“I am firmly convinced that we can realize the vision of a peaceful world without hunger.” Spurred by his deep personal conviction that hunger can be eradicated, given the necessary political will, Germany’s former President Johannes Rau called for the creation of “a global alliance against hunger and poverty” on World Food Day, 2001. The following year, the Declaration of the World Food Summit:five years later called on “all parties (governments, international organizations, civil society organizations and the private sector) to reinforce their efforts so as to act as an international alliance against hunger so as to achieve the WFS target no later than 2015”. We, the Heads of FAO, IFAD, WFP and Bioversity International, are proud to have worked with international civil society organizations present in Rome to launch the International Alliance Against Hunger (IAAH) on World Food Day, 2003. In doing this, we have translated President Rau’s vision into reality. As founding members of the IAAH, we each have our respective roles to play in contributing to the eradication of hunger, malnutrition and poverty. Our impact, however, is all the greater when we work in concert and partner with other institutions that share our strong commitment to this lofty goal. The IAAH enables us to speak with a single – and stronger – voice, and thus enhance our effectiveness as advocates for a world without hunger and malnutrition. The IAAH is still young but its influence is beginning to be felt. It has already nurtured the emergence of National Alliances Against Hunger (NAAH) in more than 20 countries, both developed and developing. Apart from their growing influence on policies relating to hunger and malnutrition within their own countries, the National Alliances Against Hunger are gaining international visibility, especially through their presence at meetings of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS). National Alliances are increasingly supporting each other’s programmes through twinning arrangements and are encouraging the foundation of new Alliances within their Regions. We are committed to seeing the International Alliance grow into a vibrant platform on which all those who want to eradicate hunger, malnutrition and extreme poverty in the world come together to build popular and political support for decisive action. We look to the IAAH to lead joint advocacy on global issues of common concern to its members, over and above their advocacy for their own specific programmes. We expect the IAAH to:
At its October 2006 meeting, the CFS, to which the IAAH reports on its achievements, called for it “to become increasingly self-financing in the future through mobilization of new resources”. In response, IAAH members have engaged in a process of reflection on the future evolution of the Alliance and its resource mobilization priorities. We urge the IAAH Secretariat, with the engagement and support of the Alliance’s members, to make every effort to raise the resources required to move the Alliance forward in line with our vision. We also see the need to improve and strengthen the governance of the IAAH to ensure that all members can participate fully and as equals in its leadership, direction and activities. We are convinced that the goals of the World Food Summit and the Millennium Summit on reducing hunger can be achieved, and that eventually the world can be freed from the shameful scourge of hunger and malnutrition that afflicts so many hundreds of millions of our fellow human beings. We are also convinced that the IAAH can make a valuable contribution to the achievement of this elusive goal. Rome, 26 May 2008 |
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