Achieving zero hunger the critical role of investments in social protection and agriculture

Abstract

This report provides estimates of investment costs, both public and private, required to eliminate chronic dietary energy deficits, or to achieve zero hunger by 2030. This target is consistent with achieving both the Sustainable Development Goal 2, to eliminate hunger by 2030, and the Sustainable Development Goal 1, to eradicate poverty. The report adopts a reference “baseline” scenario, reflecting a “business-as-usual” situation, to estimate the additional investment requirements. In this scenario, around 650 million people will still suffer from hunger in 2030. The investment requirements to eliminate hunger by 2030 are then estimated. Hunger is eliminated through a combination of social protection and targeted “pro-poor " investments. The first component aims to bring the poor immediately above the extreme poverty line through social protection by a “transfer to cover the poverty gap” (PGT) The second component involves additional investment required to stimulate and to sustain higher pro-poor growth of incomes and employment than in the business-as-usual scenario. This would, in turn, reduce the need for social protection to cover the PGT. The analysis is complemented by looking at alternative ways to achieve zero hunger by 2030.