Program areas at Hunger Project
AFRICA - In nine countries in Africa, The Hunger Project's Epicenter Strategy mobilizes clusters of rural villages into "epicenters," which band together 5,000-15,000 people to carry out community-led integrated strategies to meet basic needs. Community members at epicenters create and run their own development programs, culminating in sustainable self-reliance. AT THE END OF 2022, 75 THE HUNGER PROJECT EPICENTERS HAD DECLARED SELF-RELIANCE, MEANING NEARLY 1.2 MILLION COMMUNITY PARTNERS ARE NOW LIVING IN A SELF-RELIANT COMMUNITY, MEANING THEY HAVE DEMONSTRATED THE CONFIDENCE, CAPACITY, AND SKILLS TO ACT AS AGENTS OF THEIR OWN DEVELOPMENT. THEY CONTINUE THE WORK THEY BEGAN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HUNGER PROJECT.
EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY - The Hunger Project's program activities include educating and mobilizing individuals and organizations as a worldwide constituency to bring about the sustainable end of world hunger - this includes awareness raising activities to educate the public about world hunger and related topics. To achieve broad-reaching, sustainable progress toward the end of hunger, The Hunger Project also prioritizes collaboration among development actors to identify what's missing in a region or sector and works towards the widespread adoption of women-centered, community-led development in countries around the world. To accelerate this work, The Hunger Project catalyzed the formation of a global Movement for Community-Led Development (Movement) in 2015. The alliance, which has now grown to more than 100 organizations worldwide, is committed to advocating for the power and capacity of communities to take charge of their own development. Today, the Movement is active globally, with local chapters across Africa and Latin America.
SOUTH ASIA - In India, the Hunger Project works with empowered women interested in being elected to local government positions in over 5,100 communities to meet the development needs of their communities. Across six states, The Hunger Project facilitates regional-level Organizations of women elected leaders to strengthen their voice and provide a platform for learning and exchange. Recognizing the importance of enrolling the next generation in empowerment programs, The Hunger Project's work in India also places an emphasis on the rights of girls, particularly regarding the harmful cycle of child marriage. The Adolescent Girls (AG) Program, started in 2016, teaches girls life skills, how to engage meaningfully with governance systems, raises awareness about their rights and highlights the importance of active citizenship in local village councils (Panchayats). In Bangladesh, The Hunger Project mobilizes local "animators" (trained volunteers), youth, women leaders, and local government representatives across 166 unions, encompassing nearly 8,750 communities, to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These community partners carry out women-centered, holistic, bottom-up strategies to achieve the SDGs in their communities.