Recent events in the Horn of Africa are a terrible reminder of the vulnerability of millions of poor around the world to weather and other shocks that interrupt their access to food. This humanitarian tragedy highlights the need for information and the need for action.
Addressing the problem of hunger requires information about where and why hunger is occurring. Whilst information will not fill people’s stomachs, policymakers and national and international agencies need it in order to take steps to ensure that people have access to sufficient and nutritious food. The broader task is then to take action to address the root causes of hunger and to reduce poor people’s vulnerability to shocks such as drought and food price spikes in the short, medium, and long term.
The Global Hunger Index (GHI) calculated each year by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) is designed to comprehensively measure and track hunger globally and by country and region. The GHI highlights successes and failures in hunger reduction and provides insights into the drivers of hunger. By raising awareness and understanding of regional and country differences in hunger, the GHI aims to trigger actions to reduce hunger.
This year’s GHI report, report, The Challenge of Hunger: Taming Price Spikes and Excessive Food Price Volatility shows that global hunger has declined since 1990, but not dramatically, and remains at a level characterized as “serious.” Across regions and countries, GHI scores vary greatly. The highest GHI scores occur in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. South Asia reduced its GHI score substantially between 1990 and 1996, but this fast progress could not be maintained. Though Sub-Saharan Africa made less progress than South Asia after 1990, it has caught up since the turn of the millennium.
“We already know a great deal about how to reduce vulnerability and effectively tackle poverty and hunger,” said Klaus von Grebmer, lead author of the report and IFPRI Communications Director. “Now is the time to apply this knowledge so that everyone, everywhere, has access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food at all times so that they can live healthy and productive lives.”
Find out more by downloading a copy of the 2011 GHI. Or use the widget below: click on a country for more data (created by HarvestChoice)