Accountability to Combat Hunger
The most recent figures concerning global hunger and malnutrition are alarming. More than one billion people are hungry. At least twice that number lacks the essential micronutrients that are needed to lead a healthy and active life. Deficiencies of iron, vitamin A, and zinc still rank among the top ten leading causes of death through disease in developing countries. One of three children born in developing countries is stunted. To read the editorial of Professor Olivier De Schutter UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food click here.
A View from the Chair: Raising Global Awareness and Action on Accountability
Originally the International Alliance proposed that Accountability relates to the time-committed “ending hunger pledges” made by its members National Alliances. However the IAAH progressively realized that the only way to eradicate hunger is for governments to take lead responsibility and to make stronger efforts towards filling the gap between intent and action. To read the View from Mr Kwesi Atta-Krah, Chair of the International Alliance Against Hunger click here.
To read the Accountability Proposal presenting the Views of a group of NGOs/CSOs active in the field of Food Security, please click here.
Governments' Views
Since the first World Food Summit held in Rome in 1996, governments have repeatedly committed to end hunger. In spite of this, the number of people facing hunger is growing. Today, 1.2 billion people suffer hunger and malnutrition, aggravated by the soar in food and fuel prices in 2007 and 2008 and the current global financial crisis Governments are called to deliver on the commitments made at international level to eradicate hunger and malnutrition. Click to read the views of Government Representatives from France and Mexico.
NGOs/CSOs' Views
There is overall consensus among NGOs/CSOs of the role of accountability as a key for effective development. This has been clearly stated in former agreements such as the Paris Declaration and the Accra Agenda for Action whereby donors, northern and southern governments and other actors in the aid system are considered accountable for the effects of aid. In order to move towards the achievement of MDGs, CSOs believe in the need for organizing a framework for accountability so as to ensure governments delivery on their commitments. To learn more about ActionAid International and Oxfam International views, click on the organizations' names.
National Alliances' views
Responding to a call from IAAH Secretariat to all National Alliances, the National Alliances from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Sierra Leone as well as the “Hunger-Free Latin American and The Caribbean initiative (HFLAC)” provide their views on accountability for improved governance of world food security and some provided national examples of unkept promises to fight against hunger and malnutrition in their respective countries. In most cases such views are formulated independently from governments’ own assessments and therefore they only reflect National Alliances authors’ views.
Further news concerning National Alliances events and activities related to World Food Day 2009 on the theme: “Achieving Food Security in Times of Crises” is available in the National Alliances news section.
Click on the countries below to read more.
Burkina Faso - 
Cameroon - 
Sierra Leone - Hunger-Free Latin American and The Caribbean initiative (HFLAC)
