Global Hunger Index

Abstract

This years Global Hunger Index (GHI) shows that global hunger has de- clined since 1990, but not dramatically, and remains at a level char- acterized as serious. Across regions and countries, GHI scores vary greatly. The highest GHI scores occur in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. South Asia reduced its GHI score substantially between 1990 and 1996, but this fast progress could not be maintained. Though Sub- Saharan Africa made less progress than South Asia after 1990, it has caught up since the turn of the millennium. From the 1990 GHI to the 2011 GHI, 15 countries were able to reduce their scores by 50 percent or more. Nineteen countries moved out of the bottom two categories extremely alarming and alarm- ing. In terms of absolute progress, Angola, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Mo- zambique, Nicaragua, Niger, and Vietnam saw the largest improve- ments between the 1990 GHI and the 2011 GHI. Twenty-six countries still have levels of hunger that are ex- tremely alarming or alarming. The countries with extremely alarming 2011 GHI scores Burundi, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Con- go, and Eritrea are in Sub-Saharan Africa. Most of the countries with alarming GHI scores are in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Among the six countries in which the hunger situation worsened, the Democratic Republic of Congo stands out. Its GHI score rose by about 63 percent owing to conflict and political instability. (Because of time lags in the availability of data, the 2011 GHI does not reflect the im- pacts of the 201011 food price crisis or the 2011 famine in the Horn of Africa.) In recent years world food markets have been characterized by rising and more volatile prices. This situation has serious implications for poor and hungry people, who have little capacity to adjust to price spikes and rapid shifts. Price increases and volatility have arisen for three main reasons: increasing use of food crops for biofuels, extreme weather events and climate change, and increased volume of trading in commodity futures markets. These factors are exacerbated by high- ly concentrated export markets that leave the worlds staple food im- porters dependent on just a few countries, a historically low level of grain reserves, and a lack of timely information about the world food system that could help prevent overreaction to moderate shifts in sup- ply and demand. Price increases and price volatility have been shown to cut into poor households spending on a range of essential goods and services and to reduce the calories they consume. It can also af- fect poor peoples nutrition by causing them to shift to cheaper, lower- quality, and less micronutrient-dense foods. Addressing the problem of food price spikes and excessive volatility re- quires action to both reduce volatility and buffer the most vulnerable people from the worst effects of higher and more variable prices. It is important to address the drivers of food price volatility and price in- creases by revising biofuel policies, regulating financial activity on food markets, and adapting to and mitigating climate change. It is also es- sential to build up food reserves and share information on food mar- kets. To build resilience to changing food prices, it is crucial to strength- en social protection systems, improve emergency preparedness, invest in sustainable small-scale agriculture, improve livelihood opportunities for both the rural and urban poor, and strengthen the provision of ba- sic services such as education, healthcare, and sanitation.