Global Hunger Index (GHI) | All You Need To Know About GHI

After steadily declining for the past two decades, world hunger is on the rise again affecting 828 million people which is nearly 10 percent of people globally. According to a report from Save the Children and Oxfam, “One person is likely dying of hunger every 48 seconds in drought-ravaged Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia.” The current Global Hunger Index (GHI) points to an acute hunger situation in a world coping with multiple crises including conflict, climate change, and the Covid-19 pandemic. 

What is the Global Hunger Index?

The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is an annual report jointly published by Welthungerhilfe (Germany) and Concern Worldwide (Ireland) to measure hunger at global, regional, and national levels.

In its basic concept, GHI was developed to ensure the world achieves ‘Zero Hunger’ by 2030 as a part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2015. 
 
It was created in 2006 and was initially published by IFPRI - International Food Policy Research Institute (USA) & Welthungerhilfe (Germany). In 2007 Concern worldwide (Ireland) became the co-publisher. In 2018, IFPRI stepped aside from the project and now GHI was published jointly by Welthungerhilfe, Concern worldwide.

How GHI is Calculated?

A country’s GHI score is calculated based on 4 component indicators by averaging:

• Undernourishment – the percentage of the population undernourished
• Child underweight – children under five who are underweight 
• Child stunting – children suffering from stunted growth
• Child mortality – children who die before the age of 5.

These 4 indicators are chosen for the GHI to ensure that both the food supply situation of the population as a whole and the effects of inadequate nutrition are captured.

GHI uses a 100-point scale where a higher score indicates higher levels of hunger.

• Low – 9.9
• Moderate – 10 – 19.9
• Serious – 20 – 34.9
• Alarming – 35 – 49.9
• Extremely alarming – >50

Recent Global Hunger Index data:

GHI report 2021 shows Somalia was the most affected by hunger and malnutrition, with an index of 50.8. Yemen followed with an index of 45.1. Belarus in Europe has the least hunger index with a score of less than 5. 

As per the Global Hunger Index, 47 countries have extremely alarming or serious levels of hunger. The path towards “Zero hunger by 2030” shows signs of being declined or reversed. The World Food Program (WFP) says that 41 million people are staggering on the edge of famine.

However, the prevalence of undernourished people has decreased over the last decades, from 18.7 percent in 1990-92 to 9.9 percent in 2020. According to the GHI, the global hunger situation has improved since 2000 but progress is slow.

What Leads to Hunger?

The world produces sufficient food to feed 10 billion people. We are at 7.9 billion currently. Hence, global hunger isn’t about a lack of food. Still, 1 in 9 people throughout the world goes hungry each day. So where is the disconnect?

Food Waste: About 17 percent of total global food production is wasted. FAO estimates that, if we reduce food waste, we can feed 2 billion people. That is more than the number of undernourished people in the world. Food waste also has a direct impact on global warming. When wasted food goes to landfill, it rots and emits greenhouse gases that damage the environment.

Poverty: Poverty is one of the primary reasons for hunger in the world. Families stuck in the cycle of poverty can’t afford nutritious food, leading to undernourishment. Undernourishment, in turn, causes illness and since people in poverty can’t afford proper healthcare this results in death.

Violent Conflict: Conflict causes food shortages and disruption of economic activities threatening the means of survival of the entire population. The war in Ukraine has caused a rise in the prices of food, fuel, and fertilizers and people are being driven closer to starvation.

Climate Change: Climate change, increasing temperature, and changes in weather conditions result in reduced agricultural yield. It also has an impact on food availability, food pricing, and food access.

Economic Devastation by Covid-19: The ripple effect of the Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted the supply chain leading to increased consumer demand for food. The demand has drastically increased food prices across the globe, making meals unaffordable for millions of people.

How Can We Solve Global Hunger?

Embrace Sustainable Farming: By adopting sustainable farming and practices, farmers can save scarce and nonrenewable resources while also generating sustainable incomes and protecting the environment.

Resilient Food System: Creating food systems that are resilient to climate change and extreme conditions in developing countries helps boost farmers’ yields and incomes, directly improving millions of lives.

Empower Women: Out of 828 million people who are in hunger in the world nearly 60 percent are women and girls. By empowering women, we can end hunger and transform whole communities in the process.

Conclusion:

We can conquer hunger and we have the means to do it. But it requires a lot more effort and collaboration from people as a whole to make it possible. Global hunger has no standardized solution, but we people can bring an end to world hunger if we contribute to the process.