Conflict and food insecurity go hand-in-hand. As a major food and commodities exporting region, the war in Ukraine has caused not only a humanitarian crisis, but is also increasing food and fuel prices, which in turn are impacting the world’s most vulnerable people.

Smallholder farmers and poor rural people bear the brunt of climate change and the degradation of natural resources. Extreme weather events, such as droughts, storms and floods, are putting pressure on the ecosystems that farmers depend on.

The 2030 Agenda is a commitment to “leave no one behind”. It applies to all countries and spans social, environmental and economic issues. This commitment is most salient in rural areas as shocks, such as climate change and the COVID crisis, disproportionately affect rural communities.

The outbreak of COVID-19 has rapidly spread across the world, profoundly disrupting the fundamental activities that bring the global community together, including agriculture – and endangering all those who depend on it as their livelihood.