In Depth

Americans are concerned about hunger. The results of two recent polls affirm that the vast majority of Americans rate ending hunger at home and abroad as an important issue (see World Public Opinion, Oct. 2008 and The Alliance to End Hunger, Nov. 2008).

Despite this outpouring of public support and years of political rhetoric and commitments by the U.S. government, Washington still does not have a comprehensive approach to reducing global hunger that will ensure the U.S. provides needed leadership to achieve the first Millennium Development Goal -- eradicating extreme poverty and hunger from the world.

Ending hunger will require a U.S. approach that balances emergency and long-term programs, emphasizes maternal and child nutrition, boosts agricultural productivity worldwide, and supports the construction of safety nets so the world’s most vulnerable do not go without. A comprehensive strategy would ensure that every penny of U.S. foreign assistance has maximum impact.

Leading up to the November 4th election, hundreds of Action Center activists wrote to their Members of Congress requesting that their Representatives sign on to a bipartisan Dear Colleague letter calling on the future President to adopt a Comprehensive Strategy on Global Hunger and Food Security. The letter asked for our next President to take immediate steps to address hunger by “designating a high-level White House position to design, implement and oversee a government-wide comprehensive strategy to address global hunger and food security.”

As a result of these activists’ efforts, and thanks to the political leadership of Rep. James McGovern and Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, 116 Members of the House of Representatives signed on to this letter to the President-Elect. Speaking with one collective voice, these Members of Congress sent a strong message to President-Elect Obama that hunger is an issue that must not be ignored.

A White House-led initiative to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy would ensure that the policies and programs the U.S. supports are actually having a tangible impact in the lives of hungry people worldwide. It would improve the effectiveness of U.S. programs by making sure all government agencies involved in promoting food aid and development programs are coordinating their actions. It would provide a mechanism to monitor whether we are making progress towards the UN Millennium Development Goal of halving the proportion of people who suffer from hunger and poverty by 2015.

Email President-Elect Obama today. Request that he prioritizes working with Congress to develop and implement a comprehensive U.S. strategy to Root Out Hunger.