One year into Brazil’s G20 presidency, the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty was launched and is now entering the implementation phase. Countries, when presenting the declaration of participation, also send a plan to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1 and 2 and, if applicable, how they can contribute with the other members.
“Countries present their plan in a sovereign and independent way, but taking into account proposals such as school meals, qualification for employment and entrepreneurship, priority for children and pregnant women”, stated the Minister of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight Against Hunger, Wellington Dias, in a press conference that closed the G20 Social, this Monday (18.11).
“The news is that, based on a discussion with 54 delegations that joined the G20 countries, proposals were presented that were scientifically proven to be efficient,” he added.
The event that began on November 14th was innovative, in the minister’s opinion, because for the first time the G20 had great integration with civil society. “This is very important for the next steps”, he stressed. The MDS leader also detailed the negotiations to form the Alliance and highlighted the Brazilian government’s efforts to make it a reality.
When we got to this position now, it seems like everything was easy. If we look back at the beginning and try to imagine a forum that has historically always discussed topics of the richest, and the President of the Republic of Brazil in the presidency of the G20 proposes this innovative task force”
Wellington Dias, Minister of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight Against Hunger
“When we got to this position now, it seems like everything was easy. If we look back at the beginning and try to imagine a forum that has historically always discussed topics of the richest, and the President of the Republic of Brazil as president of the G20 proposes this innovative task force, showing the importance of eradicating hunger and poverty. .. and to have a good result, the proposal is that the more developed countries help the developing countries”, he recalled.
In addition to the 148 members already confirmed, which include 82 countries, the African Union, the European Union, 24 international organizations, nine international financial institutions and 31 philanthropic and non-governmental organizations, Wellington Dias also projected the expansion of the Alliance in the coming months.
“Going into 2025, other countries will participate. The African Union reported that the 54 countries (not just as a block) will participate in the Global Alliance. I participated in the Conference of Latin American and Caribbean countries, in Barbados, there are 33 countries and a position was approved there, at that time only Argentina declared that it needed more time to analyze its position, but all the other countries announced that they will adopt measures for accession”, commented the minister, citing the neighboring country that announced its accession to the Alliance this Monday.
“Today also, the European Union announced that there will be an effort for all members to participate in the Alliance. I am optimistic because the position of these various blocks goes in that direction”, he continued. “Dialogue with other countries will continue. I want to go to an agenda in Dubai, with countries from the Arab League, so that we, perhaps, have a position as a bloc in that important region of the world. Some of these countries have already expressed their commitment to the Alliance, but others have not yet.”
Among the Global Alliance’s announcements and commitments are the goal of reaching 500 million people with cash transfer programs in low- and lower-middle-income countries by 2030, expanding high-quality school meals to an additional 150 million children in countries with endemic child poverty and hunger, and raise billions in credit and grants through multilateral development banks to implement these and other programs.
Plano
As set out in the Global Alliance Terms of Reference and Governance Framework, approved by the G20, the Council of Champions is comprised of a diverse group of senior representatives drawn from Alliance members across its national, knowledge and financial pillars. Its main focus is to encourage the active participation of countries, institutions and organizations, as well as helping to remove obstacles and facilitate the establishment of concrete partnerships oriented towards action and policy implementation at the national level.
After each country’s plans are presented, the Council of Champions will identify those capable of implementing them without the help of others and which ones will need support to develop their own plans. Regarding contributions to governance, the minister stated that Brazil has already forwarded the proposal to the National Congress to guarantee the equivalent of 50% of the cost of operating the strategy until 2030 and that countries such as Finland, Norway, Germany and Spain have also announced contributions to this axis.
From the organization of the Council of Champions, we will have clarity on which countries will be able to execute their plans without the help of others and which countries need help”
Wellington Dias, Minister of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight Against Hunger
“By organizing the Champions Council, we will have clarity on which countries will be able to execute their plans without the help of others and which countries need help. Some, we have already had contact with, need support to prepare the plan, we saw Nigeria today express that it will need support and that it would like support in school feeding. With this global coordination, we will have specific support for each country”, explained the Brazilian minister.
The minister stated that there is already a pre-established organization, with representations of the Council of Champions in Washington (United States), Rome (Italy), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Brasilia and, probably, Bangkok (Thailand). Contributions can be financial and through the exchange of knowledge and experiences proven to be effective in policies to combat hunger and poverty.
“Brazil is already collaborating with 19 countries on the Brazilian Social Registry model, with 43 countries, together with the Ministries of Education and Agrarian Development, on the proposal for school feeding integrated with the policy to combat hunger and food production healthy and family farming, but Brazil will have other forms of contribution, with Fiocruz and also several other countries”, revealed Wellington Dias, who indicated that in the financial axis the Alliance counts on contributions from the World Bank.
“And there is financial collaboration, which can take place through the World Bank, which will present its plan by December: one part in loans and the other in non-refundable resources. Today (the bank) announced the decision to allocate nine billion dollars specifically to support small farmers and with a focus on modernizing this agriculture. There is still a decision to be made about the debts. This is a discussion that will continue with dialogue, which has an indication, but not a final decision”, concluded the MDS head.
Learn More
Global Alliance to Fight Hunger has 148 members, 82 of which are countries from various parts of the world and various international organizations
Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty announces first members of its Council of Champions
The Alliance
Since July, the Alliance has been open to membership beyond the G20. Brazil and Bangladesh were the first to join, followed by all G20 members, including the African Union and the European Union, as well as several countries from all continents.
Founding members also include large international organizations, development banks and philanthropies. Key UN bodies such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the International Labor Organization (ILO), UNICEF and the World Food Program (WFP ), have also joined, alongside financial institutions such as the World Bank Group and regional development banks including the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Philanthropic organizations such as the Rockefeller Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation are also part of the initiative.
Membership in the Alliance remains open and is formalized through a Declaration of Commitment — which goes beyond a symbolic declaration to embody a genuine dedication to action. It defines general and personalized commitments, aligned with each member’s specific priorities and conditions. Statements of Commitment are voluntary and may be updated as circumstances evolve. Each member’s Statement of Commitment is public and can be found on the Global Alliance’s recently launched website.
Communication Advisory – MDS
