Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2024 has launched Wednesday at Sheraton Dhaka, spotlighting the critical intersection of climate resilience, zero hunger and gender justice. Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe jointly organized the event under the theme “Towards Zero Hunger: Challenges and Way Forward,”
The event was graced by the presence of Farida Akhter, Hon’ble Adviser, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, as the Chief Guest, and Dr. Michal Krejza, Head of Development Cooperation, Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh, as the Guest of Honor. Masudul Hasan, Secretary, Ministry of Food; Keya Khan, Director General, Department of Women Affairs; Mohammad Khaled Hasan, Additional Secretary, Cabinet Division; Md. Saiful Alam, Director General, Department of Agricultural Extension; Dr. Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman, Director General, Bangladesh National Nutrition Council as Special Guests graced the occasion.
The Global Hunger Index 2024, published jointly by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe, reveals that while incremental progress has been made in reducing hunger, the pace is insufficient to meet global commitments, such as the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger). Alarming levels of hunger persist in many regions, exacerbated by the dual threats of climate change and gender inequality.
With a GHI score of 19.4, Bangladesh is categorized as having a moderate level of hunger. While Bangladesh’s progress in addressing hunger is evident, the moderate score highlights the ongoing need for comprehensive strategies to combat malnutrition and ensure food security. Bangladesh GHI scores is based on the values of four component indicators: undernourishment, child mortality, child wasting and child stunting. According to the report, in Bangladesh,11.9% of the population is undernourished; 23.6% of children under five are stunted; 11.0% of children under five are wasted;2.9% of children die before their fifth birthday.
This year’s GHI report highlights how gender discrimination limits people’s access to and control over resources, which in turn limits their ability to cope with climate shocks and food insecurity.
Gender justice is central to effective climate action and food systems transformation. Achieving gender justice requires change at all scales and levels, ranging from individuals to entire systems, and from formal conditions like legal rights and material resource claims to more informal social and cultural norms that often conflict with relationships of respect and dignity.
As the world commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 20th anniversary of the Voluntary guidelines on the Right to Food in 2024, the GHI co-authors Welthungerhilfe (WHH), Concern Worldwide, and the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV) call for greater urgency and coherence across policies to address hunger. States must strengthen accountability on the right to food and international law and invest in integrated solutions to promote gender, climate and food justice.
The experts from different sectors, development partners, policymakers, civil society, academia and development practitioners participated in the discussion on the findings of the GHI 2024 to chart actionable pathways toward eradicating hunger and malnutrition globally.
“Bangladesh has made remarkable strides in reducing hunger, but the 2024 Global Hunger Index reminds us of the critical challenges that remain. With nearly 12% of our population undernourished and over 23% of our children stunted, our fight against hunger must evolve into a collective effort for transformative change. This year, we emphasize the power of community-driven solutions, inclusive policies, and climate resilience to break the cycle of hunger. We must empower our youth and marginalized groups to take active roles in designing and governing food systems, ensuring their voices shape a future where no one is left behind. Together, we can achieve a just, sustainable, and hunger-free Bangladesh.” Pankaj Kumar, Country Director, Welthungerhilfe Bangladesh
“Besides assessing trends and rankings in hunger by country, this year’s GHI report takes a deeper look at the importance of addressing gender inequality in achieving climate resilience and Zero Hunger. Bangladesh has made significant improvements in their GHI scores, even though the hunger level is moderate” Manish Kumar Agrawal, Country Director, Concern Worldwide.
“Women and girls are typically hardest hit by food insecurity and malnutrition. They also suffer disproportionately from the effects of weather extremes and climate climate induced natural disasters. Reforms are needed to incorporate gender justice at all scales and levels, ranging from individuals to entire systems and from formal mechanisms to informal social and cultural norms. We call for increasing investment in promoting gender, climate and food justice so that all people are assured the right to adequate healthy foods,”
“It is time for all of us to work towards zero hunger and to create a climate resilient world in which people are assured of the right to adequate food so they can lead healthy and productive lives.” he stressed
