Highlighted results

15.3 million people with greater nutrient intake

6.6 million farms with raised productivity and income

612,000 hectares used more eco-efficiently

113,000 farmers whose land rights are safeguarded

1,1 million women benefited from the Dutch effort

Related SDGs

No poverty Zero hunger Good health and well-being Clean water and sanitation Reduced inequalities Climate action

Additional sources

Policy letter

Read the policy letter on food security

Theory of Change

Download PDF document with the Theory of Change

Introduction

Food security policy contributes to achieving the targets of SDG 2: end malnutrition and undernourishment, double the productivity and incomes of small-scale farmers and ensure sustainable food production systems. This is a matter of great urgency, because world hunger has increased in the past several years.

The Netherlands has decided how it can realistically contribute to SDG 2, identifying three long-term goals to be achieved by 2030. These are as follows:

end malnutrition for 32 million people, particularly children;

double the productivity and income of 8 million small-scale food producers;

achieve ecologically sustainable use of 8 million hectares of farmland.

Apart from activities directly targeting these goals, we are also working to better ensure preconditions for food security. These include knowledge and capacity, land-use rights and the position of women, in cohesion with other sectors and themes. This report highlights a number of the results we have achieved in these areas as well.

Results 2019

In 2019, the Netherlands again reached many malnourished people and small-scale producers, with many positive results: improved nutrient intake, greater productivity and market access, improved land use and more resilience to economic and environmental shocks.

In this report we also focus on three preconditions for food security: land-use rights, the position of women and knowledge and innovation. The results show that we have made a substantial contribution to them all. The number of hectares of sustainably used farmland fell short of the target in 2019, because the programmes in question are still partly under development. They will receive more attention in the coming period.

Result areas

Malnutrition Agriculture Ecological sustainability Preconditions

Featured project food and nutrition security

Project d’Appui à la Productivité Agricole au Burundi (PAPAB)

The Dutch embassy in Burundi funds the project Supporting Agricultural Productivity in Burundi (PAPAB). This project works in accordance with the Integrated Farm Planning (PIP) method. By making a plan for the future, small-scale farming households become proud, sustainable, highly motivated entrepreneurs instead of farmers for lack of better options. A plan enables them to invest in soil fertility and make their farm more resilient, securing future food production. The PIP method has enabled 37,400 farming households to increase their production and income. Moreover, 18,700 hectares of land are now being used more eco-efficiently.

For further upscaling, the project uses a digital platform. Households are given an online account providing access to microfinance, information on the market, the weather forecast, online payments and so on. More than one million households are now registered on this platform.

Supporting Agricultural Productivity in Burundi (PAPAB)

More about the PAPAB project

Malnutrition

Two Kenyan women prepare a healthy meal. Credit: Clean Cooking Alliance

Contribution to ending malnutrition by 2030

The Netherlands’ aim for the period up to 2030 is to end malnutrition for 32 million people, children in particular. This calls for improved nutrient intake, better access to food and a food production system that is more resilient to economic and environmental shocks. In the reporting period, 20.8 million people, most of them children, were reached directly by nutrition-related activities funded by the Netherlands. Nutrient intake in particular improved in this group. A smaller group of people gained better access to food on a more permanent basis, e.g. through markets, and became more resilient to shocks. This is reflected in the scores for the more structural indicators relating to access to food and resilience to economic and environmental shocks.

Open result area

Two Kenyan women prepare a healthy meal. Credit: Clean Cooking Alliance

During the reporting period, nutrition-related activities to which the Netherlands contributed reached 20.8 million people (in particular young children and their mothers). These activities included screening for undernourishment, therapeutic nutrition for seriously malnourished children, provision of food and vitamin supplements, deworming treatments, nutritional advice and information on healthy nutrition. A clear improvement was recorded in the nutrient intake of 15.3 million people. This figure is around 30% higher than the figure reported last year, and is thus back at the same level as two years ago. One reason for this is that the UNICEF programme launched in 2018 is already producing good results. Moreover, compared to 2018, more programmes run by the embassies are making a contribution to this indicator, since they are devoting more attention to nutrition. More permanent improvements have also been made to people’s nutritional status, though for a smaller group: 440,000 people gained better access to food and 171,000 people became more shock resilient (e.g. to higher food prices). Given these interim figures, we are on track to achieve the final goal: a sustainable improvement in the nutritional status of 32 million children by 2030. However, more action will be needed to achieve a permanent improvement in the nutrition environment.

Results

Indicator

Number of people (mainly children) with a greater nutrient intake

Progress

On track

To assess progress, the Netherlands keeps a record of the number of people, children in particular, receiving direct treatment for acute and other malnutrition. Treatment involves provision of food or vitamin supplements and deworming treatment, possibly in combination. In 2019, we reached a total of 20.8 million people. Within this group, improved nutrient intake could be confirmed in 15.3 million people in the short term.

Open explanation

Nutrition-related projects supported by the Netherlands resulted in 2019 in a demonstrable improvement in the nutrient intake of 15.3 million people, most of them children. After a fall in 2018 (11.4 million) we are back to the level recorded in 2017 (15.5 million). This can partly be explained by the UNICEF programme launched last year, which is already producing good results. Please note: although this result reflects progress, in itself it is not yet representative for the contribution to SDG 2 the Netherlands ultimately envisages, which is ending malnutrition for 32 million people by 2030.

Close explanation
Indicator

Number of people with better access to food

Progress

Progress, not on track

To assess progress, the Netherlands keeps a record of the number of people benefiting from better local food supplies through cultivation of vegetable gardens or a more varied supply in village shops and/or active support for food acquisition, for example.

A total of 20.8 million people were reached in 2019. Within this group, we could confirm that 440,000 people had gained better access to a healthier, more varied supply of food.

Open explanation

Nutrition-related projects supported by the Netherlands led in 2019 to better access to food for 440,000 people, slightly fewer than the year before. This is only 2% of the total number of people reached. Unlike direct nutrient intake, this involves more structural improvements to the nutrition environment which are more difficult to achieve in the short term. To achieve our ultimate aim by 2030, this percentage will need to rise in the coming years, when the programmes in question have been under way for a longer period. Moreover, although this result reflects progress, in itself it is not yet representative for the contribution to SDG 2 the Netherlands ultimately envisages: ending malnutrition for 32 million people by 2030.

Close explanation
Indicator

Number of people whose nutritional status is more resilient to shocks and stress

Progress

Progress, not on track

To assess progress, the Netherlands keeps a record of the number of people benefiting from improvements to their environment that make them less vulnerable in terms of nutrition. Their nutrition has been improved through drought-resistant water supplies and sanitation, improved health and hygiene and by ensuring buffers are in place for periods of shortage.

A total of 20.8 million people were reached in 2019. Within this group, we confirmed that 171,000 people were more resilient to shocks affecting their nutrition.

Open explanation

Nutrition-related projects supported by the Netherlands led in 2019 to more stable nutrition for more than 171,000 people. This is less than 1% of the total number of people reached, and considerably less than the 3 million reached last year, when a UNICEF project was in its final stage and achieved a high, one-off score on this indicator. Unlike direct nutrient intake, this involves structural and thus more complex improvements to the nutrition environment, including long-term improvements. To achieve our ultimate objective by 2030, this percentage will need to rise in the coming years, when the projects in question have been under way for a longer period. Moreover, although this result reflects progress, in itself it is not yet representative for the contribution to SDG 2 the Netherlands ultimately envisages: ending malnutrition for 32 million people by 2030.

Close explanation
Workforce Nutrition

Workforce Nutrition

The aim of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) Workforce Nutrition programme is a better nutritional status for employees and small-scale farmers and their families. In partnership with businesses, the programme works to both improve supplies of healthy food and create demand for it. In Kenya, for example, working with the Kenya Tea Development Agency, Workforce Nutrition trains farmers, food retailers and healthcare workers in healthy nutrition, using social media and radio amplify the message. Studies show that businesses also benefit in the long term, given that iron deficiency, being underweight or overweight, and missing meals reduce work capacity and thus lower productivity. The Workforce Nutrition programme reaches around 190,000 employees and farming families in the tea sector in India, Kenya and Malawi, the cocoa sector in Ghana, the garment sector in Bangladesh and various sectors in Mozambique.

Photo credits: Mirjam van der Zijden, GAIN

Netherlands Working Group on International Nutrition

The NWGN is a Dutch platform for civil society organisations, knowledge institutions, businesses and government authorities active in the field of nutrition.

Close result area

Agriculture

A farming couple growing vegetables in Burundi. Credits: Lisa Murray

Contribution to doubling the productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers by 2030

2030. Agriculture projects supported by the Netherlands target small-scale farms with the aim of eradicating poverty in rural areas by improving productivity, supply chain development and market access. We are also working to enhance small-scale food producers’ resilience to economic and environmental shocks. We reached 19.2 million farms in the reporting period. Within this group, productivity, income and access to markets in particular improved. Many farms also became more shock resilient.

Open result area

A farming couple growing vegetables in Burundi. Credits: Lisa Murray

In the reporting period, the Netherlands enabled 19.2 million small-scale food producers to receive direct support in the form of agronomic advice, improved seed and better fertilisers, financial services, meteorological information and new or better access to markets. Within the group reached, 6.6 million farms demonstrably increased their productivity and/or income, 5.6 million farmers gained better access to markets and 2.5 million became more shock resilient. This is more than double the figures achieved in the past few years, mainly due to the fact that in this reporting year the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) programme completed an impact report covering the past three years. Given these interim figures, we are on track to achieve our final goal: doubling the productivity and income of 8 million farms by 2030.

Results

Indicator

Number of farms with higher productivity and income

Progress

On track

To assess progress, the Netherlands keeps a record of number of farmers whose productivity and income have improved through training, advice, technology and organisational support. Improvements to infrastructure, farming materials and financial services also contribute.

A total of 19.2 million farmers were reached in 2019. Within this group, 6.6 million farmers demonstrably raised their productivity and/or income in the short term.

Open explanation

With the assistance of agriculture projects supported by the Netherlands, 6.6 million farms were able to raise their productivity and income in 2019. This is three times as many as in 2018, mainly due to the fact that in this reporting year the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) programme completed an impact report covering the past three years. Please note: although this result reflects progress, in itself it is not yet representative for the contribution to SDG 2 the Netherlands ultimately envisages: sustainably doubling the productivity and income of 8 million farmers by 2030.

Close explanation
Indicator

Number of farmers with better market access

Progress

On track

To assess progress, the Netherlands keeps a record of the number of farmers who have gained better market access. Access may improve through changes to infrastructure, development of a food supply chain or more effective organised buying and marketing.

A total of 19.2 million farmers were reached in 2019. Within this group, 5.6 million farmers gained better access to markets.

Open explanation

Agriculture projects supported by the Netherlands enabled 5.6 million farmers to gain better access to markets in 2019. This is more than twice as many as in 2018, mainly due to the fact that in this reporting year the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) programme completed an impact report covering the past three years. Please note: although this result reflects progress, in itself it is not yet representative for the contribution to SDG 2 the Netherlands ultimately envisages: sustainably doubling the productivity and income of 8 million farmers by 2030.

Close explanation
Indicator

Number of farms that are more resilient to shocks and stress

Progress

On track

Climate change is putting more pressure on farms. Rising temperatures, heavy rainfall, drought or new pests result in poor harvests. To assess progress, the Netherlands keeps a record of the number of farmers who have become more resilient to shocks and stress of this kind. Methods used include climate-smart technologies like drought-resistant crops, drip irrigation and heat proof storage facilities.

A total of 19.2 farmers were reached in 2019. Within this group, 2.5 million farmers became more resilient to shocks and stress

Open explanation

Agriculture projects supported by the Netherlands enabled 2.5 million farmers to become more shock resilient in 2019. This is four times as many as in 2018, due to the fact that in this reporting year the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) programme completed an impact report covering the past three years. This programme focused in particular on climate adaptation for small-scale farmers. Please note: although this result reflects progress, in itself it is not yet representative for the contribution to SDG 2 the Netherlands ultimately envisages: sustainably doubling the productivity and income of 8 million farmers by 2030.

Close explanation

Integrated Seed Sector Development Programme (ISSD)

The Integrated Seed Sector Development Programme (ISSD) works to improve access to high-quality seeds. In Uganda, for example, the programme will ultimately enable 300,000 small-scale food producers to increase their yields, incomes and resilience. The programme promotes the use of high-quality seed through publicity campaigns and demonstrations and by bringing the seeds closer to farmers. To meet rising demand for high-quality seeds, farming communities are receiving support in setting up seed production businesses. The programme has formed public-private partnerships with Dutch seed production businesses that have high-quality seed available, specifically for vegetables. The programme is training small-scale vegetable growers in the use of this seed, in order to ensure optimum production and large harvests.

Integrated Seed Sector Development Programme (ISSD)
AgriProFocus

AgriProFocus is a network that connects farmers and farms, civil society organisations, knowledge institutions and government authorities. This network seeks connections between development work and agribusiness. The Netherlands supports this network.

Consultative Group on Agricultural Research (CGIAR)

CGIAR connects organisations that are involved in research into a more food secure future. The Netherlands is a donor.

Close result area

Ecological sustainability

Restoring meadowlands in Niger. Credits: DryDev

Contribution to more ecologically sustainable land use

The Netherlands’ goal is ecologically sustainable use of at least 8 million hectares of existing farmland by 2030. Projects supported by the Netherlands aim for smarter use of natural resources, better landscape and river basin management and more shock resilient farmland. In the reporting period, various projects reached a total of 673,000 hectares, leading in virtually every case to more sustainable, more efficient land use. Some improvements were also made to landscape and river basin management in the areas concerned and to the shock resilience of farmland, though on a smaller scale.

Open result area

Restoring meadowlands in Niger. Credits: DryDev

In the reporting period, the Netherlands enabled sustainable practices like integrated soil fertility management, agroforestry, crop rotation and better water management to be introduced on 673,000 hectares of land. We confirmed that more eco-efficient land use practices had been adopted on 612,000 hectares. This is a slight drop from last year, partly due to the fact that a major programme in Ethiopia reported somewhat less extensively this year. Better management of the surrounding landscape (43,000 hectares) and better agro-ecological shock resilience (118,000 hectares) were achieved to a significantly lesser extent. Nonetheless, both figures represent a slight rise from last year. All in all, this was still too little to achieve the goal for 2030: fully ecologically sustainable use of 8 million hectares For this reason, various programmes have recently been launched specifically targeting ecologically sustainable land use. They include a programme for climate-smart agriculture and supply chain development in East Africa. The Drylands Sahel Programme will also contribute to achieving this goal. Results are expected in the coming years.

Results

Indicator

Hectares of farmland used more eco-efficiently

Progress

On track

To assess progress, the Netherlands keeps a record of hectares of land cultivated with methods that use soil, water and fertilisers more efficiently. A total of 673,000 hectares of farmland were reached in 2019. On 612,000 hectares, use has become demonstrably more eco-efficient. This is slight increase compared to last year. A programme for climate-smart agriculture has recently been launched in East Africa. The Drylands Sahel Programme will also contribute to achieving this goal.

Open explanation

With the assistance of agriculture projects supported by the Netherlands,

612, 000 hectares of farmland were used more eco-efficiently in 2019. This is a slight drop compared to 2018, and on the low side, given the contribution to SDG 2 the Netherlands ultimately envisages: fully ecologically sustainable use of 8 million hectares by 2030.

Close explanation
Indicator

Hectares of farmland with more resilience to shocks and stress

Progress

Progress, not on track

To assess progress, the Netherlands keeps a record of hectares of farmland with more resilience to shocks and stress.

A total of 673,000 hectares of farmland were reached in 2019, of which 118,000 hectares were made more resilient to shocks and stress.

This is a limited result, though slightly better than last year. A programme has recently been launched for climate-smart agriculture in East Africa. The Drylands Sahel Programme will also contribute to achieving this goal.

Open explanation

Agriculture projects supported by the Netherlands contributed in 2019 to improving the shock resilience of 118.000 hectares. This is slightly more than in 2018, but still too low given the contribution to SDG 2 the Netherlands ultimately envisages: fully ecologically sustainable use of 8 million hectares by 2030.

Close explanation
Indicator

Hectares of farmland with better management of the natural environment

Progress

Progress, not on track

To assess progress, the Netherlands keeps a record of hectares of farmland where management of the natural environment – river basins, landscapes and grasslands – has improved. A total of 673,000 hectares of farmland were reached in 2019. The natural surroundings of 43,000 hectares of this land are now demonstrably managed more effectively. This is a limited result, though considerably better than last year. A number of programmes have recently been launched specifically aimed at ecologically sustainable land use, with attention to landscape management. The Drylands Sahel Programme will also contribute to achieving this goal.

Open explanation

With the assistance of agriculture projects supported by the Netherlands, the natural surroundings of 43,000 hectares of farmland were managed more effectively in 2019. This is considerably more than in 2018, but still too low given the contribution to SDG 2 the Netherlands ultimately envisages: fully ecologically sustainable use of 8 million hectares by 2030.

Close explanation

Drylands Development Programme

Cattle farming and rain-dependent agriculture are risky in dry areas. Farmers never know in advance whether enough rain will fall in the generally short wet season for a good harvest. Arable land and grasslands are highly sensitive to overexploitation and degradation, and poor farming families’ livelihoods are vulnerable. The Drylands Development Programme (DryDev) supports farmers and village communities in sustainable management and use of land and water. The methods used by the programme include improved farming techniques, combating erosion and harvesting surface run-off water to maintain groundwater levels, creating opportunities for small-scale irrigation. The programme is also working on processing farming products, and on better market access to raise incomes.

Drylands Development Programme
Geodata for Agriculture and Water (G4AW)

G4AW connects major actors in the food supply chain and provides information on climate and advice for the agriculture sector.

Climate Resilient Agribusiness for Tomorrow (CRAFT)

CRAFT increases climate-smart food production in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Close result area

Preconditions

Better preconditions for food and nutrition security

Better preconditions contribute indirectly to achieving the SDG 2 targets. The Netherlands is active in several fields, most importantly:
land-use rights;improving farmers’ knowledge of and access to technology;improving the position of women in agriculture.
No target values have been set for these preconditions. However, we can compare the results with last year’s.

Open result area

The preconditions enabling food production systems to function properly are crucial to achieving the SDG 2 targets. These concern policy, institutions, inequality and access to knowledge and services. In this results reporting, we highlight three preconditions which are directly related to Dutch food security policy.

The first precondition is safeguarding land-use rights. These are essential to guarantee that farmers – women farmers in particular – can invest safely, creating more security for the long term.

The second precondition is access to knowledge and technologies. Training and advice tailored to the conditions in which farmers work are of great importance in raising productivity or mitigating losses, for example. That also applies to research and development of innovations. To achieve this, the Netherlands supports research and training organisations worldwide.

The third precondition is gender, a cross-cutting priority of Dutch development policy and as such of relevance across the gamut of interventions in the field of food security. Our main aim is to reach women, to ensure they benefit from interventions and to strengthen their position in agriculture and food supply chains.

Results

Indicator

Number of farmers whose land-use rights are guaranteed

Progress

Not applicable

113.000

To assess progress, the Netherlands keeps a record of numbers of farmers – men and women – gaining formal or other rights that guarantee access to land. This enables them to invest safely and gives them more opportunities to earn a stable income.

Open explanation

Guaranteed land-use rights are essential for sustainable development and to safeguard investments in farming. With the assistance of projects supported by the Netherlands, 113,000 people acquired land-use rights in 2019. This is comparable to the result achieved in 2018. A new programme has since been launched, in which specific attention will be devoted to land-use rights for women as a result area. The Netherlands also supports various related international networks in this field, enabling widespread sharing of experience and knowledge.

Close explanation
Indicator

Number of farms acquiring new knowledge, technologies and/or skills

Progress

Not applicable

3.1 million

To assess progress, the Netherlands keeps a record of the number of small-scale producers gaining access to new knowledge, technologies and/or skills. This is achieved through training, advice or use of new methods or technologies, for example.

Open explanation

Better knowledge and technologies are crucial for the development of farms. Dutch support enabled 3.1 million farms to gain access to new knowledge, technologies and skills, or a combination of them, in 2019. This is a substantial increase compared to 2018 (0.5 million), partly due to results achieved by the Consultative Group on Agricultural Research (CGIAR) on adoption of knowledge.

Close explanation
Indicator

Number of women with a stronger position in agriculture

Progress

Not applicable

1.1 million

Gender is a priority of Dutch development policy. Various projects identify women as a target group in interventions relating to agriculture and nutrition. The main principle is that 50% of the total number of farmers reached must be women. The question then arises whether these women have been able to strengthen their position. We will give a more precise account of this in coming years on the basis of the Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index, or a similar internationally validated method.

Open explanation

This year, 1.1 million women benefited from agriculture projects supported by the Netherlands. That is double last year’s figure, but still far short of the number that might be expected on the basis of the total number of farmers reached, which was 19.2 million this year. The reason for this is that many activities are still unable to supply data broken down by sex. We expect the number of women reached to increase in the coming years, since, in accordance with the Letter to the House of Representatives of May 2019 on the subject of food security, provision of disaggregated data will be required for all new activities and measurement of impact on women’s position (empowerment) will be encouraged.

Close explanation

Plantwise

Disease and pests are widespread in agriculture in developing countries, but access to high-quality information on sustainable crop protection is far from adequate. In 2011 CABI started working with the worldwide programme Plantwise to provide better advice on farming and crop protection. Plantwise turns scientific knowledge into practical advice, accessible to small-scale food producers with simple, practical methods. Plantwise runs ‘plant clinics’, so that trained ‘plant doctors’ can advise farmers effectively on controlling disease and pests on their land. The benefits of this programme far outweigh the costs, with visible impact on the living standards of participating households. Plantwise has now reached over 40 million farmers in 34 countries, enabling them to produce and earn more while using fewer harmful pesticides.

Plantwise
Securing Women’s Land Rights in Africa

This study of land-use rights for women in Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi en Senegal was commissioned by the Netherlands Land Academy (LANDac) and funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. All the results of this study can be found on the website.

LANDac

LANDac is the Dutch academy for land-use rights. It connects networks, shares information and does research into land-related conflicts and inequities in the field of land-use rights.

Food & Business Knowledge Platform

The Food & Business Knowledge Platform aims to connect actors from various sectors working on agriculture and food. Their knowledge is pooled and shared, contributing to improving policy on this subject and its implementation.

Close result area

Background information theme food and nutrition security

Background

The Dutch commitment to food security helps people improve their nutrition, farming and use of natural resources. These are steps in the right direction. However, these improvements do not show the extent to which this will help the Netherlands contribute to the SDG 2 targets: a sustainable improvement in the nutritional status of 32 million people, doubling the productivity and income of 8 million farmers and fully ecologically sustainable use of 8 million hectares of land and water. In many cases, we cannot yet fully confirm that we will reach these ultimate, long-term outcomes. As of next year, we plan to give a more precise account of the progress we have made each year towards achieving our goals, on the basis of internationally validated impact indicators. We will use indicators that will show not only where there have (or have not) been improvements but also, wherever possible, whether these are lasting. Scores on these indicators will initially be low for new activities, but will rise as their impact increases.

Additional sources

You can find exactly how the budget was allocated in 2019 and which projects were funded on our budget website.

  1. Visit the website
    Programme budget Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation
  2. Select financial year 2019
Theme page on food security on central government website

On this page, you can read more about Dutch policy on food security worldwide

Facebook page

Follow this theme on Facebook

Video on 2030 food challenge

This video explains how the Netherlands and its partners are tackling the 2030 food challenge

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2: zero hunger

The Netherlands contributes to achieving SDG 2. On this page you will find an overview of all the SDG 2 targets and worldwide progress.

Download PDF with the results

Expenditure by channel

Metric

The budget in this figure is for the year 2019 and does not completely correspond with the results on this page, which have been collected between Oct 2018 and Oct 2019. More information on this can be found on the 'About the results report' page.

Countries and regions

Rwanda
Ethiopia
Burundi
Uganda
Benin
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Published by:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands | Directorate-General for International Cooperation
P.O. Box 20061 | 2500 EB The Hague | www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/ontwikkelingssamenwerking
© Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands | May 2020