Hidden hunger is the central theme of the 2014 Global Hunger Index (GHI), published by the International Food Policy Research Institute, Concern Worldwide, and Welthungerhilfe. For the ninth straight year of calculating the Index, global hunger has improved overall, falling by 39 percent since 1990. Meanwhile, 26 countries have cut their GHI scores by more than half during this period.
Yet much remains in the fight to end global hunger. An estimated 805 million people go hungry every day because they don’t get enough to eat; and this number swells to an astonishing 2 billion when we include those also suffering from ‘hidden hunger’ – deficiencies in micronutrients that are often harder to detect but devastating in their impact. Research shows that such deficiencies can lead to child and maternal death, physical disabilities, weakened immune systems, and compromised intellectual capacity. Hidden hunger also holds countries back in a cycle of poor nutrition, poor health, lost productivity, poverty, and reduced economic growth.
Please join in an online discussion on the state of hunger and hidden hunger in the world and what can be done to ramp up global efforts to ensure food and nutrition security for all. Experts from IFPRI, Concern Worldwide, and Welthungerhilfe will share key insights and research findings from the 2014 GHI report and also answer questions from online participants via Twitter. The following questions will be used to guide discussion during the 1-hour Twitter chat:
- What are the key differences between #GHI2014 & other #hunger related indexes?
- What’s one positive trend you’d like to highlight from this year’s Global Hunger Index? #GHI2014
- What’s one negative trend you’d like to highlight from this year’s Global Hunger Index? #GHI2014
- #GHI2014 focuses on hidden #hunger. What is it and what are some key research findings around the effects of #HiddenHunger?
- 2015 deadline for #MDGs is approaching. What needs to change in #post2015 policy agenda to address #hunger & #malnutrition? #GHI2014