Author name: admin

Riyadh/New York, February 20 – Wars, climate disasters and economic collapse are causing the largest food crisis in modern history, spreading famine that is affecting millions of people around the world, the chief U.N. humanitarian affairs and emergency coordinator said in an appeal to help those in needs.

“The world is facing the largest food crisis in modern history, and famine is knocking on many doors,” Martin Griffiths told a humanitarian forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on behalf of U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

The forum was held under the theme “The Evolving Humanitarian landscape for 2023 and beyond” and attended by heads of state and government and donors to the U.N. emergency fund known as CERF.

“Our mandate and mantra is ‘We don’t give up.’ But to discharge this mandate, we need your help in practical and tangible ways,” Griffiths said.

Griffths described the current humanitarian landscape as “rough and rugged one” where needs are spiralling across the world and humanitarian crises are piling on top of each other, and “desperate people are looking to us in their hour of need.” He said women’s human rights specially are under “vicious attacks” in many places and injustice has festered for decades.

Griffiths said more than 350 million people around the world currently need humanitarian assistance and close to US$ 54 billion are needed to meet the basic needs of the worst affected among them.

“But experience shows that we can expect to raise barely half of that amount. Each year, our count of people in need, and dollars to raise, takes another jump. The trend is clear, and there are three main reasons for this,” he said.

He said more than 222 million people globally “don’t know when or even if they’ll eat another meal” and 45 million people are already on the brink of starvation with most of them women and children.

 The economic collapse fuelled first by the shock of Covid-19 pandemic, the year-old war in Ukraine and the recent earthquake in Turkeye and Syria are pushing millions of people to the brink, the U.N said. The U.N. has allocated up to $50 million to assist earthquake victims and $250 million from CERF to meet urgent humanitarian needs in score of countries.

United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations News – United Nations News – United Nations News

Joint statement by heads of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); International Monetary Fund (IMF); World Bank Group (WBG); World Food Program (WFP) and World Trade Organization (WTO) calling for continued urgent action to address the global crisis on food and nutrition security.

 (Following is the original statement – February 8, 2023)

We offer our deepest sympathies to the people of Türkiye and the neighboring Syrian Arab Republic who have suffered the recent earthquakes. Our organizations are closely monitoring the situation, assessing the magnitude of the disaster, and working to mobilize necessary support in accordance with each organization’s mandates and procedures.

Globally, poverty and food insecurity are both on the rise after decades of development gains. Supply chain disruptions, climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, financial tightening through rising interest rates and the Russia’s war in Ukraine have caused an unprecedented shock to the global food system, with the most vulnerable hit the hardest. Food inflation remains high in the world, with dozens of countries experiencing double digit inflation.

According to WFP, 349 million people across 79 countries are acutely food insecure. The prevalence of undernourishment is also on the rise, following three years of deterioration.

This situation is expected to worsen, with global food supplies projected to drop to a three-year low in 2022/2023.^[1] The need is especially dire in 24 countries that FAO and WFP have identified as hunger hotspots, of which 16 are in Africa.^[2] Fertilizer affordability as defined by the ratio between food prices and fertilizer prices^[3] is also the lowest since the 2007/2008 food crisis, which is leading to lower food production and impacting smallholder farmers the hardest, worsening the already high local food prices. For example, the reduction in 2022 of the production of rice, for which Africa is the largest importer in the world, coupled with prospects of lower stocks, is of grave concern.

In response to the inflation of food, fuel and fertilizer prices, countries have spent over US$710 billion for social protection measures covering 1 billion people, including approximately US$380 billion for subsidies. However, only US$4.3 billion has been spent in low-income countries for social protection measures, compared to US$507.6 billion in high-income countries.^[3]

To prevent a worsening of the food and nutrition security crisis, further urgent actions are required to (i) rescue hunger hotspots, (ii) facilitate trade, improve the functioning of markets, and enhance the role of the private sector, and (iii) reform and repurpose harmful subsidies with careful targeting and efficiency. Countries should balance short-term urgent interventions with longer-term resilience efforts as they respond to the crisis. 

1.     Rescue hunger hotspots

We call on governments and donors to support country-level efforts to address the needs in hotspots, share information and strengthen crisis preparedness. The WFP and FAO need funds urgently to serve the most vulnerable immediately. In 2022, WFP and partners reached a record number of people – more than 140 million – with food and nutrition assistance, based on a record-breaking US$14 billion in contributions, of which US$7.3 billion came from the United States Government alone. WFP sent over US$3 billion in cash-based transfers to people in 72 countries and provided support to school feeding programs in 80 countries, including 15 million children through direct support and more than 90 million children through bolstering government national school feeding programs. FAO has invested US$1 billion to support more than 40 million people in rural areas with time sensitive agricultural interventions. These activities were primarily focused on the 53 countries listed in the Global Report on Food Crises.

The World Bank is providing a US$30 billion food and nutrition security package covering the 15 months from April 2022 to June 2023, including US$12 billion of new projects, which have all been committed ahead of schedule. This also includes US$3.5 billion in new financing for food and nutrition security in hotspots. In addition, the Bank has allocated US$748 million from its US$1 billion Early Response Financing modality of IDA’s Crisis Response Window (CRW) to mostly address needs in hotspots and is mobilizing additional funds for the CRW.

Funding for the IMF’s Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT) must also be mobilized to provide concessional financing to low-income countries facing balance of payment needs. The IMF’s new Food Shock Window has so far supported Ukraine, Malawi, Guinea and Haiti, while nine countries facing acute food insecurity benefited from IMF financial support through new programs or augmentation of existing ones, with a focus on strengthening social safety nets and policies to help address the impact of the food crisis. The Global Alliance for Food Security (GAFS) is supporting greater crisis preparedness through the development and operationalization of multi-sectoral Food Security Crisis Preparedness Plans across 26 counties, which should be supported by governments and donors. GAFS also continues to monitor the severity of the food crisis and the financing of the global response through the Global Food and Nutrition Security Dashboard. We also welcome efforts by all parties to mobilize more funding for Africa’s agricultural transformation, as noted in the Dakar Declaration^[4] and we want to acknowledge the great work done by David Beasley, Executive Director, WFP, during his tenure. 

2.     Facilitate trade, improve the functioning of markets, and enhance the role of the private sector

Countries should minimize trade distortions, strengthen the provision of public goods, and enable the private sector to contribute meaningfully to improved food security outcomes. We repeat our urgent call for countries to (i) avoid policies such as export restrictions, which can impede access to food for poor consumers in low-income food-importing countries; (ii) support trade facilitation measures, to improve availability of food and fertilizer, (iii) support trade finance initiatives in a transparent and indiscriminatory manner; and (iv) adhere to the commitments made at the WTO’s 12^th Ministerial Conference.^[5] While countries have lifted some export bans on wheat and rice, new export restrictions and bans, particularly on vegetables, are hampering availability on global markets. Global food security can be strengthened if governments support both food producers and consumers in a smart and targeted manner, such as by strengthening the provision of public goods in ways that improve farm productivity sustainably. Countries can use e-voucher schemes for fertilizers and avoid large-scale public procurement and subsidized distribution schemes, either on farm inputs or farm products, that crowd out the private sector. The WBG’s US$6 billion IFC Global Food Security Platform supports farmers to access fertilizers and other critical supplies while helping private companies make longer-term investments, focusing on improving the resilience of agri-food systems and fertilizer use efficiency. Countries should follow FAO‘s International Code of Conduct for the Sustainable Use and Management of Fertilizers to sustainably manage nutrients for food security.^[6]

3.     Reform and repurpose harmful subsidies with careful targeting and efficiency

Countries should reform and repurpose general universal subsidies towards temporary, better targeted programs for global food security and sustainable food systems, considering the key aspects of (i) efficiency, (ii) cost and fiscal sustainability, (iii) flexibility, (iv) administrative complexity, (v) equity, and (vi) strengthened resilience and sustainability. Most of the global social protection response to inflation is in the form of subsidies, half of which are untargeted, inefficient, and costly to already constrained governments. Support should be scaled up for countries to strengthen and deploy comprehensive, actionable and shock responsive social protection strategies. Policies and reforms supported by financing from IMF and the World Bank have focused on the transition from broad-based measures to more targeted approaches. Countries need to re-examine and reform their support to agriculture, which amounted to about US$639 billion per year between 2016 and 2018, and has since been on the rise. Of every dollar spent, only 35 cents end up with farmers.^[7] Much of this support incentivizes inefficient use of resources, distorts global markets, or undermines environmental sustainability, public health, and agricultural productivity. Without ignoring the inherent trade-offs associated with large scale policy reforms ^[10], this funding should be reformed and repurposed in ways that strengthen the resilience and sustainability of the agri-food system, such as the adoption of good agricultural practices, research and innovation (including in fertilizer application efficiency and alternatives to synthetic fertilizers), extension and advisory services, improved infrastructure and logistics, and digital technologies that improve productivity sustainably. The FAO new science and innovation strategy and the agri-food systems technologies and innovations outlook, ^[11] together with the One CGIARInitiative, plays a pivotal role across these areas to deliver global benefits of individual country reforms.^[8]

Action is already under way to address underlying structural challenges in social protection and in the food and fertilizer markets, but more concerted action across these three key areas is needed to prevent a prolonged crisis. We are committed to working jointly and with impact to support the most vulnerable.

This is the third Joint Statement by the Heads of the Food and Agriculture Organization, International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, World Food Programme, and World Trade Organization on the Global Food and Nutrition Security Crisis. The previous Joint Statements can be accessed here (1) and here (2).

 United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations News – United Nations News – United Nations News

New York, February 6 – Citing the inalienable right to peace under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, U.N. Secretary-GeneralAntoniocalled for a New Agenda for Peace through multilateral diplomacy to end conflicts, from the Russia-led Ukraine war and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to violence in Myanmar and Haiti

Guterres said the Universal Declaration, proclaimed in 1948, provides a “roadmap out of the dead end” marked by conflicts without any prospects for peace.

“The Russian invasion of Ukraine is inflicting untold suffering on the Ukrainian people, with profound global implications,” Guterres said in an address to the U.N. General Assembly to begin activities in the new year. “The prospects for peace keep diminishing. The chances of further escalation and bloodshed keep growing. I fear the world is now sleepwalking into a wider war. It is doing so with its eyes wide open.”

“The world needs peace. Peace in line with the United Nations Charter and international law.”

New Agenda for Peace

Guterres said the proposed plan will revitalize multilateral action for a “world in transition and a new era of geostrategic competition” and will seek to address all forms and domains of threats, old and new.

The U.N. peacekeeping operations, launched 75 years ago, are under-funded and under attacks “with no peace to keep,” the U.N. leader said, proposing a new initiative under Action for Peacekeeping.

“But the New Agenda for Peace must recognize the need for a new generation of peace enforcement missions and counter-terrorist operations, led by regional forces, with a Security Council mandate under Chapter VII, and with guaranteed, predictable funding. The African Union is an obvious partner in this regard.”

He said disarmament and arms control issues should return to the center of diplomacy to reduce strategic threats from nuclear arms and work for their ultimate elimination.

“Nuclear-armed countries must renounce the first use of these unconscionable weapons,” he said. “In fact, they must renounce any use, anytime, anywhere. The so-called ‘tactical’ use of nuclear weapons is absurd.”

“We are at the highest risk in decades of a nuclear war that could start by accident or design. We need to end the threat posed by 13,000 nuclear weapons held in arsenals around the world.”

“The New Agenda for Peace aims to maximize the convening power of the United Nations as a platform for broad-based coalitions and effective diplomacy.”

Csaba Kőrösi, president of the current 77^th General Assembly session, said: the body has embarked on 16 negotiation processes aiming at “transformation” across several of the priorities identified by the U.N. leader.

“As we embark on our efforts, let us view these processes holistically, with a full understanding of how the priority areas outlined by the Secretary-General are both interconnected and interrelated,” Korosi said.

“Failing to pave the way for economic growth and sustainable development – as we know – will have a direct bearing on prospects for international peace and security. To achieve the desired transformative change, we will have to refresh our thinking on evaluation of the development, going beyond GDP. We will also need the evidence and methodology science can offer us to shape our decisions.”

Sustainable Development Goals

Guterres urged government leaders to show up at the SDG Summit in September when the 193-nation U.N. General Assembly will hold its annual meetings, pointing out that the ambitious program has not met its deadlines at halfway to 2030. The General Assembly has scheduled a Summit of the Least Developed Countries in March to boost progress ahead of the SDG Summit in September. Topping the 17 Sustainable Development Goals are eliminating poverty and hunger and providing education for all.

Guterres urged developed countries to ensure that developing economies have the liquidity to fund investments in quality education, universal healthcare and pandemic preparedness, decent work and social protection. He called on the 20 richest countries (G20) to agree to stimulus programs to support countries in the Global South.

Commission on the Status of Women, March 6-17

Government representatives and non-governmental organizations accredited to ECOSOC from all regions in the world are called to attend and contribute to the session. This year’s priority theme: Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. The review theme: Challenges and opportunities in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls (agreed conclusions of the 62nd session)

Water Summit March 22-24

The U.N. will hold a Water Summit to develop a bold Water Action Agenda that would bring a clean, healthy and sustainable environment to all.

“Action on oceans means new partnerships and tougher efforts to tackle marine- pollution, end overfishing, safeguard marine biodiversity, and more,” Guterres said.

 With climate change profoundly affecting our economies, societies and environment, water is indeed the biggest deal breaker to achieve the internationally agreed water-related goals and targets, including those contained in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Climate Change

The U.N. will hold its climate summit (COP28) in the United Arab Emirates in December.

The U.N. leader urges focus on two urgent priorities: cutting emissions and achieving climate justice, which mean “far more ambitious action to cut carbon pollution by speeding up the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy – especially in G20 countries — and de-carbonizing highest emitting industrial sectors – steel, cement, shipping and aviation.”

“It means delivering on the Just Energy Transitions Partnerships with South Africa, Indonesia and Viet Nam. And expanding on this cooperation through a Climate Solidarity Pact.”

The plan said all businesses, cities, regions and financial institutions that took a 2050 net zero pledge should present their transition plans with credible and ambitious targets for 2025 and 2030 — aligned with the standards set by a High-Level Expert Group.

Guterres reminded developed countries to deliver on commitments to provide $100 billion to developing countries so they can adapt to new climate-related technology and deliver on the loss and damage fund agreed at last year’s COP in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. (By J. Tuyet Nguyen)

United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations News – United Nations News – United Nations News

Davos, Switzerland/New York, January 18 – While acknowledging that the United States and China are in conflict over various issues, the United Nations said it is “possible” for the two countries to engage on climate, trade and technology to avoid decoupling their economies.

 U.N. Secretary-General Antonio told the World Economic Forum in the Swiss Alps resort at Davos that the U.S.-China conflict can cause a “tectonic rift that would create two different sets of trade rules, two dominant currencies, two internets and two conflicting strategies on artificial intelligence.”

Referring to a study by the International Monetary Fund, Guterres said a decoupling of the U.S. and Chinese economies, the world’s two largest, could cut global GDP by a whopping $1.4 trillion.

“But it is possible – indeed essential – for the two countries to have meaningful engagement on climate, trade and technology to avoid the decoupling of economies or even the possibility of future confrontation,” the U.N. chief said.

He said the North-South divide is deepening at the same time while developed countries are unable to grasp the deep frustration of the global south.

Participants at the forum, the first in-person gathering since the pandemic erupted in early 2020, have voiced frustration at global economic slowdown, disrupted supply chains and the on-going Russia-Ukraine war. Guterres said the short-term global economic outlook is “bleak” while inequalities have deepened, costs of living have rapidly increased and the world is still unprepared for the next pandemic.

He called for reforming and building fairness into the global financial system to allow poor countries access to finance and to bridge the divide and restore trust so all countries can embark on meaningful climate action.

IMF: WEF faces Gordian Knot as it tries to prevent fragmented world

“As policymakers and business leaders gather at the World Economic Forum in Davos, they are facing a Gordian knot of challenges,” Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, said in an IMF Blog aimed at the gathering.

“From the global economic slowdown and climate change to the cost-of-living crisis and high debt levels: there is no easy way to cut through it. Added to this are geopolitical tensions that have made it even more difficult to address vital global issues,” she said.

“Indeed, even as we need more international cooperation on multiple fronts, we are facing the specter of a new Cold War that could see the world fragment into rival economic blocs. This would be a collective policy mistake that would leave everyone poorer and less secure.”

The IMF estimates that the cost of fragmentation from recent studies “vary widely” with the longer-term cost of trade fragmentation alone could range from 0.2 percent to almost 7 percent in a severe scenario, which is roughly equivalent to the combined annual output of Germany and Japan. If technological decoupling is added to the mix, some countries could see losses of up to 12 percent of GDP.

Georgieva urged governments to strengthen the international trade system; help vulnerable countries deal with debt and step up climate action as measures against fragmentation.

2023 Davos meeting January 16-20

This year’s World Economic Forum under the theme ‘Cooperation in a Fragmented World’ is drawing 2,700 leaders from 130 countries including 52 heads of state/government.

“Multiple crises are deepening divisions and fragmenting the geopolitical landscape. Leaders must address people’s immediate, critical needs while also laying the groundwork for a more sustainable, resilient world by the end of the decade,” WEF said.

Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of WEF, said, “We see the manifold political, economic and social forces creating increased fragmentation on a global and national level. To address the root causes of this erosion of trust, we need to reinforce cooperation between the government and business sectors, creating the conditions for a strong and durable recovery. At the same time there must be the recognition that economic development needs to be made more resilient, more sustainable and nobody should be left behind.”

WEF said the 53rd annual meeting will focus on solutions and public-private cooperation to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges. “It encourages world leaders to work together on the interconnected issues of energy, climate and nature; investment, trade and infrastructure; frontier technologies and industry resilience; jobs, skills, social mobility and health; and geopolitical cooperation in a multipolar world. Special emphasis is on gender and geographical diversity across all sessions.”

(By J. Tuyet Nguyen)

United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations News – United Nations News – United Nations News