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The G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro launched the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, connecting nations with resources to tackle hunger. Led by Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the initiative focuses on cash transfers, school meals, and support for farmers.
Also in today’s edition: We bring you all the news from the G20 in Rio, COP29 in Baku, plus a little from the Dutch
Rio’s G20 summit kicked off with an initiative to tackle one of humanity’s oldest challenges: hunger. Lula, as he is colloquially known, launched the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, a matchmaking platform connecting countries with policies, partners, and funding to eliminate hunger.
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“Hunger and poverty is not the result of scarcity,” Lula said, emphasizing that hunger is “the biological expression of social evil.” His message resonated as 82 countries, 26 international organizations, and 40 financial institutions signed on to the alliance. “It’s about political decisions,” he added.
The alliance’s focus is ambitious: cash transfers for 500 million people, school meals for 150 million students, and support for small-scale farmers and maternal health. Nations such as Nigeria, Bangladesh, and Togo are already stepping up with commitments ranging from expanded school meals to cash transfer programs, and global heavyweights such as Germany and the Gates Foundation have pledged technical and financial support.
At its heart, the alliance aims to scale proven solutions. Lula pointed to Brazil’s own success: halving hunger and malnutrition rates through social programs two decades ago. Now, the alliance seeks to replicate such wins worldwide by linking countries with resources such as World Bank loans or NGO expertise, my colleague Elissa Miolene writes.
The challenge? Turning promises into action. Financial gaps remain daunting, and experts stress the need for coordinated funding through mechanisms such as the World Bank’s International Development Association replenishment. Still, optimism runs high.
“We already know how to eliminate hunger,” Andrea Polo Galante of World Vision said. “This alliance connects the dots between what’s proven to work and the resources to make it happen.”
Read: Brazil launches a plan to slash hunger across the world
ICYMI: Inside Brazil’s plan to cut world hunger by 2030
And on that Ipanema note, here are some thoughts from Elissa as she enjoys the Rio sun and hopefully a few after-hours caipirinhas. It’s all happening at the Museum of Modern Art, where the leaders of the world’s biggest economies met for two days of serious discussions and decision-making.
Interestingly — though perhaps not in Brazil where China has invested heavily over the years — crowds waved Chinese flags, hoping for a glimpse of Chinese President Xi Jinping. The summit officially kicked off with Lula’s big moment as he launched the alliance against hunger and poverty mentioned above.
He called it a legacy initiative, and even Argentina — whose president, Javier Milei, is known for opposing group consensus — reluctantly joined in. Argentina also made it clear it isn’t fully on board with parts of the G20’s agenda, especially the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, arguing that less government involvement, not more, is the solution to hunger and poverty.
Elissa’s big takeaway from the day was the G20 Leaders’ Declaration — a hefty 22 pages packed with commitments. In it, leaders pledged to accelerate progress on the SDGs, tackle climate change, support food security, and even push billionaires to pay their fair share of taxes — though a proposed 2% tax rate didn’t make the cut. They also promised reforms for the U.N. Security Council and development banks, aiming to make them more inclusive and effective. These moves are a significant achievement for Brazil’s G20 presidency, according to experts.
Then there were the financial pledges: U.S. President Joe Biden announced a record-breaking $4 billion for the World Bank’s IDA, with South Korea adding $607 million of its own. All in all, it was a day of bold promises and carefully crafted diplomacy, Elissa writes.
Now, for the fun part: the journalist goodie bag. It had some practical items — coffee, a cool mug, and an adapter — but the standout? A swimsuit. Not just any swimsuit, though. This one had a turtleneck and a belt buckle in the most awkward spot. Elissa’s still trying to figure out the logic behind it. Diplomacy with a sense of humor, perhaps?
Read the latest entry in the reporter's notebook: On the ground for Rio's G20 summit
And from the other side of the world, Devex climate reporter Ayenat Mersie is at the 29th U.N. Climate Change Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan. The weekend saw a “revival” in more ways than one, she wrote in her reporter’s notebook. As Azerbaijan celebrated National Revival Day — commemorating the 1988 protests that led to independence from the Soviet Union — COP29 also got a fresh injection of energy, she said. Here’s what went down:
• Human development. Monday centered on human development with the launch of the Baku Initiative on Human Development for Climate Resilience. Highlights included small business innovations for climate adaptation, the link between climate change and human trafficking, and Ukraine’s insights on how Russia’s invasion worsens climate-related conflicts.
• A story from Sudan. Sudanese activist Nisreen Elsaim highlighted how war and climate change compound each other. Since fleeing Sudan, she’s balanced humanitarian work with environmental advocacy, tackling deforestation caused by internally displaced people resorting to using charcoal due to lack of energy sources. To address this, the Youth and Environment Society is documenting the damage and seeking sustainable energy alternatives.
• Food, agriculture, and water. There was a focus on food systems and water on Tuesday. Sweden pledged to include sustainable food systems in its climate goals, while the Food and Agriculture Organization noted that current pledges address only 40% of agrifood emissions, leaving hopes for clearer action ahead.
• A bamboo breakthrough. There was also a spotlight on innovators such as Rania Duri of African Bamboo, a startup replacing concrete and steel with bamboo fibers while restoring degraded lands in Ethiopia. A perfect symbol of the revival theme.
• Pavilion of the day. And the award goes to Mali. Its minimalist booth featured little more than a giant photo of the military ruler in fatigues and a green beret, exuding coup vibes loud and clear.
Read the latest: Behind the scenes at COP29
The Dutch government’s plan to slash funding for civil society organizations by two-thirds has sparked outrage, with development advocates calling it “devastating.” From 2026-2030, CSO grants will drop to €390-€565 million, down from €1.4 billion in the previous five years — a move framed as a push toward localization.
Cutting 67% of the budget doesn’t equate to supporting local organizations, Dirk Jan Koch, a professor at Radboud University, tells my colleague Vince Chadwick. Instead, he argues, the move is likely more of a cost-saving measure, one that sidelines Dutch NGOs’ vital role in amplifying voices from the global south at international negotiations.
The decision to end funding for lobbying activities further limits the reach of CSOs, Koch says. Programs that once connected unions and grassroots movements to decision-making hubs in Brussels and Geneva may vanish, undermining hard-fought progress.
Critics also note the ideological slant behind the cuts. Reinette Klever, the Dutch minister leading the charge, hails from a far-right party and has a history of controversial views, from calling climate change a hoax to advocating for the end of all foreign aid. Her appointment marked a shift toward reducing the Netherlands’ overall aid budget by up to €2.4 billion by 2027.
While the government insists the cuts will promote efficiency and reduce CSO dependence on public funding, experts warn that many organizations won’t survive the push to generate at least 50% of their income independently — up from the current 25%.
Paul van den Berg of Cordaid calls the policy a “fact-free” disaster, noting it sends the wrong message at a time when global space for civil society is shrinking. Similar cuts happening across Europe are part of a worrying trend for global development.
Read: ‘Unprecedented’ cuts leave Dutch civil society organizations reeling (Pro)
Related: Why are billions being cut from European aid budgets? (Pro)
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Turkey’s air strikes in northeast Syria have damaged infrastructure, causing more than a million people in the region to lose access to power and water. [BBC]
Médecins Sans Frontières has announced suspension of its work in Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince due to threats from law enforcement. [DW]
The U.K. says it supports a second term for Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as director-general of the World Trade Organization and wants to see the reappointment happen this month. [Bloomberg]
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