Lead Expert : Professor Hope Cynthia Sadza

Researchers: Professor Charles M. Nherera Dr. Tendai Nhenga-Chakarisa Mrs. Julia Tagwireyi Dr. Mabel Munyuki-Hungwe

Abstract

The Zero Hunger Challenge is an international multi-level and multi-sectoral call for action made by the United Nations Secretary-General in 2012 towards a vision of a world without hunger. It brings together different stakeholders at country level to contribute to eliminating food and nutrition insecurity.

The Zero Hunger Challenge 1 is structured upon the following five pillars: 

Pillar I -- Zero stunted children less than two years old
Pillar II -- 100% access to adequate food all-year round
Pillar III -- All food systems are sustainable
Pillar IV -- 100% increase in smallholder productivity and incomes
Pillar V -- Zero loss or wastage of food

Zero hunger is at the heart of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 calls on Member States to “End hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture’’. Four of the five targets under SDG 2 are derived from the pillars of the Zero Hunger Challenge. SDG 2 has targets on access to food, malnutrition, agricultural productivity and resilient food systems. Together with target 2.5 on biodiversity and 12.3 on food loss and wastage, as well as the means of implementation and the outcome of the Addis Conference on Financing for Development, these targets represent the vision and blueprint for achieving zero hunger at the global level.

The Zimbabwe Zero Hunger Strategic Review seeks to identify opportunities to strengthen current and future programmes and strategies towards a common goal of eliminating hunger and malnutrition. The Review is informed by key national policy and strategic frameworks such as the National Food and Nutrition Policy (2013), the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (ZimAsset) (2013-2018) and the Zimbabwe United Nations Development Assistance Framework (ZUNDAF) (2012-2015, 2016-2020).

The main objectives of the Strategic Review were to:

1) Establish a comprehensive understanding of the context of the national food and nutrition security.
2) Review existing food and nutrition security related strategies, policies, plans and programmes in Zimbabwe and identify gaps in the national response.
3) Provide an overview of priority areas and potential measures to accelerate progress towards the five pillars of the Zero Hunger Challenge.
4) Initiate the development of a national Zero Hunger Roadmap.