New Global Coalition Calls for Action as Funding for Critical Food and Nutrition Security Data Systems Declines

This press release first appeared on The Rockefeller Foundation website.

ROME, ITALY | October 22, 2026 — Today, during the Committee on World Food Security, leaders from governments, UN agencies, technology companies, NGOs, philanthropies, and financial institutions announced the Intentional Data Community for Food and Nutrition Security (IDC), a new multi-stakeholder initiative to strengthen and connect the data systems used to anticipate, prevent, and respond to food and nutrition crises. The IDC will work to protect and strengthen critical data systems, increase investment in locally owned data collection and analysis, and better connect data to decisions and financing so governments and communities can act before crises hit.

The effort comes as funding for food and nutrition security data systems is declining even as conflict, climate, and economic shocks increase pressure on vulnerable communities. A powerful El Niño and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are adding to risks facing food, fuel, and fertilizer markets — underscoring the need for reliable early warning and risk monitoring and the ability to act on them.

New analysis undertaken by IFPRI as part of the VITAL Data initiative shows that funding to priority data systems was cut by an average of 31% in 2025. This includes cuts to FEWS NET, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), and, crucially, the household surveys on which they rely. During the launch event, leaders highlighted the consequences: a reduced ability to reliably understand rising risks; track the severity of malnutrition, famine and hunger; target food, nutrition, and other needed assistance; and help farmers, communities and governments take anticipatory action ahead of shocks, including floods and drought.

“The world has extraordinary tools to anticipate food crises, but those tools only work if we invest in the data and put it in the hands of people who can act,” said Simon Winter, Vice President of the Reimagining Humanitarian and Nutrition Security team at The Rockefeller Foundation’s public charity, RF Catalytic Capital. “As funding declines and El Niño threatens communities around the world, we need to protect and improve needed early warning and data systems and help local and national leaders use better information to act earlier, save lives, and protect livelihoods.”