Poverty and hunger can be a catalyst for conflict and unrest. And since poor families in most of the developing world spend as much as 60 percent of their income on food, spikes in food prices trap families in a cycle of poverty, hunger and malnutrition — and can eventually lead to political instability, conflict and crime.
Today, as all major food emergencies are happening in conflict-affected areas, the relationship between conflict and food insecurity is undeniable.
That’s why Feed the Future is leaning into these fragile areas and giving people the tools they need to feed themselves now and in the future. All sectors — from humanitarian assistance, to water, to health and beyond — must work together to strengthen resilience. Investing in these regions today means less humanitarian spending in the long-run, and more importantly, more lives and livelihoods saved.
Strengthening resilience does not sit in one sector. By channeling the best of what the public and private sectors, as well as civil society and universities, have to offer, Feed the Future is catalyzing long-term, systemic change and helping families prosper.
For stories and updates related to Feed the Future and global food security progress, keep an eye out for our upcoming newsletter issues.