By Abdul Wajid Khan

Rising global hunger is strengthening the case for long-term investment in climate-resilient agriculture, efficient food supply chains and social protection, as conflicts, economic instability and extreme weather continue to threaten food security across developing economies.

The combined effects of rising food prices, disrupted agricultural production and declining household purchasing power are making nutritious diets increasingly unaffordable for vulnerable populations, highlighting the limitations of relying primarily on short-term food assistance.

According to the 2026 Global Hunger Index (GHI), the global hunger score increased from 17.6 in 2018 to 18.1 in 2026, indicating a reversal of earlier progress in reducing hunger.

The findings highlight how geopolitical tensions, extreme weather events and economic pressures are undermining food production, distribution and access to adequate nutrition, particularly in countries with limited financial resources.

Armed conflict and climate-related shocks remain major drivers of food insecurity. Disruptions to international shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, alongside the Russia-Ukraine war, have intensified pressure on global fuel, fertiliser and food markets.

Higher energy and transport costs increase agricultural production and distribution expenses, while disruptions to grain and fertiliser supplies create additional uncertainty for countries dependent on international markets.

These pressures are particularly severe for developing economies, where low household incomes and limited financial resources leave large sections of the population vulnerable to food-price shocks.

South Asia remains among the regions facing considerable hunger challenges, recording a GHI score of 23.5.

The report estimates that 218 million people across South Asia were undernourished between 2023 and 2025, accounting for approximately one-third of the global total.

Talking to Wealth Pakistan, Dr Muhammad Shahid, a consultant with the Asian Development Bank's Social Protection Development Project, said there was “no magic wand or quick fix” to the global food-security crisis.

He said approximately 266 million people in 47 food-crisis countries faced high levels of acute food insecurity in 2025, while the number of people experiencing acute hunger had doubled over the past decade.

At the same time, funding for responses to food crises had fallen to levels last recorded in 2016, further complicating efforts to protect vulnerable populations.

Shahid said the growing crisis reflected the interaction of economic instability, conflict and climate-related pressures, which were weakening the ability of vulnerable communities to withstand rising food prices and disruptions to essential supplies.

Pakistan illustrates many of the challenges confronting developing economies.

The 2026 GHI ranks Pakistan 106th out of 122 countries, with a score of 25.5, placing it in the serious hunger category.

The report indicates that Pakistan's level of undernourishment has moved from the low to the medium category since 2018, while child wasting has increased towards the high threshold.

Although child stunting has declined, it remains a significant nutritional concern, highlighting the importance of sustained investment in maternal and child nutrition.

Economic instability, high food prices and declining household purchasing power have further complicated Pakistan's food-security situation.

Repeated climate-related disasters have also damaged agricultural production and rural livelihoods, particularly in communities dependent on farming and livestock.

Referring to Pakistan, Shahid identified economic instability, the lasting effects of sharp food-price increases and climate-related disasters as major factors contributing to food insecurity.

He said the 2025 monsoon floods affected more than six million people, while the devastating floods of 2022 pushed more than nine million people below the poverty line and destroyed 80% of standing crops.

Shahid argued that sustainable food security requires more than technical interventions, stressing the importance of addressing how public resources and subsidies are distributed and how the costs of economic and environmental shocks are shared across society.

He emphasised the need to consider the allocation of climate-related losses and ensure that economic adjustment measures did not disproportionately affect the poorest households.

The worsening global hunger outlook highlights the importance of strengthening food systems against economic, geopolitical and environmental disruptions.

Investment in climate-resilient agriculture, water management, agricultural research, storage facilities and efficient supply chains could help protect food production and reduce the impact of recurring shocks.

At the same time, targeted social protection programmes could help vulnerable households maintain access to essential food supplies during periods of high inflation, economic instability and climate-related emergencies.

Sustained investment in maternal and child nutrition is also essential to addressing the long-term consequences of inadequate diets, particularly in countries facing high levels of child wasting and stunting.

For developing economies such as Pakistan, reducing hunger will require policies that connect agricultural productivity with economic stability, climate resilience and equitable access to nutritious food.

Strengthening domestic food systems while expanding effective social protection could help vulnerable communities withstand recurring shocks and support more sustainable progress towards food security.

Credit: INP-WealthPk