Doha, Qatar: One year after its launch, the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty demonstrated yesterday that a new model for international cooperation is taking root, with four countries announcing concrete multi-partner implementation plans for large-scale national programmes, with several others following suit, and Alliance membership expanding to over 200 countries and organisations.

At the Alliance's First Leaders' Meeting in Doha, yesterday, 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 programmes against hunger and poverty spanning social protection, agriculture, nutrition, and climate resilience. The announcements mark the first tangible results of the Alliance's Fast-Track Initiative, launched just nine months ago.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister of State for International Cooperation H E Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad said Qatar's hosting of this meeting stems from its steadfast approach to rapid response and development for peace, and from its belief that the eradication of hunger and poverty is a collective responsibility requiring international solidarity and genuine partnership based on justice and equality.

“More than 700 million people around the world still live in extreme poverty, while the impacts of conflict, climate change, debt, and lack of development continue to worsen, threatening progress in many developing countries,” said Al Misnad.

She said Qatar welcomed the adoption of the Seville Commitment Document during the Fourth International Conference on Development, which emphasised the importance of reforming the international development system and creating a more equitable and resilient global economic environment, ensuring the right to development and leaving no one behind.

“Under the leadership of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Qatar is working to implement its National Vision 2030 to build a diversified and sustainable knowledge- and innovation-based economy, while enhancing investment in human capital, social protection, healthcare, and environmental preservation,” said Al Misnad.

• Minister of State for International Cooperation stresses urgent need for innovative social protection solutions
• Chairperson of Qatar Museums inaugurates Tiravanija's untitled 2025 (no bread no ashes) at MIA Park

President of the UN General Assembly H E Annalena Baerbock said extreme poverty has declined from a high of 2 billion people in 1990, a third of global population at the time, to about 800 million today.

In a world of plenty, she said, where there should be more than enough to go around, ensuring that everyone, everywhere has enough to eat, is entirely possible.

“That is why today's meeting is so important to move from pledges to practical actions. From statements to solutions. Because a world free of hunger and poverty is not a distant aspiration, it is within reach,” said Baerbock.

“The impact of the work of the Alliance goes beyond the initial wave of FastTrack countries,” said Brazil's Minister of Social Development and Co-Chair of the Alliance H E Wellington Dias.“It has put the fight against hunger and poverty back on the global map and agenda. Countries all around the world are reinforcing their programmes and plans, generating economic inclusion and jobs."

Spain's Secretary of State for International Development and Co-Chair of the Alliance H E Eva Granados, emphasised 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.”

MENAFN04112025000063011010ID1110290472