Berkley Center

Achieving Zero Hunger is at the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Sustainable Development Goal #2 sets out the objective to “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture” by 2030, which involves multiple, interlinked challenges. Religious actors are involved in every dimension of the challenges that Zero Hunger presents. The roles that religious leaders and organizations play vary widely. They range from critical emergency support—whether in times of crisis, often as first responders—or as a true safety net for the poorest in every society. Religious actors also play vital roles through persistent advocacy, education of adherents, and prayer to ensure that those vulnerable to hunger never leave the public conscience. The examples of religious engagement with hunger issues highlighted in this report underscore the complex ways in which religious institutions are involved in every dimension of the hunger challenge. It was prepared for the World Food Programme, with support from the Eleanor Crook Foundation, in preparation for events in June 2016 where the Zero Hunger effort was discussed in the context of interreligious partnerships; Katherine Marshall is the principal author.