Auf dem Bild sind zwei Frauen zu sehen, die auf dem Feld arbeiten.

Fighting poverty – Ensuring food security

In order to combat poverty and hunger worldwide, we promote small-scale farming, support sustainable agricultural practices and provide training opportunities for young people. This enables people to overcome poverty, earn their own income and provide for their families.

Global Inequality: How Colonial Continuities Cause Hunger and Poverty

The causes of hunger and poverty have deep historical roots. Many of today's dependencies and inequalities originated in colonial times. European colonial powers enslaved people, looted resources and destroyed local economic structures. Many regions were forced into systems of economic exploitation. These colonial continuities persist to this day: multinational corporations control large parts of global agricultural trade, while small-scale farmers in the Global South have little access to fair markets. One-sided trade agreements, high foreign debt and externally imposed land use policies hinder economic development and self-determination in many countries. Building sustainable local structures remains extremely difficult. The consequences are structural poverty and a lack of food security.

Poverty and hunger: A Vicious Cycle with Long-Term Consequences

Around 700 million people worldwide live in poverty, with approximately one in eleven suffering from hunger. Rural areas are particularly affected: around 83 percent of people living in poverty reside in rural regions, many of them women and children. Access to education, healthcare and employment is severely limited. Despite working in agriculture, many families are unable to secure adequate nutrition for themselves.

Poverty often leads to hunger, and hunger exacerbates the effects of poverty. Undernourished mothers are more likely to give birth to underweight children. These children are more vulnerable to disease, experience slower development, and have fewer educational opportunities.

The global food crisis is worsening

The global food situation has deteriorated dramatically in recent years. Between 2020 and 2023, the number of people suffering from hunger more than doubled. Structural inequalities, armed conflicts, the climate crisis and economic shocks, such as those caused by the pandemic, are major contributing factors. These developments make one thing clear: to effectively combat hunger and poverty worldwide, we need a fundamental shift towards greater justice and sustainability.

The picture shows a woman with a watering can in her hand. She is using a sustainable cultivation method.

Thanks to sustainable farming methods that conserve water, women like Jane A., who lives in a rural area of Uganda, are ensuring a successful harvest.

The picture shows two elderly people bending down and holding a watermelon in their hands.

By practising sustainable farming in the riverbed, these Nepalese farmers are ensuring a successful harvest and improving local nutrition.

The picture shows three people. Two are holding a self-made poster while the third person points to it and speaks.

These members of a farmers' group in Uganda come together to exchange ideas and shape the future of their community.

The picture shows a woman looking at the camera and smiling. Sewing patterns can be seen in the background.

Vocational training programmes equip individuals with the skills needed to generate a sustainable income, such as training to become a tailor.

The picture shows a woman speaking into a microphone.

Women are showing strength and demanding participation as they stand up against violence and human trafficking.

The picture shows an employee of AWO Internation holding a poster. It says “No profits at the expense of people and the environment”.

Taking to the streets for a fair supply chain law: An AWO International staff member joins a demonstration in Berlin calling for global justice.

Our contribution: How AWO International Fights Poverty and Hunger

AWO International actively combats poverty and strengthens food security in collaboration with local partner organisations.

Promoting sustainable agriculture: We support rural communities in the ecological and resilient cultivation of food. Kitchen gardens with local vegetables directly improve the local nutrition situation. Seed banks and natural fertilisers help to secure long-term yields and maintain soil fertility.
Connecting climate protection and food security: The climate crisis is exacerbating hunger and poverty worldwide. AWO International promotes climate-resilient farming methods and supports measures to help communities adapt to new environmental conditions. Examples include building irrigation systems, using drought-resistant crop varieties and providing training in ecological farming practices.
Strengthening Local Structures: Sustainable change is only possible when people are heard and involved. Therefore, AWO International supports local communities' participation in social, economic and political processes. We promote grassroots organisations, such as farmers' cooperatives and women's groups, to enable people to claim their rights and actively shape the development of their communities.
Promoting education and entrepreneurship: In order to overcome poverty in the long term, AWO International supports the education and training of young people and adults. In addition to training in sustainable agriculture and livestock farming, we also provide vocational qualifications, such as in tailoring, mechanics, or gastronomy. These qualifications create new income opportunities and economic prospects, particularly for young people in rural areas.
Strengthening gender equality and inclusion: Women, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and other groups affected by discrimination are particularly vulnerable to poverty. AWO International specifically promotes their participation in food security and poverty reduction projects. This includes campaigns for women's land ownership rights and actively including marginalised groups in local decision-making processes.
Politically active for greater global justice: Poverty and inequality are consequences of unfair tax policies. While many people pay a significant proportion of their income in taxes and duties, the super-rich often contribute little to the common good. AWO International is committed to achieving greater tax justice and fairer distribution of wealth. In Germany, our political work aims to create fair frameworks, such as an effective supply chain law. In this way, we strengthen the conditions for social justice and the fight against poverty worldwide.

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