Originally posted on Forbes.com
Written by Deepti Mathew, Managing Director, myAgro
Last week, world leaders converged at the 77th UN General Assembly (UNGA) and adjoining side events. myAgro team members, along with our friends and partners, joined one of the world’s biggest diplomatic gatherings to talk about the challenges facing our world. For us, two topics rose to the top: climate change and food security.
At the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), which came back after a six-year hiatus, I joined fellow Commitment to Action partners in pledging our support for farmers to make them more climate resilient. Farmers have always had to adapt—it’s part of the job description. But the unprecedented climate disruptions require action from all sectors and our fellow Commitment to Action partners give us hope.
At the UN’s Global Food Security Summit, world leaders—including Senegalese President Macky Sall, United States Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen—raised the alarm on food security. President Sall warned that the current situation is almost as dire as post-WWII when the UN moved to protect food prices and trade. He called for coordinated efforts and for scaling up our global response. Speakers discussed how 100 countries have committed to the roadmap to food security, which includes freer markets and climate-smart agriculture. But it isn’t enough. Over the next five years, we will need $11 billion to strengthen food systems around the globe.
A devastating statistic from the same event was the World For Program (WFP) estimates that 70 million people have been thrust into hunger in the wake of the war in Ukraine. Some regions are especially hard hit, with millions facing hunger in the Sahel, a climate hot spot where myAgro operates. We help farmers become more food secure and our data team is currently in the process of running a set of studies to understand the nutrition status of myAgro farmers.
Despite the enormity of these problems, I found some relief in hearing world leaders acknowledge them and discuss tangible solutions. Because these problems exist whether we talk about them or not. Fortunately, it was not only the problems that took center stage last week: action was on the agenda too.
Countries pledged a combined $14.25 billion to replenish The Global Fund, one of the most important barometers of global health funding, and over half a billion went toward fighting child malnutrition. Though NYC also hosted the Climate Week convened in conjunction with UNGA, we were disappointed to see a lack of climate pledges at the national level. But there was an acknowledgment of its role in the current food crisis, including during a CGI panel moderated by FAO Ambassador Cindy McCain featuring Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera. As well, leaders spoke about important cross-sector initiatives, such as Alliance for Global Food Security, a partnership between the G7 and The World Bank, and FARM Initiative, a partnership between France and the World Food Program. Both aim to remove barriers to trade and stabilize food production and prices. FARM Initiative in particular endeavors to work in partnership with the private sector to match food surplus with regions most in need.
Much of what I heard this week reinforced the importance of partnerships and accountability. At myAgro, we are grateful to have dedicated partners who consistently support and amplify our work, and push innovation. Our partners provide more than just the necessary financial resources that we need to scale. They amplify our work, give us a platform to share our message, and provide fellowships that strengthen our organizational functionality. High-profile UN envoys give us exposure and partnerships with fellow experts, such as the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) shows how our partners help to drive innovation, by more closely aligning our offerings to the needs of women farmers.
UNGA reminds us, too, of the incredibly important role of government, which we have seen firsthand at myAgro. Over the decade of our operation, partnerships with both governments and NGOs have helped us build trust with farmers and field staff. Government relationships also give us the authorization to work in new villages and sets the stage for us to advocate for a savings approach and a focus on female farmers.
After these high-level events, I found myself reflecting on the words of one of our farmers, Badjane Diouf: “Feeding my family used to be a real challenge. With myAgro, I have increased both the volume and quality of crops I produce. As a result, I earn more money and no longer worry about food insecurity within my family.”
Badjane and the millions like her deserve the support necessary to overcome climate challenges and lead lives free of the worry that comes with food insecurity. I urge those who attended UNGA—the vast majority of whom have never had to worry about food security for themselves or their families—to let the stories and voices of people, like Badjane, compel them to action to ensure this week wasn’t just hollow commitments but rather an energizing moment that moves us closer to a better future.
