Doha: Four countries have announced concrete multi-partner implementation plans for large-scale national programs and Alliance membership expanding to over 200 countries and organizations.

At the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty First Leaders' Meeting in Doha, Qatar, the governments of Ethiopia, Haiti, Kenya, Palestine and Zambia unveiled partnerships that bring together international financial institutions, bilateral donors, UN agencies, and philanthropies around country-owned programs against hunger and poverty spanning social protection, agriculture, nutrition, and climate resilience.

The announcements marked the first tangible results of the Alliance's Fast-Track Initiative, launched nine months ago.

Brazil's Minister of Social Development and Co-Chair of the Alliance, Wellington Dias said "the impact of the work of the Alliance goes beyond the initial wave of Fast-Track countries,"

"It has put the fight against hunger and poverty back on the global map and agenda. Countries all around the world are reinforcing their programs and plans, generating economic inclusion and jobs. Brazil itself is an example, having removed 24.4 million people from hunger and lifted 7.6 million out of poverty since 2023 thanks to a range of evidence-based policies and President Lula's willingness to include the poor in the budget."

Spain's Secretary of State for International Development and Co-Chair of the Alliance, Eva Granados, emphasized the Alliance's distinctive approach: "What we are seeing today is not business as usual. This is about countries leading with their own plans and priorities, and the international community aligning behind them with coordinated support. This is how we accelerate progress-not through fragmented projects, but through integrated partnerships that strengthen national systems and deliver at scale."

High Level Participation

The Alliance Leaders' Meeting, hosted by the State of Qatar and the United Nations on the eve of the Second World Summit for Social Development, brought together 350+ delegates from around 90 delegations, including Prime Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani,
Prime Minister of Cuba, H.E. Manuel Marrero Cruz, Prime Minister of Egypt, H.E. Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Executive Vice-President of the European Union, H.E. Roxana Mînzatu, Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia, H.E Salah Ahmed Jama, President of the UN General Assembly, H.E. Annalena Baerbock as well as Ministers, Heads of Agency and senior officials from over 80 countries and major international organizations including FAO, WFP, UNICEF, World Bank, IDB, IFAD, and ILO

The one-day meeting will feature two high-level debates on opening fiscal space and mobilizing financing for the fight against hunger and poverty, and on reinventing international cooperation to put country programs at the center. A special session highlighted the Fast-Track country partnership announcements.

One year after its launch, the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty demonstrated progress that a new model for international cooperation is taking root by the following:

*200+ members: From 148 founding members in November 2024 to over 200 today, including more than 100 countries
*14 country pre-plans: Developed by 12 countries for large-scale national programs
*9 validated plans: Officially endorsed by national governments and opened for partnership
*85+ partnership offers: Expressions of Interest received from international financial institutions, bilateral donors, UN agencies, and philanthropies
*4 countries in implementation: Ethiopia, Haiti, Kenya, and Zambia have progressed to national roundtables and partnership announcements
*2 Seville Platform initiatives: Launched at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development to mobilize integrated finance for hunger, poverty, and climate action.

A new model in action

The Fast-Track Initiative, endorsed by the Alliance's Board of Champions in February 2025, represents a fundamental shift in how international cooperation operates in the fight against hunger and poverty.
Beyond the countries announcing partnerships, several others are advancing through the Fast-Track process.

Several other countries have also finalized or are putting the final touches in their plans under the Fast-Track approach and are garnering support, including Cambodia, Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Palestine, Rwanda, Tanzania and others. Additional countries including Somalia, Cuba, and Lebanon have expressed interest in joining future waves of the Fast-Track Initiative.

MENAFN03112025000063011010ID1110285660