Hunger and food security
Due to regional conflicts, sharply rising costs, extreme weather events, and the social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, an unprecedented number of people around the globe — 50 million in 45 countries — are threatened by hunger and starvation. Many poor farmers are unable to grow enough food to feed their own families, much less sell for additional income. We partner with communities to address immediate food needs — and also ensure they’re equipped for the future.
Anita is only 11 years old, but she’s making a big difference in the fight against food insecurity in her Kenyan village. She is learning about sustainable farming practices that are resistant to weather extremes and growing diverse crops for that are nourishing her family of 11. With her growing knowledge, she’s encouraging and equipping her siblings and peers to improve the lives of their families.
World Vision staff in Yesica’s community observed that she was underweight for her age. They connected her mother, Telma, with a nutrition training program so she could learn to make more nutritious food with local ingredients. Now Yesica falls into an appropriate weight for her age and height.
In Phonexay, Laos, changing weather patterns have severely impacted agricultural productivity, leading to widespread undernutrition among children and families. In collaboration with the community, World Vision has equipped families with climate-smart agricultural practices and nutrition training to help keep children healthy.
We reached over 16 million people in the first six months of our current global hunger crisis response (April through September 2022).
In FY21, we used 163,172 metric tons of food to help nourish children and families in countries around the world.
We work in 40 of the 60 countries classified by global experts as “fragile” and especially susceptible to hunger.
Our deep relationships with USAID as well as partnerships at country and local levels enable us to reach the most remote locations and serve the people in greatest need.
Our approach to overcoming hunger
What is World Vision doing to address hunger around the world?
In April 2022 we launched our largest humanitarian undertaking ever in response to the global hunger crisis. Our 18-month response is focused on delivering life-saving aid to 22 million people in 26 countries where hunger is at its worst.
We work to equip children and families with the means to overcome hunger and achieve food security, which means they know where their next meal is coming from — and that it will be enough nutritious food to live an active, healthy life.
Specifically, we help hungry children and families by:
- Delivering emergency food aid during crises
- Increasing agricultural productivity through improved seeds and farming practices
- Improving access to markets so farming families can profitably sell their surplus food
- Teaching families and communities how to improve nutrition and dietary diversity
- Managing resources in a sustainable way to prevent soil erosion, maintain soil fertility, use water more efficiently, and protect the environment
How does World Vision help families grow their own food more sustainably?
We help farmers increase their productivity by:
- Helping them get improved, locally adapted seeds and tools and sustainable access to clean water
- Teaching more productive agricultural practices such as promoting diversified and integrated farming systems, including livestock
- Training families about better post-harvest storage and processing techniques to ensure more food is preserved and less is wasted
- Bringing farmers together in associations and cooperatives, so they have more bargaining power and better access to markets and business development services, including credit, allowing them to graduate from subsistence to commercial farming
What if there’s a famine? Do you distribute aid?
We deliver emergency food aid to make sure children and families get essential nutrients during times of acute crisis. At the same time, we help families strengthen and improve their ability to produce or purchase their own food. This approach helps families become more resilient and better equipped to handle future food challenges.
How does teaching families and communities about nutrition help?
Rural families often grow or raise their own food. They may rely on crops and animals that grow locally, as well as traditional recipes that may not create balanced nutritional meals. We train volunteers to help families and communities learn about nutritious, appropriate crops to grow; small animals that are easy to raise; new recipes; and how to cook variations on local recipes in order to provide more nutritious meals.
We focus on ensuring nutrition for pregnant and lactating mothers, as well as mothers of children under the age of 5, who are most vulnerable to the long-term impacts of malnutrition. Mothers also learn to recognize signs of malnourishment among their children, and what to do if they detect it.
As a result of these programs, children and families are healthier, have more energy, and get sick less often.
Food and agriculture resources
Mainstreaming Nutrition Within Food Systems
World Vision co-authored this series of technical publications on maximizing nutrition outcomes within food systems.
Building Community Resilience to Climate Shocks
Resilience strategies underpin the work of many agencies working in complex, fragile environments. This case study describes the experience of World Vision’s USAID project in Zimbabwe on the matter.
Farming as a Business (FAAB) Manual for Smallholder Farmers
The USAID-funded ENSURE project in Zimbabwe developed this manual to promote farming as a viable and sustainable business.
Due to regional conflicts, sharply rising costs, extreme weather events, and the social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, an unprecedented number of people around the globe — 50 million in 45 countries — are threatened by hunger and starvation. Many poor farmers are unable to grow enough food to feed their own families, much less sell for additional income. We partner with communities to address immediate food needs — and also ensure they’re equipped for the future.
Up to 783 million people — 1 in 10 of the world’s population — face chronic hunger. Explore key facts about the challenging issues of global hunger and food insecurity. Learn about World Vision’s role in tackling world hunger and how you can help.
At least 22.8 million people face a hunger crisis in Afghanistan, where parents are faced with the impossible choice of selling a child for food or seeing their families starve. Learn what World Vision is doing to help families affected by the Afghan hunger crisis.
In rural communities, women have to travel long distances to get basic healthcare. World Vision–trained community health workers help bridge the gap and provide care as well as education.
We reached over 16 million people in the first six months of our current global hunger crisis response (April through September 2022).
In FY21, we used 163,172 metric tons of food to help nourish children and families in countries around the world.
We work in 40 of the 60 countries classified by global experts as “fragile” and especially susceptible to hunger.
Our deep relationships with USAID as well as partnerships at country and local levels enable us to reach the most remote locations and serve the people in greatest need.
Our approach to overcoming hunger
What is World Vision doing to address hunger around the world?
In April 2022 we launched our largest humanitarian undertaking ever in response to the global hunger crisis. Our 18-month response is focused on delivering life-saving aid to 22 million people in 26 countries where hunger is at its worst.
We work to equip children and families with the means to overcome hunger and achieve food security, which means they know where their next meal is coming from — and that it will be enough nutritious food to live an active, healthy life.
Specifically, we help hungry children and families by:
- Delivering emergency food aid during crises
- Increasing agricultural productivity through improved seeds and farming practices
- Improving access to markets so farming families can profitably sell their surplus food
- Teaching families and communities how to improve nutrition and dietary diversity
- Managing resources in a sustainable way to prevent soil erosion, maintain soil fertility, use water more efficiently, and protect the environment
How does World Vision help families grow their own food more sustainably?
We help farmers increase their productivity by:
- Helping them get improved, locally adapted seeds and tools and sustainable access to clean water
- Teaching more productive agricultural practices such as promoting diversified and integrated farming systems, including livestock
- Training families about better post-harvest storage and processing techniques to ensure more food is preserved and less is wasted
- Bringing farmers together in associations and cooperatives, so they have more bargaining power and better access to markets and business development services, including credit, allowing them to graduate from subsistence to commercial farming
What if there’s a famine? Do you distribute aid?
We deliver emergency food aid to make sure children and families get essential nutrients during times of acute crisis. At the same time, we help families strengthen and improve their ability to produce or purchase their own food. This approach helps families become more resilient and better equipped to handle future food challenges.
How does teaching families and communities about nutrition help?
Rural families often grow or raise their own food. They may rely on crops and animals that grow locally, as well as traditional recipes that may not create balanced nutritional meals. We train volunteers to help families and communities learn about nutritious, appropriate crops to grow; small animals that are easy to raise; new recipes; and how to cook variations on local recipes in order to provide more nutritious meals.
We focus on ensuring nutrition for pregnant and lactating mothers, as well as mothers of children under the age of 5, who are most vulnerable to the long-term impacts of malnutrition. Mothers also learn to recognize signs of malnourishment among their children, and what to do if they detect it.
As a result of these programs, children and families are healthier, have more energy, and get sick less often.
Resource Archives:
- Africa’s Agricultural Potential: This infographic shows how Africa can address hunger and malnutrition while boosting livelihoods and promoting inclusive, sustainable growth.
-
Ultra Rice® test: World Vision and PATH conducted a field trial to test Ultra Rice® grains, generating data on its stability under real world transport and storage conditions, and the health impact (PDF) among African children.
Food and agriculture resources
Building Community Resilience to Climate Shocks
Resilience strategies underpin the work of many agencies working in complex, fragile environments. This case study describes the experience of World Vision’s USAID project in Zimbabwe on the matter.
Farming as a Business (FAAB) Manual for Smallholder Farmers
The USAID-funded ENSURE project in Zimbabwe developed this manual to promote farming as a viable and sustainable business.
Ways to support hunger relief and food security
Global Hunger Crisis Response
The largest global hunger crisis in modern history has left 30 million children dangerously malnourished, threatening their health, hope, and futures. World Vision is responding in 28 of the hardest-hit countries, and our track record is one of success. By the grace of God, over the last 10 years, 89% of the severely malnourished children we treated made a full recovery.
Thanks to donor contributions, combined with public grants from partnerships like these, every $1 you donate to Global Hunger Response delivers $5 in impact.
Become a Hunger Relief Partner
When you donate to the Hunger Relief Fund, you can help stop hunger for children and families around the world. No child should lack nutritious food, but 233.5 million children were malnourished in 2020, without considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
You can help ensure kids get the nutrition they need, addressing immediate food needs and empowering families to grow their own sustainable sources of food. And thanks to public grants, your gifts will multiply 15 times in impact!
Monthly giving is the most effective way to help children and families who need it most. Plus, it lowers costs, which means more of your gift helps kids!
Ways to support hunger relief and food security
Global Hunger Crisis Response
The largest global hunger crisis in modern history has left 30 million children dangerously malnourished, threatening their health, hope, and futures. World Vision is responding in 28 of the hardest-hit countries, and our track record is one of success. By the grace of God, over the last 10 years, 89% of the severely malnourished children we treated made a full recovery.
Thanks to donor contributions, combined with public grants from partnerships like these, every $1 you donate to Global Hunger Response delivers $5 in impact.
Become a Hunger Relief Partner
When you donate to the Hunger Relief Fund, you can help stop hunger for children and families around the world. No child should lack nutritious food, but 233.5 million children were malnourished in 2020, without considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
You can help ensure kids get the nutrition they need, addressing immediate food needs and empowering families to grow their own sustainable sources of food. And thanks to public grants, your gifts will multiply 15 times in impact!
Monthly giving is the most effective way to help children and families who need it most. Plus, it lowers costs, which means more of your gift helps kids!
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