systems than the rural people who produce so much of our food. Yet they seldom have a seat at the table.”
“I urge rural people to seize this opportunity and feed into this important discussion with their own ideas and solutions,” he added.
A 10 step guide has been allocated for anyone wishing to host a dialogue, including tips on how to encourage the broadest possible variety of voices and perspectives, as well as training sessions on how to convene sessions.
UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy, Agnes Kalibata said: “If you have ever wanted to share your views with heads of state at the UN, this is your chance. We need all of your stories, ideas and solutions to transform food systems for the better and feed the world without starving the planet.”
Anyone interested in hosting a dialogue can register on the dialogue gateway, where convenors can commit to the principles of the summit, announce their dialogue and submit their feedback.
In 2019, the Food Systems Summit was announced by the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres to identify innovative solutions that will transform food systems to be more inclusive, equitable and sustainable.