Zero Hunger

Europe and Central Asia encompasses great economic, social and environmental diversity, its countries are facing various food security and nutrition challenges. While they have made significant progress in reducing the prevalence of undernourishment over the past two decades, new evidence shows a stagnation of this trend, particularly in Central Asia. The in-depth analysis provides new evidence for monitoring trends in food security and nutrition, and progress made against specific targets of the Sustainable Development Goal 2.

The 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals set the world on the path of sustainable development and give international trade an important role to play in this journey: “International trade is an engine for inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction, [which] contributes to the promotion of sustainable development” (Paragraph 68, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development) How can international trade become a driving force for a development as sustainable as it is inclusive, ensuring that no one is left behind? How can it respond to the growing demand for production, exchange and consumption patterns that are both environmentally and socially sustainable, as well as economically profitable? To help developing countries build their capacity to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth through trade, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has examined ways for fostering green exports via the exploitation of voluntary sustainability standards (VSS). VSS are norms and standards to ensure that a product is produced, processed or transported sustainably in terms of, e.g. respect for human rights, decent working conditions, gender equality or environmental protection, with a view to achieving environmental, social and economic objectives. Certification is one of the many VSS tools used by producers and organic standard is the most widely applied VSS in the agricultural sector. To this end, UNCTAD has worked with three countries in the Asia-Pacific Region (Lao PDR, the Philippines and Vanuatu) and developed an approach, which is ready-to-use, streamlined and adaptable to local specificities.This portfolio presents the main outcomes of this development account project, including the approach and tools developed in its framework:• An introduction to green exports and VSS: opportunities and challenges for developing countries • UNCTAD's approach and tools to build countries' capacity to foster green exports through VSS • The country case study of Vanuatu • The country case study of the Philippines • The country case study of Lao People's Democratic Republic

The Yearbook series results from joint efforts by major African regional organizations to set up a joint data collection mechanism of socioeconomic data on African countries as well as the development of a common harmonized database. It is meant to break with the practices of the past where each regional/subregional organization was publishing statistical data on African countries of the continent in an inefficient way, leading to duplication of efforts, inefficient use of scarce resources, increased burden on countries and sending different signals to users involved in tracking development efforts. The joint collection and sharing of data between regional institutions promotes wider use of country data, reduces costs and significantly improves data and leads to better monitoring of development initiatives.

This guide has been developed to assist Designated Authorities (DAs) in the operation of their seed potato certification service and to encourage standardisation in the operation of seed potato certification services between DAs. The guide is also intended to assist countries that are not implementing the Standard to establish a seed potato certification system and a DA and participate in the activities of the Specialized Section.

A medida que se acentúa el debate sobre la seguridad de los niños en internet, El Estado Mundial de la Infancia 2017: Niños en un mundo digital examina la forma en que el acceso al mundo digital puede cambiar las cosas a favor de los niños o convertirse en una nueva línea divisoria. Este informe pide acelerar las medidas, realizar inversiones específicas y reforzar la cooperación para proteger a los niños contra los peligros de un mundo cada vez más conectado, al mismo tiempo que se aprovechan las posibilidades que ofrece la era digital en beneficio de cada niño.

This study is part of a series of UNCTAD publications that focus on policies in three countries, Guatemala, Vanuatu and Malawi, aimed at upgrading and diversifying specific agricultural sectors of rural economies in developing countries with a view to raising living standards among small-scale farmers in a context of female empowerment and food security and above all, sustainable development. The study analyses three agricultural sectors in Guatemala – potato, cocoa and cardamom - in terms of opportunities derived from trade of primary and processed products. The focus is on the growing trend among consumers in high income countries for artisanal, fair-trade, organically grown, single-origin products that allow niche market penetration by integrating into their traded products a narrative on the history and lives of local farming communities where the primary product is cultivated. The study bears in mind the heavy costs to implement Voluntary Sustainable Standards, internationally-accepted certification systems, or consumer-driven specific standards set by retailers, looking at domestic sales opportunities, for example within Guatemala’s growing tourism sector, which also allows farmers to hedge against price fluctuations in international markets. According to the study’s sustainability analysis, the strategies presented are aligned with sustainable development goals, integrating environmental, social welfare, gender equality, a more equitable distribution of income, and, more diversified income opportunities. Outcomes are expected to be positive overall, but the study nevertheless advises care in implementation to minimise any unforeseen and potentially negative long-term impacts, for example on issues such as staple food production. It further cautions on possible perverse consequences whereby, without successfully integrating small-scale farmers in the product value-chain, the strategies’ principal beneficiaries may rather be intermediaries. This report concludes with a set of recommended sustainable development policies that take into account food security and the importance of agriculture not only for small-scale farmers but for Guatemala’s economy as a whole.

One of the greatest challenges today is to end hunger and poverty while making agriculture and food systems sustainable. The challenge is daunting because of continued population growth, profound changes in food demand, and the threat of mass migration of rural youth in search of a better life. This report presents strategies that can leverage the potential of food systems to become the engine of inclusive economic development and rural prosperity in low-income countries. It analyses the structural and rural transformations now under way, and examines the opportunities and challenges they present to millions of small-scale food producers. It shows how an “agroterritorial” planning approach, focused on connecting cities and towns and their surrounding rural areas, combined with agro-industrial and infrastructure development can generate income opportunities throughout the food sector and underpin sustainable and inclusive rural transformation.

Alors que le débat sur la sécurité des enfants sur Internet fait rage, La situation des enfants dans le monde 2017 : Les enfants dans un monde numérique examine comment l’accès au numérique peut changer la donne ou tout aussi bien créer une nouvelle fracture pour les enfants. Le rapport appelle à accélérer les mesures, cibler l’investissement et renforcer la coopération pour protéger les enfants des périls d’un monde plus connecté, tout en tirant parti des possibilités qu’offre l’ère numérique pour chaque enfant.

This publication looks at the benefits of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) when placed in the hands of men and women working in agriculture and in rural areas. It examines the challenges to be overcome and makes recommendations so that rural communities can take full and equal advantage of the technologies. FAO’s E-agriculture 10 Year Review Report on implementation of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) of the Action Line C7. ICT Applications: e-agriculture concludes that while substantial progress has been made in making ICTs available and accessible for rural communities, challenges remain with respect to the following seven critical factors for success: content, capacity development, gender and diversity, access and participation, partnerships, technologies, and finally, economic, social, and environmental sustainability. This publication analyses with the gender lens the seven factors of success, followed by an overview of the general existing barriers to women’s access to, control and use of ICTs. Finally, it offers a series of recommendations for better integration of gender in ICT initiatives, based on gender mainstreaming throughout the seven critical factors of success, illustrated with concrete examples.

Pour la première fois en 20 ans, le rapport La Situation des enfants dans le monde de l'UNICEF examine le problème des enfants, de la nourriture et de la nutrition, fournissant une perspective actuelle sur un problème en rapide mutation. Malgré les progrès accomplis au cours des deux dernières décennies, un tiers des enfants de moins de 5 ans souffrent de malnutrition, sous la forme d'un retard de croissance, d'une émaciation ou d'un surpoids, tandis que deux tiers sont exposés à un risque de malnutrition ou de faim insoupçonnée en raison de la piètre qualité de leur alimentation. Ces schémas reflètent le triple fardeau de la malnutrition, à savoir la dénutrition, la faim insoupçonnée et le surpoids, qui menace la survie, la croissance et le développement des enfants et des nations. Un système alimentaire dysfonctionnel, qui ne donne pas aux enfants l'alimentation dont ils ont besoin pour grandir en bonne santé, se trouve au coeur de ce problème. Ce rapport fournit des données et des analyses uniques sur la malnutrition au XXIe siècle et met en avant des recommandations pour placer les enfants au centre des systèmes alimentaires.

This publication discusses the international Zero Hunger agenda in light of the achievements of the Fome Zero programme in Brazil. It revisits successful initiatives and discusses current actions, while also critically assessing new and growing challenges to the global food security agenda: obesity and climate change. Bringing together contributions from international experts, the book charts a path for translating political will into political action. The example of Brazil and the country’s Fome Zero programme have shown that a comprehensive approach to hunger, based on a multisectoral social protection agenda and strong political leadership, is the key to success. Building on this experience, the Zero Hunger Challenge, launched by the UN in 2012, has mobilized an unprecedented global commitment to end hunger worldwide. Five of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda address this issue. Tackled together, these goals can end hunger, eliminate all forms of malnutrition and build inclusive and sustainable food systems. Indeed, the goals will have to be met if countries are to eradicate poverty and pave the way to long-term sustainable growth. Time is passing and the current disturbing world hunger figures call for renewed efforts. Our present actions will be decisive in achieving a more equitable and sustainable world. This book provides an opportunity to recall the achievements realized so far and inspire our future efforts.

This study examines the nexus between technology in agriculture and trade from a gender perspective. This document looks at the relationship between trade and gender as it explores the opportunities and challenges that women experience in the process of technological innovation and adoption in agriculture. Typically, women face many barriers in the access to agricultural technologies, and available technologies often fail to address women’s particular needs. This study aims to understand how inequality in the process of innovation and dissemination of technology affects women’s access to trade in agriculture, and to evaluate how reducing this form of inequality could strengthen women’s opportunities to participate and benefit from trade-related activities in the sector. Access to appropriate technology and the capacity to use it effectively are important factors to support women in agriculture, both as instruments for women to undertake new productive initiatives and/or to expand existing activities in agrifood value chains.

The UNCTAD Toolbox contains information on our technical cooperation products that can assist countries in putting in place the policies, regulations and institutional frameworks and in mobilizing the resources needed to fulfil the ambitions of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Drawing on the 2019 revision of World Population Prospects, the World Population Ageing 2019 (Highlights) documents global and regional trends in population ageing, including consideration of the implications of these trends for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The report also presents various concepts and indicators related to population ageing and discusses related fiscal and economic implications.

This fourth global report on The State of Sustainable Markets provides new insights into the evolution of certified agriculture and forestry and indicates significant growth in sustainability markets. It demonstrates how ITC supports “good trade” that contributes to environmental and social sustainability for both producers and consumers through collaboration with the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture and the International Institute for Sustainable Development, providing data about 14 major sustainability standards for: bananas, cocoa, coffee, cotton, oil palm, soybeans, sugarcane, tea, and forestry products. Each product features serious sustainability challenges: child labour, water scarcity, workers’ rights, use of chemicals, etc. This report facilitates transparency by summarizing each product's respective challenges and by showing which standards' initiatives are gaining traction. Such transparency helps to address major societal problems, while shaping decisions of those policymakers, producers and businesses working to address systemic labour and environmental challenges through certified sustainable production.

Este informe ofrece una introducción a las NVS como instrumentos para mejorar la sostenibilidad del comercio internacional. En el capítulo I se describen las NVS, su creación y su evolución. Se muestra que han crecido significativamente como herramienta de gobernanza transnacional en lo que respecta al número de NVS, el número de sectores y productos básicos en los que se aplican y la proporción de producción certificada de algunos productos básicos respecto de la producción mundial total de esos productos. En el capítulo II se profundiza en la contribución de las NVS a la consecución de los objetivos de sostenibilidad. Se describen detalladamente el funcionamiento de las NVS y los distintos agentes que intervienen en el proceso de certificación. También se destaca la gran diversidad de NVS que existe. En el capítulo III se revisan las publicaciones y las evidencias acerca de la eficacia de las NVS. La eficacia se aborda desde dos dimensiones diferentes: la primera se centra en la adopción o aplicación de las NVS y la segunda se ocupa del impacto de las NVS sobre el terreno según diferentes indicadores de sostenibilidad, prestando especial atención a sus efectos sociales y ambientales. En el capítulo IV se describe el uso de las NVS en el marco de otros instrumentos de política comercial. Se detalla la integración de las NVS en las políticas públicas como instrumentos complementarios para alcanzar los objetivos de esas políticas.

This report provides new insights into the evolution of certified agriculture and forestry. It provides data about 14 major sustainability standards for bananas, cocoa, coffee, cotton, oil palm, soybeans, sugarcane, tea and forestry products. The 2021 report adds data from 2019, showing that sustainability standards continue to expand their land coverage. This report helps shape decisions of policymakers, producers and businesses, working to address systemic labour and environmental challenges through certified sustainable production.

This manual aims at providing practical guidance on how to achieve gender-equitable small-scale fisheries in the context of the implementation of the SSF Guidelines. Women play a key role, in particular in post-harvest activities relating to processing, marketing and trade, but their role remains undervalued. Within the broader context of the FAO Blue Growth Initiative, this publication therefore contributes to SP 1 Outcome 101 - Member countries and their development partners make explicit political commitments in the form of policies, investment plans, programmes, legal frameworks and the allocation of necessary resources to eradicate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition. The target audience for this manual is twofold: (i) policy makers/public administrations working on small-scale fisheries will be informed about ways to ensure gender-sensitive policies, investments and small-scale fisheries sector support, (ii) CSOs/Fisheries organizations will receive guidance on how to actively support the empowerment of women in small-scale fisheries.

The ATP Handbook comprises the ATP Agreement itself and its Annexes with comments added where appropriate for clarification or additional explanation of the text. Comments contained in the ATP Handbook are not legally binding for Contracting Parties of the ATP. They are, however, important for the interpretation, harmonization and application of the Agreement as they reflect the opinion of the Working Party on the Transport of Perishable Foodstuffs of the Inland Transport Committee of the Economic Commission for Europe (organization:3019).

Le Manuel ATP comprend l'Accord ATP proprement dit et ses annexes avec des observations insérées aux endroits appropriés pour clarification ou pour explication du texte. Les observations figurant dans le Manuel de l'ATP ne sont pas juridiquement contraignantes pour les Parties contractantes. Cependant, elles sont importantes pour l'interprétation, l'harmonisation et l'application de l'Accord, dans la mesure où elles correspondent à l'avis du Groupe de travail du transport des denrées périssables du Comité des transports intérieurs de la Commission économique pour l'Europe (CEE/ONU).

This synthesis publication contains lessons from assessments of interlinkages, trade-offs and benefits in managing water, energy and land/agriculture, as well as protecting the environment in transboundary basins in Southern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and North Africa. These have been drawn from the collective experience of Parties to the Water Convention and other States, joint bodies, as well as other stakeholders who participated in these nexus assessments. The synthesis publication consolidates the methodology for assessment of nexus issues and for identification of solutions in transboundary basins, developed under the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes in 2013-2015.

The report provides an up-to-date overview of major population trends in the least developed countries (LDCs), landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) and small island developing States (SIDS) in connection with the critical development challenges they face. The groups of countries in special situations comprise 110 countries (45 LDCs, 32 LLDCs, and 57 SIDS) located in all regions of the world. The report focuses on differences and similarities in demographic characteristics between regional subgroups of the three categories of countries. It highlights levels and trends in population size, structure and distribution, mortality, fertility and international migration from 2000 to 2050, while also discussing the implications of these demographic trends for achieving the relevant SDGs.

The Code sets out measures to be taken at the various stages before fruit and vegetables reach the consumer, i.e. from harvest to retail. It encourages actors along the distribution chain to improve their logistics, handling and planning, both inside countries and across borders, and to measure food waste. It focuses on the three major segments of the fruit and vegetable supply chain – producers, traders and retailers.