The G20 launched this Monday (18), together with the start of the bloc’s Leaders’ Summit, the Global Alliance Against Hunger.
The initiative is joined by 82 countries, 24 international organizations, nine international financial institutions and 34 philanthropic and non-governmental organizations, in addition to the African Union and the European Union.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) said that the alliance will have a global destiny and that this
The initiative aims to accelerate global efforts to eradicate poverty and hunger, the first two Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) stipulated by the United Nations to be achieved by 2030.
How will it work?
Countries that join the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty will develop a plan to eradicate food insecurity and reduce poverty in their territories.
To prepare this plan, countries will rely on several measures that have already been tested, such as income transfers, school meals, job qualifications, among others.
The Minister of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight Against Hunger (MDS), Wellington Dias, told the press that alliance bases will be installed in some strategic cities around the world.
The intention is for there to be a kind of office in the capital of the United States, Washington; in the capital of Italy, Rome; in the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa; and in Brasília. There will possibly also be a base in the capital of Thailand, Bangkok, to guarantee the alliance’s presence in Asia as well.
The objective of this implementation would be to facilitate partnerships between countries and organizations.
According to Dias, there will also be the so-called Council of Champions, made up of world leaders with power to influence certain regions and countries that have joined the initiative.
Among these people are high-level representatives of the countries and organizations that make up the group. The maximum possible is 50 members, 25 representing countries and 25 representing organizations. So far, 18 names have been nominated.
The Council will aim to help unlock agreements and advance partnerships. Members will be able to speak on behalf of the project and call on new countries and organizations to join the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty.
Budget and investments
Regarding financing, the minister explained that there are two blocks of contributions. The first is for the governance of the alliance – Brazil intends to contribute 50% of the required amount. And the second to actually implement actions to eradicate poverty and hunger.
Investments can be made through loans offered by financial institutions to countries and even through non-refundable resources. The total budget has not yet been finalized.
“Today the alliance was launched. I know there is a whole charge as to what the total amount is. The good news is that we started from a high level. Advertisements from banks, funds and financial agents indicate that we have a great perspective. I believe that now, every month, every moment, we will have new announcements”, stated the minister.
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has already announced financing of US$25 billion for the Global Alliance, equivalent to around R$140 billion. In addition, the World Bank will be a partner in the platform, contributing non-refundable money and loans with low interest rates and appropriate terms.
With information from Agência Brasil.
