World Vision Statement on the Global Humanitarian Overview 2024

11th December 2023 - World Vision stands firmly behind the joint NGO statement delivered at the Global Humanitarian Overview (GHO) launch in Geneva, echoing our deep concern about escalating humanitarian needs and the disproportionate impact on children. We emphasize the need for political will and immediate action to address the root causes of the global humanitarian crisis.

While the GHO report's reduction in the "People in Need" figure by almost 64 million may suggest progress, this should not be interpreted as an improvement in the global humanitarian situation. This decrease significantly reflects "boundary setting" measures, which prioritize certain populations while leaving others behind. This approach, while potentially improving resource allocation efficiencies, raises concerns about neglecting the needs of vulnerable girls and boys and their families and communities falling outside designated boundaries. Furthermore, any cuts in humanitarian funding must be implemented in a participatory manner, actively engaging affected people in the decision-making process, and ensuring critical programming for children is protected. 

The overall picture is incredibly bleak, as evidenced by the World Food Programme's November 2023 report that highlights the grim reality of 333 million people facing acute food insecurity and an estimated 45 million children under five years of age suffering from acute malnutrition, underlining the urgent need for increased and sustained international support.

World Vision remains unwavering in our commitment alongside our partners to building a world where every child has the opportunity to thrive. We believe that through collective action, targeted assistance, and a focus on long-term solutions, we can overcome global challenges and build a future of hope and prosperity. World Vision is working to address the root causes of hunger and poverty through a global campaign ENOUGH and the Global Hunger Response through which we are committed to:

• Investing $3.4 billion to provide sustainable solutions to the growing hunger crisis, reaching 30 million of the most vulnerable people across 28 countries.
• Empowering communities to become self-sufficient by building resilience through long-term development programs focusing on food security, clean water, education, and healthcare.
• Advocating for policy change that prioritizes long-term solutions to hunger and poverty, including addressing climate change and conflict prevention.

However, to achieve this vision, we urge the international community to:

• Fully fund the 2024 GHO ensuring adequate resources reach those in dire need, including those involuntarily left behind by "boundary setting" and protect child-focused programming.
• Support international, national, and local NGOs and recognize their unique ability to reach and serve the most vulnerable communities.
• Uphold impartial needs-based targeting using age, gender, and disability disaggregated data in guiding needs assessments and resource allocation.
• Increase development funding and invest in long-term solutions that address the root causes of humanitarian crises and build resilience.
• Focus on the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus to strengthen the interconnectedness of humanitarian crises, development challenges, and peacebuilding efforts.

The international community has a collective responsibility to address the root causes of suffering and ensure that no one is left behind, and WV stands as always ready to play its part in this global humanitarian endeavor.

ENDS

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian and development organisation dedicated to working with children, families and their communities to reach their full potential by tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice.  World Vision and their partners are working in communities to improve families’ economic prospects, strength violence prevention and child protection services, and improve education systems.

World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.  For more information, please visit www.wvi.org/emergencies/hunger-crisis or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @WorldVision    

For further information please contact

Bruno Atieh, UN Representative for Humanitarian Affairs, Senior Policy and External Engagement Advisor,  bruno_atieh@wvi.org |  ET/New York |  wvi.org

Media Contact: Charlotte A. Masiello-Riome Charlotte_Masiello-Riome@wvi.org