(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Qatar, in partnership with the UN, hosted the First Leaders' Meeting of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty Monday, ahead of the second World Summit for Social Development 2025.
The event brought together more than 350 delegates representing nearly 90 countries.
Speaking at the opening, HE the Minister of State for International Co-operation, Dr Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser al-Misnad, said the meeting reflects Qatar's long-standing commitment to development for peace and stressed that ending hunger and poverty is a shared global responsibility requiring international solidarity and partnerships based on justice and equality.
HE Dr al-Misnad welcomed participants to what she called their second home, Qatar, and praised Brazil's initiative to launch the alliance during its G20 presidency, highlighting the efforts of co-presidents in turning the initiative into a practical platform to serve humanity.
She noted that over 700mn people worldwide still live in extreme poverty, with the effects of conflict, climate change, debt accumulation, and weak development threatening progress in many developing countries. She also welcomed the adoption of the Sevilla Commitment during the Fourth Financing for Development Conference, emphasising the need to reform international development systems and create a fairer, more resilient global economic environment.
HE Dr al-Misnad outlined Qatar's efforts under its National Vision 2030, including building a diversified, knowledge-based economy, investing in human capital, strengthening social protection and healthcare, and environmental preservation. She highlighted Qatar's partnership with the UN in implementing the Doha Program of Action 2022-2031, aimed at empowering the least developed countries to transition toward sustainable development.
As part of these efforts, the Qatar Fund For Development signed agreements with the UN Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries to finance two major projects: building resilience and establishing a food storage system to tackle food insecurity. Dr al-Misnad emphasised Qatar's belief in the UN as a central platform for coordinating multilateral efforts and reiterated the country's commitment to working with all partners for a world free from hunger and poverty, stressing that through partnership, investing in people, and deep solidarity, no one will be left behind, and peace and development will be shared rights for all peoples.
Meanwhile, UN General Assembly President, Annalena Baerbock, described global hunger as an“unacceptable humanitarian tragedy” and warned that rising global temperatures could push an additional 189mn people into hunger if temperatures rise by 2C, or up to 1.8bn if the rise reaches four degrees. She called on the international community to act urgently, noting that 673mn people suffered from hunger in 2024, while 2.3bn faced varying degrees of food insecurity.
Brazilian Minister of Social Development Wellington Dias, co-president of the alliance, said the initiative has restored hunger and poverty to the global agenda, highlighting Brazil's success in lifting 24.4mn people out of hunger and 7.6mn out of poverty since 2023 through evidence-based policies and inclusive social and economic initiatives.
For her part, Spanish Secretary of State for International Co-operation, Eva Granados, also a co-president, praised the alliance as a model for international co-operation, noting that member countries lead with their national priorities while the international community provides co-ordinated support. She stressed Spain's commitment to combating hunger with a rights-based, gender-responsive approach and announced plans to launch a new co-operation strategy on the right to food next year.
The alliance has, within a year of its launch, fostered new partnerships in countries including Ethiopia, Haiti, Kenya, Palestine, and Zambia, combining international financial institutions, UN agencies, donors, and NGOs to implement integrated national programmes addressing hunger and poverty through social protection, agriculture, nutrition, and climate adaptation under the Fast Track initiative launched nine months ago.

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