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History

The 1996 World Food Summit Plan of Action and the 2000 Millennium Development Goals set the stage for establishing and supporting hunger-fighting activities on a global scale. The World Food Summit’s Rome Declaration set the goal of reducing world hunger by half by the year 2015. The United Nations identified reducing hunger and poverty as its Millennium Development Goal number one.

In 2002, when the World Food Summit: five years later convened to look at progress, delegates became acutely aware of the need to work together to accelerate the global effort if they were to reach the Food Summit and Millennium Development Goals. In fact, the final declaration of the Summit was entitled “The International Alliance Against Hunger”. The declaration set in motion the initial steps for establishing a global partnership, under whose umbrella national, regional and cultural boundaries would disappear, with individuals and organizations from all parts of the world and all levels of involvement coming together, to support, to share, to inform and to inspire each other to work together in reaching World Food Summit and the Millennium Development Goals.

The initial working group, formed in late 2002, consisted of representatives of the four Rome-based UN food agencies. It expanded to include representatives of NGOs and CSOs, becoming an all-volunteer inter-agency ad hoc working group concentrating on drawing up a strategy for guiding the International Alliance.

The International Alliance Against Hunger was born as a voluntary partnership for combining the strengths of local, national and international governmental and non-governmental organizations, service and religious organizations, the private sector and concerned individuals with the common mission of working to eradicate hunger on our planet. Participants recognize that a united effort can present a much more powerful message to political, social and economic leaders who make decisions on advocacy, resource mobilization and development strategies.

Many nations have made verbal commitments to fight hunger, but few have been able to do enough. Through the National Alliances that are being formed with the support of the International Alliance and its partners, nations will now have a new level of unified support as they work to create the policy environment, provide the funding and implement the programmes that will provide their citizens the tools they need to overcome hunger and poverty.

The results-oriented International Alliance occupies a strategic position for making a contribution to achieving the Millennium Development Goals, especially those aimed at reducing hunger and poverty and for building partnerships, but also those for health, education, gender and sustainable use of natural resources. Supporting achievement of these goals also puts the Alliance in a position to work to reduce political exclusion, especially the exclusion of ethnic minorities, rural people in general, women and youth. Its ultimate success will depend on its ability to give expression to the aspirations of the poor and hungry and to engage them as full partners in finding and implementing solutions that will make a real difference to their lives.

Aims

The aims of the IAAH are:

to contribute to achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, especially by strengthening national and global commitment and action to end hunger
to give expression to the aspirations of the poor and hungry
to engage the poor and hungry as full partners in finding and implementing solutions that make a real difference to their lives and the lives of generations to come
to facilitate dialogue on the most effective measures to reduce hunger
to promote mutually supportive action involving governments and other stakeholders in the fight against hunger

The functions of the IAAH are:

to serve as a powerful and effective advocate for eradication of hunger and poverty throughout the world
to nurture the emergence and growth of strong National Alliances Against Hunger
to amplify and add value to the contributions and capacities of all International Alliance members

Members

The members of the IAAH are:

international governmental organizations that are mandated to engage in the fight to end hunger
international non-governmental and civil society organizations that are active in the fight to end hunger
National Alliances Against Hunger

The obligations of an IAAH member are:

to subscribe in writing to the IAAH Statement of Principles and indicate how it intends to contribute to the work of the International Alliance
to provide information about its mandate, governance structure, membership criteria and existing activities that demonstrate its commitment to the goals of giving expression to the aspirations of the poor and hungry and ending hunger now
to make an Ending Hunger Pledge - a time-bound commitment to undertake specific actions for which it will hold itself accountable
to report periodically on progress being made toward fulfilment of its pledge
to establish and keep current a website link with the IAAH homepage

The benefits of IAAH membership are:

to obtain a global platform for publicising information about ongoing and planned activities
to gain access to current information about what others are doing
to identify potential partners for joint action
to identify possible funding sources
to participate in a global movement for eradicating poverty and hunger whose strength is derived from shared commitment

Partners of the IAAH are:

organizations and institutions that wish to provide financial support for the activities of the IAAH and its members but do not qualify for membership
single individuals or small groups who wish to make an Ending Hunger Pledge, but have no other affiliation through which to make their pledge known

Resource mobilization efforts are built around the principle of reciprocal obligations and partnerships between developed and developed country alliances and funding institutions. National Alliances in developing countries prepare feasible action plans and commit significant resources of their own. In exchange, developed country alliances and funding institutions provide needed support.

All members have equal status in the IAAH; through designated representatives, they participate in its leadership, direction and activities. Each member has access to the IAAH website, where it records its Ending Hunger Pledge, provides contact information, announces forthcoming events, posts documents, reports on progress and participates in IAAH e-fora and virtual debates.

Strategy

The IAAH inter-agency ad hoc working group that has been providing organizational leadership for the International Alliance during the start-up phase named a drafting committee to prepare a draft strategy for the NGO Side Event during the Committee on World Food Security in September 2004. In addition, it was circulated to all National Alliances and their partners. This strategy paper is intended to be a living document, to be changed in parallel with the growth and needs of the International and National Alliances.

Secretariat

The Secretariat is housed at FAO and has access to FAO staff support. However, it is an independent entity truly representing the constituent partners of the International Alliance and its National Alliances.

The Alliance also works in close collaboration with the UN System Network on Rural Development and Food Security which is also housed at FAO. Although the UN System Network’s mission is technical in nature and the Alliance’s mission is political, the two mechanisms share complimentary goals and have the potential for sharing information, experiences good practices and lessons learned.

News archive

September 2005: FAO calls for strengthening of the International Alliance Against Hunger

Parallel to the World Summit 2005, the International Alliance helped organize an informal meeting between the leaders of some of the world's top charitable organizations and the Director-General of FAO, Dr. Jacques Diouf. Enthusiasm and motivation to work together was expressed by all participants in the meeting. FAO Director General stressed the need to devote more resources be into the International Alliance Against Hunger, which brings together FAO, other UN agencies concerned with hunger and poverty reduction, and a number of international NGOs.

For more information, read the news story published by FAO.

August 2005: Indigenous Peoples in dialogue with the Secretariat of the International Alliance

Representatives of Indigenous Peoples met with the Secretary of the International Alliance Against Hunger on the occasion of the Committee on World Food Security in May 2005 held in May 2005.

Food sovereignty and the right to food of indigenous peoples were the main two topics the representatives from indigenous communities Saúl Vicente Vásquez from the International Indian Treaty Council and Jorge Stanley from the Kuna Youth Movement and Focal Point for the International Planning Committee of NGO/CSO for Latin America and the Caribbean discussed during their meeting.

“The Indigenous Peoples are neither a sector nor a vulnerable group. We are peoples and as such we have the same rights as any other peoples. That’s why whenever we claim our right to food as part of our food sovereignty we’re claiming our right of self-determination,” said Vásquez.

During their informal conversation, the representatives also expressed their gratitude and acknowledged the efforts being made by the International Alliance to favour dialogue and action against hunger. They stressed the importance that the International Alliance encourage National Alliances to involve organizations of indigenous peoples to take part in its activities.

June 2005: Community and regional alliances develop in Northern India

Members of the Working Group of the International Alliance Against Hunger carried out a survey in the Northeastern region of India specifically in Nonglang Village, in the State of Meghalaya to explore the possibilities of creating alliances to help overcome hunger and poverty.

Building upon an ongoing IFAD project, the main objectives of the survey carried out in May 2005 were to identify the community’s perception of hunger and poverty while exploring with local people if alliances can be built within and outside the community. The survey used local people’s appraisal of their own livelihoods to see how the creation of alliances can help the community to overcome hunger and poverty.

The main recommendations of the study included the establishment of a pilot State Alliance Against Hunger in Meghalaya, with representatives of the Self Help Groups Federation, NaRM Groups, District Administration and State Government, Churches, Banks and private land owners. The District Administration and State Government commited to implement policies for community participation in order to gain the trust of poor people.

To download the presentation on this survey made during the June 2005 Meeting of the Working Group of the International Alliance Against Hunger please click here.

For further information on this Alliance in India, please contact Antonella Cordone, Programme Assistant of the External Affairs Department, IFAD at a.cordone@ifad.org

The International Alliance to participate in the FAO's 31st Session of the Committee on World Food Security from 23-26 May 2005

FAO member countries, Rome-based food agencies and International NGOs will have the opportunity to discuss progress made by the International Alliance during the next 31 st Session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) of FAO. The CFS, as one of the governing bodies of the International Alliance, serves as a forum for reporting on its activities both on-going and future. The International Alliance will also participate in several sessions of the Civil Society Consultation to take place before the CFS also at FAO headquarters. For more information on the CFS, please read the second annual progress report of the International Alliance to be used as a basis for discussion during this event.

January 2005: International Alliance participates in World Social Forum in Brazil

The International Alliance Against Hunger hosted on 27 and 28 January 2005 two seminars at the World Social Forum in Porto Alegro, Brazil, at the invitation of the Brazilian Civil Society Forum for Food and Nutritional Security (FBSAN). One of the seminars focused on the potential role of civil society in influencing government in the implementation of policies and strategies for hunger and poverty reduction. The other seminar provided an opportunity for existing National Alliances to share their success stories with other groups interested in forming or participating in National Alliances.

“The Summit provided a unique opportunity for the International Alliance to establish personal contact with civil society organizations, networks and National Alliances,” said Alliance Coordinator Eva Clayton who is Assistant Director General and Special Advisor to the Director General of FAO. She addressed the seminars to provide an overview of the background and current situation of the International Alliance.

The National Alliances from Brazil, the United States of America and Burkina Faso were among those that joined in sharing their success stories with the participants. Anna Rappazzo who is in charge of civil society relations said the chance for establishing personal dialogues with the current members of the Alliances as well as potential members, was a remarkable occasion for the International Alliance. “It was an opportunity to speak about designing the appropriate tools for coordinating national alliances,” she said.

January 2005: International Alliance supports Hunger Task Force Report

Highlighting the efforts of the Hunger Task Force to strengthen public awareness and political action in the fight against hunger, the International Alliance Against Hunger showed its support of the Task Force Report at a press conference held in Rome 18 January. The International Alliance also applauded the Task Force’s recognition of the importance of partnerships and multi-stakeholder initiatives in the international development arena.

The report, commissioned by the UN Secretary General and supported by the UN Development Group, sets out priorities for addressing the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of reducing hunger by half by 2015. The Task Force on Hunger of the Millennium Development Project is composed of about 30 experts acting in their personal capacities but also drawing from the research and expertise of many institutions engaged in hunger-related issues. The report will serve as a milestone for the preparation of MDGs implementation review scheduled to begin in September.

The Rome-based UN food agencies that are guiding partners of the International Alliance (FAO, IFAD and WFP) as well as several Alliance partners (Ad Hoc Group of International NGOs, Youth Forum, Action Aid,...) also participated in the launch. Their participation was meant to call attention to the need to build public awareness and strengthen public advocacy in the fight against hunger in both developed and developing countries.

The Task Force Report highlights the need for a strategic approach to reducing hunger and the crucial need to move from political commitment to action. It also stressed the need to reform policy and create an enabling environment for hunger reduction; increase productivity of food-insecure farmers, improve nutrition for chronically hungry vulnerable groups, reduce vulnerability of the acutely hungry through productive safety nets, increase incomes and make markets for the poor, and restore and conserve natural resources essential for food security.