Nepal launches National Zero Hunger Challenge to eradicate hunger by 2025
Kathmandu, Nepal, 19 December 2014 – The Government of Nepal, with the collaboration and support of the United Nations, today launched a national Zero Hunger
Challenge, a major initiative to eradicate hunger in the Himalayan country by 2025.
The National Zero Hunger Challenge (NZHC) was launched today in the nation’s capital by Nepalese Prime MinisterSushil
Koirala. Also participating in the launch was Hari Prasad Parajuli, the Minister of Agricultural Development, and
ministers and representatives from Nepal’s Education, Health, Finance and Forestry Ministries.
The high-level event was attended by Gyan Chandra Acharya, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the
Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States and Jamie McGoldrick, UN
Resident Coordinated in Nepal. Hiroyuki Konuma, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the
Pacific, represented the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
During the launch, a roadmap was presented by the Government of Nepal for the formulation of a National Action Plan to
meet the Zero Hunger Challenge in Nepal.
“The launch of the Nepal’s National Zero Hunger Challenge by the Government is a decisive move forward for Nepal as it
works to eradicate hunger,” said Konuma. “FAO has pledged to work with the government and stakeholders as a committed
partner and will provide whatever technical assistance is necessary to help the government’s initiative succeed in
reaching its target of zero hunger.”
Achieving MDG hunger reduction goal is on track in Asia, but the Goal should be “Zero Hunger” to achieve “0” percent
hunger.
During a presentation to launch participants, Konuma explained the latest estimates released by FAO, WFP and IFAD in
September, which have found that while Asia has made good progress in reducing hunger by half by 2015 – a key target of
the Millennium Development Goals – the region is still home to nearly two-thirds of the world’s 805 chronically
undernourished people.
“While the world presently produces enough food for all, it is not evenly distributed and one in nine people, usually
the most disadvantaged in our societies, goes to bed hungry each night,” said Konuma. “This is simply unacceptable and
we will not turn our backs on this 12 percent of our population.”
“This is why determined action, like that taken today by the Government of Nepal is so critical,” Konuma added. “We can
defeat hunger if we work together.”
The Zero Hunger Challenge was initiated at the global level by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in 2012. Timor-Leste and
Myanmar have also launched national ZHCs.
ENDS