Daniel Balaban, director of the World Food Programme's (WFP) Centre of Excellence against Hunger at the United Nations (UN), champions a unified global approach to ending world hunger. He believes that similar to the swift development of a COVID-19 vaccine, collaborative work can yield solutions for combating hunger and poverty.
A 2023 report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reveals that over 750 million people worldwide suffer from hunger. Addressing this issue and tackling global hunger and poverty are top priorities for Brasil's G20 presidency.
Daniel Balaban, director of the WFP's Centre of Excellence against Hunger at the UN, and Wellington Dias, Brasil's Minister of Social Development and Assistance, Family, and the Fight against Hunger (Ministério do Desenvolvimento e Assistência Social, Família e Combate à Fome/MDS), signed an agreement to enhance food security. This initiative aims to purchase food produced in Brasil for distribution to countries with high demand.
Daniel Balaban, an economist, holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos (Unisinos) in Rio Grande do Sul, an MBA in Finance from the Brazilian Institute of Capital Markets (Instituto Brasileiro de Mercado de Capitais/IBMEC), and a Master's in International Relations from the University of Brasília. Since August 2011, he has served as the director of the Centre of Excellence against Hunger and the UN WFP representative in Brasil. The Centre of Excellence leads South-South cooperation, facilitating the exchange of best practices in public policy. Balaban recently gave an exclusive interview to the G20 Brasil editorial team. Check it out.
How can the World Food Programme work in partnership with the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty?
The World Food Programme is the United Nations' largest humanitarian agency, providing daily food assistance to over 200 million people worldwide. This Global Alliance aligns perfectly with our overarching objective: to ensure greater access to food and reduce global hunger. We have dedicated many years to delivering food to people across the globe. Achieving our goal requires a Global Alliance that brings together the world's wealthiest countries, the UN, and other aligned organizations.
Which anti-hunger programs from Brasil could be replicated in other countries?
We are implementing Brasil's School Meals Program as a model in several African countries. For example, Mozambique's school feeding initiative, Pronai, is significantly inspired by Brasil's National School Meals Program (Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar/PNAE). It is essential for countries like Brasil, with proven public policies, to serve as exemplars for others developing similar initiatives. We firmly believe that school feeding programs are vital, as they promote attendance and ensure children receive nutritious meals. International cooperation and the sharing of successful program models are crucial for advancing these objectives.
What does the agreement between the World Food Programme and Brasil signify for promoting food security?
Brazilian products comprise a small fraction of the World Food Programme's procurement, which sources goods globally to support its extensive underserved population. It is time for Brasil to enhance its participation, which would benefit its producers by expanding their market reach. Increased involvement would allow producers to invest more in food production, generate additional resources and funds, and boost output. These products would be instrumental in feeding people in countries affected by natural disasters or conflicts, ensuring they receive essential food for survival.
Could you comment on the importance of sustainable food production and international collaboration in this context?
I firmly believe that when the world unites around a common goal, it can achieve remarkable outcomes. The development of a vaccine within a year was once considered unfeasible, yet we have successfully created an effective COVID-19 vaccine through extraordinary global collaboration. It is now time for the world to unite in the fight against hunger by advancing sustainability. While producing food is a necessary step, it is not sufficient. Access must also be expanded. With over 750 million people worldwide suffering from undernourishment, the need for the Global Alliance is urgent. By aligning our efforts with established goals, we can strive to enter 2030 with virtually no one facing hunger.
