The United Nations launched the Zero Hunger Challenge in Asia and the Pacific during the 69th ESCAP Commission session in the presence of top national leaders, calling on governments, farmers, scientists, business, civil society and consumers to join hands to end hunger in the region where the majority of the world's undernourished people live.

The global 'Zero Hunger Challenge', proposed by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in June 2012 has five objectives:

1) 100 per cent access to food for all, all year round; 2) end to stunting among children under two because of a lack of nutrients during pregnancy and in the early days of life; 3) ensuring sustainable food systems; 4) doubling smallholder productivity and income; and 5) reduction in food loss, at the farmer level, through lack of suitable storage and reduction of waste of food by retailers and consumers.

Asia-Pacific nations, driving the global recovery, must take the lead in ushering in shared, sustainable social and economic prosperity for their people amid growing threats of multiple shocks that can set back development gains, said the United Nations.

Addressing the annual regional development policymaking forum convened by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), United Nations Under-Secretary-General and ESCAP Executive Secretary, Dr. Noeleen Heyzer said Asia and the Pacific cannot continue traveling on the same development path and needs a transformational change towards a more equitable, resilient and sustainable future.

Launch of UN Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2013 in Indonesia

The 2013 Survey: Forward-looking macroeconomic policies for inclusive and sustainable development was released by Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP, in Beijing, China on April 18, 2013. Simultaneous launches took place in 37 locations in Africa, the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

In Jakarta, Indonesia, the launch was hosted by Bank Indonesia, with participation of more than 130 distinguished participants from academia, research institutions, NGOs, government officers, diplomatic communities, UN agencies, the representatives from Bank Indonesia, and the press.

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