The G20, representing the world’s largest economies, have both the power and the resources to change the course of the global food crisis. They can save lives now, strengthen resilience, and secure a more stable future for all. Under South Africa’s presidency, guided by the themes of solidarity, equality, and sustainability, G20 leaders have an historic opportunity to demonstrate what global leadership means in practice. But none of these goals can be achieved without placing food and nutrition security at the centre of this week’s Leader’s Summit, 22-23 November in Johannesburg.
5 reasons why the G20 must act on the global food crisis:
1. Hunger is unequal and rising in Africa
Despite global commitments, up to 720 million people go hungry each day, and 295 million face acute food insecurity. Hunger levels remain far higher than before the pandemic and continue to increase across Africa and Western Asia. Without urgent intervention, a further 13.7 million people could be pushed into famine-like conditions this year.
The G20 must act now to reverse this trend and prevent millions of avoidable deaths.
2. The humanitarian system is on the brink
Severe funding gaps have forced humanitarian organisations to close nutrition programmes, cut food rations, and reduce services. A global funding gap of 77.9 per cent remains for lifesaving humanitarian assistance in 2025.
The G20 can close this gap and ensure that no child goes hungry because of a budget line.
3. Development finance is being dismantled
Cuts to Official Development Assistance (ODA) are wiping out decades of progress. In many donor countries, ODA is at its lowest level in more than 20 years. These cuts weaken resilience, climate adaptation, and agricultural recovery.
The G20 must protect the most vulnerable and deploy development finance strategically to support sustainable food systems. This includes backing country-led plans, strengthening national systems, boosting domestic resource mobilisation, leveraging the private sector, and bridging the humanitarian and development divide, especially in fragile contexts.
4. The Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty needs leadership
Launched under the Brazil 2024 G20 Presidency, the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty offers a coordinated way to channel expertise, accountability, and financing to countries facing food insecurity and malnutrition. But progress has slowed.
South Africa’s presidency must champion its full implementation and ensure alignment with the COP30 Belém Declaration on Hunger, Poverty, and Human-Centred Climate Action.
5. The cost of inaction far outweighs the cost of action
The global food crisis costs trillions through lost productivity, instability, and wasted human potential. Yet the solutions are clear: scaling social protection, supporting smallholder farmers, investing in nutrition, and unlocking climate finance.
The G20 can unlock affordable and effective financing through debt relief, multilateral development bank reform, and full replenishments of IFAD-14, ADF-17, and GAFSP, while honouring pledges to IDA21. This will deliver triple wins for people, planet, and prosperity.
The G20 must choose to act, and act now
If food and nutrition security are placed at the centre of the table at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in South Africa, we can start to turn the tide on a crisis that has gone on for far too long. The opportunity is there to secure commitments on humanitarian funding, protect the most vulnerable from ODA cuts, and make long-term investments in resilient food systems that deliver for people and the planet alike.
In a world of plenty, hunger is not inevitable — it is a failure of leadership. Every empty plate is a result of political inaction and ignored voices. But change is possible, because hunger is human-made — and so are the solutions. The G20 must choose to act, and act now.
Adam Bailey – Hungry for Action Coordinator
