In 2015, the world’s leaders came together to pledge the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The 2030 Agenda is a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure all people enjoy peace and prosperity through global partnership. Built on the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for 2000-2015, it is monitored against a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

After a decade of declining numbers of hungry people, the world is now witnessing a reversal of this positive trend. Consistent for the last three years, the reversal has led to an increase in the absolute number of people affected by undernourishment or chronic food deprivation globally. In 2017, the number of hungry people rose to 821 million, from around 804 million in 2016, almost the same as the number in 2010. This is despite a reduction recorded within the same period.