The Hunger Project (THP), a global organisation dedicated to eradicating hunger, revealed its new vision and mission at the Holiday Inn Airport City, Accra. The occasion marked a milestone in the fight against hunger as pressing challenges that threaten progress in the battle against hunger were also addressed.
Speaking with the B&FT, Samuel Afrane, Country Director of the Hunger Project-Ghana, said: “Having worked for over 40 years globally in a view to eradicating hunger and poverty, but with the onset of COVID-19 and the conflicts that are taking place globally as well as the effects of climate effects, we see that all the gains we had in reducing hunger and poverty have retrogressed”.
Since its establishment in 1977, The Hunger Project has been fighting tirelessly to eradicate hunger. However, recent trends have caused a concerning change in the fight against it. The compounding effects of climate change, conflict, global warming and the COVID-19 pandemic have aggravated the situation, increasing undernourishment. Currently, 828 million people around the world suffer from hunger, with Ghana alone grappling with a food insecurity rate of 12 percent – impacting 3.6 million people.
In response to these critical challenges, THP assessed to identify what they were missing to create a hunger-free world. “We decided that we should have a new focus, such that inequities in systems that are working against whatever we did to reduce hunger and poverty will be outlawed. When we begin to solve the problems of hunger and poverty, the systems around the world will not bring us back again, but that countries will be able to stand on their own and have that food sovereignty and not depend on others.” Mr. Afrane stated.
This led to the formation of the organisation’s new vision and mission:
THP’s new vision: A world without hunger.
THP’s new mission: To facilitate individual and collective action to transform the systems of inequity that create and perpetuate hunger.
The organisation further emphasised the importance of collaboration with community partners to effect lasting change. The Hunger Project-Ghana has been at the forefront of the fight against hunger in the region. Working closely with local communities, they have implemented numerous programmes and initiatives to improve nutrition, healthcare and overall well-being.
“The Hunger Project moved to the establishment of epicentres as a focus of development, and has since established 45 epicentres in 33 districts in five regions across Ghana equipped with clinics. The project has also built the capacities of rural communities to become self-reliant and move from the spirit of ‘I can’t do’ to one of ‘I can do’. The activities of the Hunger Project have directly benefitted 350 thousand people across the country,” said Mr. Asare in his speech.
Speaking further, Mr. Asare highlighted that the volunteers they have gained from the various communities help in leading the communities by engaging local governments and serving as community educators as well as helping with programmes in agriculture, health, women empowerment, microfinance and livelihood development.
The inclusion of the youth in the growth of the community and eradicating hunger was emphasised by Professor Esther Sakyi-Dawson, Chairperson of the National Advisory Council of THP Ghana.
“They are young people and, therefore, it is easier to re-orient their thinking – that intentionality to reach out to the young people and involve them in the training and asking them what they want and how they can be helped to be able to stay in their communities and earn a good living in their communities – to let them see that they are to lead their communities in the future; so if the leave who will lead?”
When asked about climate change and pollution and how they would combat them, she spoke about THP’s aim to educate, as this can be a way to teach them about the effects of their actions on the environment. “Most of what needs to be done are in education; without education, they won’t understand why they need to stop doing what they are doing, so most of the approach is through advocacy and education.”
Some of the other things discussed were five key areas of focus: nutrition, supporting local agriculture, reducing food loss, safeguarding biodiversity, and utilising innovation and technology.
THP aims to create sustainable and holistic solutions to hunger. This approach tackles both immediate needs and underlying causes, providing a roadmap for building resilience, self-reliance and empowerment within communities, ensuring a future where every individual is nourished and can thrive.
Through collaboration with community partners and stakeholders, The Hunger Project’s endeavours will be improved, maximising their impact and advancing the collective goal of a hunger-free world.
