UNIDO, African Union and Government of Ethiopia join forces in a global call to action for a “World without Hunger”
November 18, 2024
The “World without Hunger” conference was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 5 to 7 November. It was co-organized by UNIDO, the African Union and the Government of Ethiopia, with technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The conference, which marked the beginning of a new and strengthened phase of global action to end hunger, showcased innovative solutions, forged new partnerships and mobilized concrete investments.
The three-day event brought together more than 1,500 high-level stakeholders, including six Heads of State and Government, more than twenty ministers, UN agencies, private sector investors, financial institutions, development partners, civil society, non-governmental organizations and academia.
Each day of the conference focused on a different aspect of the global food security challenge, highlighting practical ideas and critical partnerships needed to drive change.
On the second day of the conference, a side event “Innovation and digitalization for agribusiness development” was held, which was attended by heads and representatives of all UNIDO ITPO offices. Igor Kozhin, the Head of the UNIDO Centre in the Russian Federation, made a presentation to the participants, in which he said that the ITPO office in Russia pays special attention to addressing issues of food security and the fight against hunger in developing countries. The office is currently working on a new ambitious program, the launch of which is scheduled for 2025 with the support of the Russian government. The UNIDO Centre plans to increase resources aimed at ending hunger, along with efforts to attract investment, transfer resource- and energy-saving technologies and create significant employment opportunities.
At the invitation of the UNIDO Centre, representatives of Astro Engineering Technologies and uTerra, Belarusian companies specializing in geoinformation and environmental solutions, took part in the conference. uTerra’s technologies enable precise monitoring and management of land resources through satellite imagery and drone technology. Their project “Desertification Mitigation Initiative” has successfully reduced the rate of desertification in targeted regions by 15% and increased crop yields in restored areas by 20%. These advancements are crucial for preserving arable land, maintaining ecological balance, and ensuring long-term food security.
The conference also featured an informative exhibition that provided a dynamic platform for organizations, innovators and thought leaders to showcase their initiatives, products and research in the fight against global hunger.
The conference concluded with the Addis Ababa Call to Action, a concrete roadmap for the international development community, public and private sectors to join forces to increase investment in key areas to eradicate hunger. In addition, a new joint UNIDO-FAO study was launched, outlining actionable solutions, key areas for action and concrete investment opportunities to support the eradication of hunger worldwide.
