14 September 2015: “We must be the Zero Hunger generation,” writes Paloma Durán in an article on the UN Development Programme (UNDP) ‘Our Perspectives’ blog. The Director of the Sustainable Development Goals Fund (SDG-F) stresses the importance of addressing food security as a critical component of poverty eradication and the SDGs, and recommends creating more sustainable food systems that offer better nutritional outcomes, while using less land and water and ensuring resilience to climate change.

According to Durán, an investment of US$267 billion annually will be needed over the next 15 years to achieve the target to end hunger by 2030. To achieve this target, Durán recommends: increasing agricultural productivity by small and family famers; promoting inclusive economic growth to contribute to hunger and poverty reduction; and expanding social protection systems to contribute to reducing hunger and malnutrition. She further recommends doubling global food production, reducing food waste by addressing supply chain management, and experimenting with food alternatives and ways to improve the nutritional aspects of food.

Durán describes how the SDG Fund is contributing to ending hunger, such as through pilot programmes in 18 countries. For example, it is working with rural populations in Bolivia and El Salvador to strengthen local farm production systems and engage smallholder farmers and women in integrated responses to development. [Blog Post] [SDG-F Website]