The Business Alliance Against Chronic Hunger (BAACH) was formed in 2006 by a group of CEOs and public leaders who outlined an action plan for business to help reduce hunger. Since then the Alliance has launched pilot work in Kenya, and is working with a broad array of global and regional companies and partners to promote business models that contribute to sustainable food production and raise incomes in poor regions. The Alliance is a cross-industry, multi-stakeholder initiative championed by the Consumer Industry Partnership community of the World Economic Forum.
The issue
Worldwide, one in seven people are chronically hungry – over 850 million in total. This lack of sufficient food or nutrients can devastate both individuals and economies: over 5.6 million children die of hunger-related causes each year, and affected countries can lose up to 10% of labour productivity and 3% of GDP. Chronic hunger is most prevalent in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Africa is the only region where the situation is getting worse.
Businesses have significant and unique abilities to combat the root causes of hunger. The pioneering approach of the Business Alliance Against Chronic Hunger (BAACH) harnesses business expertise to generate sustainable, market-based solutions to hunger and poverty.
Developing Business-led Solutions
Through BAACH, businesses leverage their expertise and capabilities to improve value chains – from production, processing and packaging to retailing and marketing – to increase food supplies, nutrition and incomes in hungry regions.
BAACH works to reduce hunger in Africa by strengthening specific food value chains through business development and market linkages. Companies implement these solutions in partnership with governments, NGOs, international agencies and communities.
Globally, BAACH strengthens commitment to action on hunger by promoting effective business models to reduce hunger, facilitating dialogue and engaging in global partnerships.
The Kenya Pilot District
BAACH is focusing its on-the-ground work in Siaya, the poorest district in Kenya, where 38% of children are stunted by malnutrition. BAACH partners developed a joint strategy and are now undertaking pilot-scale business initiatives on the ground in Siaya District, testing and developing specific business models with a goal of defining scalable, commercially viable models that can be applied in other regions. In 2008, the Alliance is deepening its work in the district and expanding its business network to catalyze broader adoption of its models.
Defining Best Practices for Scalable Business Models Worldwide
In 2008, the Alliance will initiate a new cross-industry workstream to assess business models that have proven successful in strengthening food value chains and entrepreneurship worldwide. Through a series of cross-industry roundtables, business leaders and key stakeholders will evaluate case studies of such models and define recommendations for their broader application. Business models to be considered include:
- Expanding retail distribution networks for essential products (e.g. agricultural inputs)
- Sourcing high-value products
- Value-added processing, fortification and packaging
- Empowering entrepreneurs through access to finance and communications
- Galvanizing public and private investment to drive sustainable growth in the food and agriculture sectors
Who Is Involved?
A Global Project Board leads the initiative: Unilever, Sealed Air, General Mills, TNT, Nike, Technoserve, MDG Centre and the Rockefeller Foundation. The board sets strategy and monitors progress, using the Forum platform to highlight success and build support. Financial support and partnership are provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Templeton Foundation. An Advisory Board – including the International Food Policy Research Institute, the UNDP, UNICEF, Harvard and Columbia universities – provides expert guidance.
In Kenya, the Alliance is led by the 20-member National Council, comprised of local members of the Global Steering Board, the government of Kenya, and other local companies and stakeholders.
Contact Us
For more information on the Alliance, please contact hunger@weforum.org.
|
