The UK Government’s work on achieving SDG2: Zero Hunger

The world is off target to achieve SDG2 and shows signs of waning in its resolve. An urgent and concerted effort at local, national and international levels is required to not only tackle the effects of poor nutrition and food insecurity, but also the underlying causes. All activities need to prioritise the inclusion and strengthening of food systems. (Conclusion, Paragraph 9)

Climate change and hunger are intrinsically linked. We recognise the emphasis the Government is putting on improving the impact of climate finance as it relates to food systems. (Conclusion, Paragraph 15)

We recommend the Government conduct an assessment of UK climate finance to ensure it addresses the impact of climate change on nutrition and food systems. The UK’s agricultural investments need to be assessed more rigorously for the adaption and mitigation challenges posed by climate change. (Recommendation, Paragraph 16)

The inclusion of women in the design of Zero Hunger policy and programming is vital for equitable and cost-effective progress toward SDG2. Moreover, programming that does not use carefully disaggregated data to ensure it is sensitive to both gender and age dimensions of hunger is unlikely to achieve sustainable results. (Conclusion, Paragraph 20)

We call on the Government to renew its focus on improving both the gender relevance of nutrition-specific funding as well as the sensitivity of gender- specific programming to food systems and nutrition. (Recommendation, Paragraph 21)

Smallholder farmers in low-income countries are vital players in sustainable food systems. We welcome some of the steps taken to assess the impact of new trade deals on low-income countries. Currently, though, there is more to be done to ensure that the range of tools the UK has to alleviate poverty are sensitive to the role smallholders have to play, and the factors that determine their success or failure. (Conclusion, Paragraph 28) 51

We recommend the Government assess its trade, agriculture, climate and gender programmes against the impact they have on smallholder farmers. Where necessary, these programmes should be adjusted to mitigate harm against smallholder famers and to enhance their place within sustainable food systems. (Recommendation, Paragraph 29)

Disabled people are particularly vulnerable to hunger and their needs must be incorporated into all Zero Hunger focussed programming. The Government have made important steps in this direction. (Conclusion, Paragraph 31)

We recommend the Government specifically address the linkages between nutrition and disability in the refresh of the Disability Inclusion and Rights Strategy. We request the relevant section of the updated strategy is shared with the Committee. (Recommendation, Paragraph 32)

Conflict breeds hunger and hunger breeds conflict. We recommend that stabilisation and peace building at both the programme and diplomatic level is made a priority for the Government as it seeks to end hunger by

The handling of the merger of DFID with the FCO, and that of the subsequent sudden and drastic cuts in programme spending, was very damaging for the UK’s efforts toward SDG2. Not only did it damage the UK’s reputation as a leader and innovator toward the goal of ending hunger and malnutrition but reduced the support to millions of people around the world who depended on these programmes. (Conclusion, Paragraph 40)

The reduction of ODA from 0.5% to 0.3% of GNI in February 2025 could not have come at a worse time, with cuts in donor spending across Europe and in the United States of America and ever-increasing need. If the Government fails to learn the lessons from the handling of the cuts in 2020, the misery inflicted on millions will be incalculable, the progress that has been made will stall, and the damage to the UK’s reputation will be all but impossible to reverse. We urge the Government to reconsider the reduction in Official Development Assistance. (Recommendation, Paragraph 41)

We recommend that the FCDO put measures in place to ensure that all Official Development Assistance committed to nutrition and food security related programming is predictable and long term, with better safeguards against, and warnings of, any changes to funding agreements with delivery partners. We request the Government outline clearly in their response how 52 it intends to ensure future programmes keep to these standards, and to send us an update on the detail of the implementation measures before the summer Parliamentary recess. (Recommendation, Paragraph 42)

Where cuts are to be made as part of this spending review, we request the Government informs the Committee of the steps it will take to ensure that there will be a phased transition with clear communication to implementing partners, avoiding some of the damage that was done when budgets were reduced in 2020. (Recommendation, Paragraph 43)

UK trade policy needs to reflect the Government’s aspirations for achieving SDG2 with a continued commitment to comprehensive assessments of the impact of trade deals on food-insecure populations and a focus on reforming trading rules that compound food insecurity. (Conclusion, Paragraph 52)

Ensuring the FCDO attracts and retains the highest level of expertise is key for maintaining value for money and delivering effective programming. The Government needs to be ready to invest in both existing and new expertise. (Conclusion, Paragraph 55) Localisation

The next frontier for international development programming and policy is the meaningful and mainstreamed inclusion of local decision making. Whether at national or regional government level, or closer to the grassroots at NGO or household level, the Government has some ambitious and worthy intentions. For example, we welcome the Government’s resolve to support the national plans of their Official Development Assistance- eligible partners. However, a concerted effort will be needed across the FCDO for these aspirations to become a reality. (Conclusion, Paragraph 60) Leadership on the international stage

Successive UK Governments have been innovative and effective leaders in the efforts to tackle hunger. The UK has the convening power and expertise to be a considerable force for good in tackling the challenges of international fundraising, trade reform, climate and development policy which will be needed. However, the will to continue in this role must come from the top of Government and be undertaken with humility and in the spirit of partnership. (Conclusion, Paragraph 65) 53

The Government has an excellent opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to leadership on SDG2 by doing everything it can to ensure that the Nutrition for Growth summit is a success. We wait with anticipation for the announcements the Government intends to make at the summit regarding the integration of programming around this goal. Beyond this, there is scope for the Government to use its convening power to coordinate a series of international actions and milestones to harmonise the work of the various fora working on aspects of the Goal. (Conclusion, Paragraph 66)

We recommend the Government lead by example at the Nutrition for Growth summit with a commitment to making a generous and well-targeted pledge as well as a new reach commitment on nutrition and food security within the next six months. This would focus efforts and improve accountability. (Recommendation, Paragraph 67)

The Government should attend the Financing for Development conference in June with new and innovative solutions for the raising of private investment toward addressing malnutrition and building sustainable food systems. (Recommendation, Paragraph 68)

The Government should lead action on debt relief for countries affected by hunger and malnutrition including exploring the potential of debt suspension clauses for low-income countries at high risk of backsliding on food security and nutrition. (Recommendation, Paragraph 69)

The Government should work internationally to drive coherence around SDG 2 championing the idea of an international plan to advance efforts to tackle hunger and malnutrition. (Recommendation, Paragraph 70) Learning and application of best practice

The UK has a tremendous array of research institutes and a strong history of contributing to the fields of nutrition and food security. There is more the Government could be doing to make use of these resources and to integrate learning into programming. (Conclusion, Paragraph 74)

The potential of local knowledge and understanding in developing solutions to nutrition and food security challenges, particularly in terms of climate adaption and mitigation, is not always fully realised. (Conclusion, Paragraph 75)

Beyond the OECD Development Assistance Committee nutrition indicators, monitoring of the contribution that the FCDO’s programming is making toward the SDG2 goal has been insufficient. In order to know and understand what works, the FCDO needs a common set of indicators that can be measured at multiple levels. (Conclusion, Paragraph 76) 54

We support the Government’s commitment to strengthening the evidence base for the prevention of child wasting. (Conclusion, Paragraph 78)

The Government should work with governments and organisations to ensure continued long-term, predictable financial support for Ready-to use Therapeutic Foods and Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation packs, to address the needs of children and pregnant women in humanitarian situations. This should support local production, where possible, and partner with national governments in the promotion of their use. In addition, we recommend the Government take advantage of the match- funding mechanism of the Child Nutrition Fund as part of its Nutrition for Growth pledge, to mobilise domestic resources and philanthropic funding to address malnutrition. To take full advantage of this, we recommend the Government pledge at least £50 million to the Child Nutrition Fund, as part of its Nutrition for Growth pledge, to maximise these opportunities. (Recommendation, Paragraph 79)

We can see the potential for much wider application of cash transfers as a tool to tackle hunger. However, we also appreciate they need to complement other components of a sustainable food system. (Conclusion, Paragraph 81)

We urge the Government to continue to explore the application of cash transfers alongside a locally led process of agricultural and nutritional development. (Recommendation, Paragraph 82) Toward solutions—The Zero Hunger strategic delivery framework

We are encouraged that the department appears to understand the importance of harmonising development programming and the importance of considering issues of age, gender, nutrition and food security across the piece. However, it is important that this Government build on the progress of the last by identifying where there is still room for improvement, adequately focussing on addressing underlying causes of hunger, and addressing any inconsistency in policy. It is also important that this is seen as a whole of Government approach rather than simply one that impacts departments spending Official Development Assistance, and that measurement of progress is vital across the full range of programming. (Conclusion, Paragraph 84)

We recommend that by the end of 2025 a Zero Hunger strategic delivery framework is created that acknowledges the complex interrelationships between climate, gender, disability, conflict, food security and nutrition. The framework should have clear and practical guidance for civil servants 55 and delivery partners as to how programming should take into account aspects of SDG2 in its design and how they can access technical support. Specifically: a. It should facilitate impact measurement for how programming contributes to SDG2 using the OECD Development Assistance Committee nutrition indicators, as well as consistent indicators on sustainable food systems. There should also be guidance on disaggregated data collection for women, youth and people with disabilities as well as a designated hub for the processing of the data. b. The framework should have inter-departmental applicability ensuring all programming receiving Official Development Assistance is being guided by its principles and objectives. c. We recommend all programmes eligible for funding should be required to demonstrate alignment to the strategy and set out how they address or consider the complex dimensions of hunger. d. We recommend that the delivery framework provides clear principles to guide UK diplomatic and trade activity as it relates to achieving SDG2 and guidance on how to measure policy impact in this area. e. As part of the framework, we recommend that the FCDO implement a standardised approach for lessons learning and information sharing between locally and centrally managed programme staff. (Recommendation, Paragraph 85)

Within the Zero Hunger delivery framework we recommend significant attention is paid to increasing local ownership across the breadth of FCDO programming that impacts on, or is impacted by, nutrition and food security: a. As part of the Zero Hunger strategic framework, the Government should set an ambition for the percentage of Zero Hunger related funding to be delivered by local organisations by 2028. b. Specific guidance on local ownership should support staff and partners in setting risk thresholds appropriate to this way of working and flexible approaches to processes. Specifically, the Government needs to consider how it can make its tendering process more accessible for small and medium sized businesses, and local organisations, to apply for and deliver. 56 c. Funding mechanisms should be more flexible to the needs of individual local partners and, where necessary, allow for longer project cycles, higher in direct costs, in order to achieve the capacity-building required to close any gaps between accountability requirements and local capacity. d. We encourage the Government to take every opportunity to support its Official Development Assistance-eligible partners in their own plans around food systems and nutrition. (Recommendation, Paragraph 86)

Beyond the Nutrition for Growth summit, we encourage the Government to see SDG2 as an issue of vital strategic importance to the UK’s national and international interests. Consequently, it should be adopted as a cross- cutting issue across diplomatic activity with heads of missions being made aware of its linkages and obliged to report on activity towards this goal as part of their internal reporting processes. Guidance should be given as part of the Zero Hunger delivery framework. (Recommendation, Paragraph 87)

The Government needs to re-double its efforts to reform the financial systems which precipitate the strangling unsustainable debt faced by many food-insecure countries. The Government should state clearly what it intends to do regarding the reform of financial systems that stifle investment in low-income countries. (Recommendation, Paragraph 88)

The Government needs to ensure that research is coherent with its aspirations to fighting hunger and considers the inter-related factors facing nutrition and food systems. As part of the Zero Hunger delivery framework there should be clear guidance on this to those commissioning research. (Recommendation, Paragraph 89)

The Government should review the staffing complement and structure working on SDG2 across departments, and the anticipated need in coming years, hiring new staff where needed. (Recommendation, Paragraph 90) 57