WELCOME REMARKS

BY

H.E. MOSES VILAKATI 

COMMISSIONER FOR AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, BLUE ECONOMY AND SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT

AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION

Delivered During

The Launch of the World Without Hunger Index

10 March 2025

Protocol:

• Excellency, Meles Mokonnen, State Minister of Agriculture and Horticulture, Ministry of Agriculture, Ethiopia
• Excellency, Dr. Dereje Duguma, State Minister, Ministry of Health, Ethiopia
• Austin Kennan, Chair of the Alliance 2015 and Concern Worldwide Country Director
• Excellency, Guillermo Lopez Mac-Lellan, Ambassador of Spain to Ethiopia
• Excellency Riccarda Chanda, Ambassador of Switzerland to Ethiopia,
• Distinguished Representatives of development partners
• Ladies and Gentlemen

A very good morning and warm welcome to each of you.

I am honoured to welcome you today as we gather for the Official Launch of the 2025 Global Hunger Index (GHI). The launch has come at a defining moment when Africa faces food security challenges of unprecedented scale. According to the 2025 UN FAO State of Food Security Report shows that nearly 300 million people on the continent are food insecure. This aligns with our most recent CAADP Biennial Review, which shows that no member state was on track to achieve zero hunger by 2025. Alarmingly, the continent spends up to USD 100 billion each year on food imports.

With the immense opportunities that exist on our continent- vast arable land, natural resources, a youthful population, and growing agrifood markets under AFCFTA, this is a reality that should not be acceptable.

It is in line with this reality that under the CAADP Kampala declaration the continent recommitted our continent to achieve zero hunger in all African Union Member States by 2035. The theme of this year’s launch, “20 Years of Tracking Progress: Time to Recommit to Zero Hunger,” reinforces this commitment and amplifies the urgency of accelerating action and delivering concrete results to finally end hunger on our continent.

Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

This year marks the 20^th edition of the Global Hunger Index that reflects the milestones reached at a time of rising alarm about global food security and persistent hunger. I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to our partners, researchers, policy makers, civil society organisations and communities for their dedicated efforts to this important work.

This launch should be a moment where we not only acknowledge the challenges but also commit ourselves to the solutions. The evidence presented in the Report should guide stronger policy reforms, smarter investments, and enhanced accountability mechanisms. We must strengthen agrifood systems, invest in climate resilience, improve our soil productivity, expand social protection and safety nets, empower women and youth across value chains, and promote innovation that improves productivity and market access, while mitigating food los and wastage.

The African Union’s 2026 theme, “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063,” reminds us that water and sanitation are fundamental to ending hunger. Without them, food production, nutrition, and health cannot thrive. Strengthening sustainable water and sanitation systems is essential.

Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen

Hunger is a complex problem, but it is entirely solvable. Let me also take this opportunity to appreciate Ethiopia’s dedicated national efforts and commitments toward achieving food and nutrition security.

Once again, welcome and thank you for being part of this important multi-stakeholder dialogue and launch. I am confident that the insights and perspectives shared during this here will contribute meaningfully towards achieving the commitments to Zero Hunger.

Thank you!