Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger
Formation1979 (1979)
TypeNon-profit
PurposeTo end child hunger whilst providing communities with access to safe water and amazing solutions to hunger.
HeadquartersNew York, USA; Toronto, Canada; London, UK; Paris, France; Madrid, Spain; Mumbai, India; Milan, Italy
Region served
Over 51 countries around the world
Staff
Over 7000
Websitewww.actioncontrelafaim.org (FR) www.actionagainsthunger.org (US) www.actionagainsthunger.org.uk (UK) www.actioncontrelafaim.ca (CA) www.accioncontraelhambre.org (ES) www.actionagainsthunger.in (IN) www.azionecontrolafame.it (IT)

Action Against Hunger (French: Action Contre La Faim - ACF) is a global humanitarian organization which originated in France and is committed to ending world hunger. The organization helps malnourished children and provides communities with access to safe water and sustainable solutions to hunger.

Pakistan's situation has significant ramifications for food security, particularly with the ongoing high levels of inflation. The added impact of climate change intensifies security concerns, leaving an increasing number of individuals without viable means to provide food and shelter for themselves and their families.[1]

In 2022, Action Against Hunger worked in 56 countries around the world with more than 8,990 employees helping 28 million people in need.[2][3]

Action Against Hunger was established in 1979 by a group of French doctors, scientists, and writers. Nobel Prize-winning physicist Alfred Kastler served as the organization's first chairman. Currently, Mumbai-based businessman and philanthropist Ashwini Kakkar serves as International President of Action Against Hunger network.[4]

The group initially provided assistance to Afghan refugees in Pakistan, famine-stricken Ugandan communities, and Cambodian refugees in Thailand. It expanded to address additional humanitarian concerns in Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, the Balkans, and elsewhere during the 1980s and 1990s. Action Against Hunger's Scientific Committee pioneered the therapeutic milk formula (F100), now used by all major humanitarian aid organizations to treat acute malnutrition. Early results showed that treatment with F100 has the capacity to reduce the mortality rate of severely malnourished children to below 5%, with a median hospital fatality rate quoted of 23.5%.[5] A few years later, the therapeutic milk was repackaged as ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTFs), a peanut-based paste packaged like a power bar. These bars allow for the treatment of malnutrition at home and do not require any preparation or refrigeration.

The international network currently has headquarters in eight countries – France, Germany, Spain, the United States, Canada, Italy, India, and the UK. Its four main areas of work include nutrition, food security, water and sanitation, and advocacy.[6]

The integrated approaches with various sectors of intervention are:

  • Nutrition and Health
  • Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
  • Food Security & Livelihoods
  • Emergency Response

In 2022, Action Against Hunger USA is leading a USAID-funded project to address health and nutrition challenges associated with policy, advocacy, financing, and governance in communities around the world, and will work in partnership with leading organizations such as Pathfinder International, Amref Health Africa, Global Communities, Humanity & Inclusion, Kupenda for the Children, and Results for Development.[7]

  1. ^ Hansberry, Cate (2023-09-15). "Empowering Pakistan's youth to address climate change risks". Atlantic Council. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  2. ^ "About Action Against Hunger Canada | Action Against Hunger". actioncontrelafaim.ca. Retrieved 2017-07-27.
  3. ^ ActionAgainstHunger_GlobalPerformanceReport_2020.pdf
  4. ^ "Mr. Ashwini Kakkar elected chairman of Action Against Hunger's International network".
  5. ^ Desjeux, JF; Briend, A; Prudhon, C; Greletty, Y; Golden, MH (1998). "Definition and evaluation of therapeutic food for severely malnourished children in situations of humanitarian emergencies". Bull Acad Natl Med. 182 (8): 1679–90, discussion 1691–5. PMID 10188315.
  6. ^ "Nos missions humanitaires dans le monde". Action contre la Faim (in French). Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  7. ^ "Action Against Hunger USA to Lead USAID-Funded Global PROPEL Adapt Project". Action Against Hunger. Retrieved 2023-02-06.