Select Committee · International Development Committee

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

Status: Closed Opened: 20 Oct 2023 Closed: 9 Jun 2025 29 recommendations 8 conclusions 1 report

This inquiry examined the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and wider UK Government’s work on hunger and nutrition around the world and work towards achieving Zero Hunger by 2030 in line with SDG2. It examined the impact on this work of significant ongoing cuts to the UK aid budget. The Committee examined the effectiveness …

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
3rd Report - The Government’s efforts to achieve SDG2: Zero… HC 515 18 Mar 2025 37 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

10 items
4 Conclusion 3rd Report - The Government’s efforts t… Deferred

Women's inclusion and disaggregated data are vital for equitable Zero Hunger progress.

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. …

Government response. The government's response did not address the conclusion regarding the vital role of including women and using disaggregated data in Zero Hunger policy and programming. Instead, it discussed disability and the impact of Official Development Assistance (ODA) spending reductions.
5 Recommendation 3rd Report - The Government’s efforts t… Deferred

Renew focus on improving gender relevance of nutrition funding and food system programming.

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)

Government response. The government's response did not address the recommendation to renew its focus on improving gender relevance in nutrition-specific funding and gender-specific programming. Instead, it discussed efforts to address conflict-induced hunger and improve the predictability of the FCDO's Official Development Assistance …
8 Recommendation 3rd Report - The Government’s efforts t… Deferred

Disabled people's needs must be incorporated into all Zero Hunger programming.

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)

Government response. The government partially agreed, recognizing the vulnerability of disabled people to hunger, but deferred concrete action on incorporating their needs into programming, stating it was necessary to pause the refresh of the Disability Inclusion and Rights Strategy until after the …
9 Recommendation 3rd Report - The Government’s efforts t… Deferred

Address specific linkages between nutrition and disability in the updated Disability Strategy.

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)

Government response. The government acknowledges the linkages between nutrition and disability but has paused the refresh of the Disability Inclusion and Rights Strategy due to ODA budget cuts, deferring consideration until after the multi-year Spending Review has concluded.
17 Recommendation 3rd Report - The Government’s efforts t… Deferred

Mainstreaming local decision-making in international development programming is crucial for FCDO aspirations.

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 …

Government response. The government partially agreed, stating that locally driven action is central to their current efforts in development. However, any decisions to develop new delivery frameworks for local decision-making are deferred pending the outcome of the ongoing Spending Review.
20 Recommendation 3rd Report - The Government’s efforts t… Deferred

Lead by example at Nutrition for Growth summit with generous nutrition and food security pledges.

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)

Government response. The government was unable to make a generous funding commitment or new reach commitment at the Nutrition for Growth Summit due to an ongoing Spending Review. It will explore options for future pledges and policy commitments in 2025 once the …
26 Recommendation 3rd Report - The Government’s efforts t… Deferred

FCDO's SDG2 programming monitoring remains insufficient, requiring common indicators for effectiveness.

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 …

Government response. The government partially agreed, stating that decisions on future ODA spending and new delivery frameworks are being worked through as part of the Spending Review, which limits their ability to commit to new monitoring indicators. They highlighted existing support for …
30 Recommendation 3rd Report - The Government’s efforts t… Deferred

Explore wider application of cash transfers alongside local agricultural and nutritional development.

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

Government response. The government recognizes the importance of cash transfers but states it will take the recommendation and further action into consideration as part of the ongoing FCDO Spending Review and refresh of FCDO priorities.
32 Recommendation 3rd Report - The Government’s efforts t… Deferred

Establish a Zero Hunger strategic delivery framework by 2025 with clear guidance for FCDO programming.

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 …

Government response. The government agrees in principle to a Zero Hunger framework but defers decisions on creating delivery frameworks until after the completion of the ongoing Spending Review and subsequent departmental prioritisation and allocation process.
33 Recommendation 3rd Report - The Government’s efforts t… Deferred

Increase local ownership in FCDO Zero Hunger programming, setting funding targets for local organisations.

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 …

Government response. The government agrees that locally-driven action is central to its efforts but defers any decisions on setting ambitions for local funding or developing new delivery frameworks until after the ongoing Spending Review is complete.

Oral evidence sessions

4 sessions
Date Witnesses
4 Feb 2025 Chris Carter · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Jen Haugen · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Rt Hon Anneliese Dodds MP · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office View ↗
10 Dec 2024 Dr. Shaikh Tanveer Ahmed · HANDS Foundation, Mr Brieuc Pont · Government of France, Mrs Melina Mtonga · Find Your Feet Malawi, Ms Massiye Nyang’wa · Malawi, Violet Natembeya · Kenya View ↗
12 Mar 2024 Dr Diana Onyango · Farm Africa, Dr Rachael McDonnell, Jyotsna Puri · International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Rt Hon Rory Stewart · Give Directly, Ruchi Tripathi · VSO View ↗
30 Jan 2024 Abigail Perry · World Food Programme, Dr Mairo Mandara · United Against Malnutrition and Hunger, Florian Monnerie · Action against Hunger, Grainne Moloney · UNICEF, Tariro Washaya · MeDRA (Methodist Relief and Development Agency) Zimbabwe, Victor Mughogho · Eagles Malawi View ↗

Correspondence

4 letters
DateDirectionTitle
7 Jan 2025 Correspondence from the Minister of State for Development relating to The Task …
7 Jan 2025 Correspondence to the Minister of State for Development relating to The Task Fo…
7 May 2024 Correspondence from the Minister for Development & Africa relating to The role …
7 May 2024 Correspondence to the Minister for Development & Africa relating to The role of…