Source · Select Committees · International Development Committee
3rd Report - The Government’s efforts to achieve SDG2: Zero Hunger
International Development Committee
HC 515
Published 18 March 2025
Recommendations
5
Deferred
Renew focus on improving gender relevance of nutrition funding and food system programming.
Recommendation
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 Summary
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 budget.
8
Deferred
Disabled people's needs must be incorporated into all Zero Hunger programming.
Recommendation
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 Summary
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 multi-year Spending Review due to ODA budget reductions.
9
Deferred
Address specific linkages between nutrition and disability in the updated Disability Strategy.
Recommendation
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)
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Government Response Summary
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
Deferred
Mainstreaming local decision-making in international development programming is crucial for FCDO aspirations.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response Summary
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
Deferred
Lead by example at Nutrition for Growth summit with generous nutrition and food security pledges.
Recommendation
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. …
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Government Response Summary
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 Spending Review is finalised.
26
Deferred
FCDO's SDG2 programming monitoring remains insufficient, requiring common indicators for effectiveness.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response Summary
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 the Child Nutrition Fund and efforts to diversify local supplier bases.
30
Deferred
Explore wider application of cash transfers alongside local agricultural and nutritional development.
Recommendation
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 Summary
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
Deferred
Establish a Zero Hunger strategic delivery framework by 2025 with clear guidance for FCDO programming.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response Summary
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
Deferred
Increase local ownership in FCDO Zero Hunger programming, setting funding targets for local organisations.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response Summary
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.
Conclusions (1)
4
Conclusion
Deferred
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 Summary
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.