Annual Report
Download 2009 Annual Report (PDF 2.68 MB).
In 23 countries around the world, individuals and institutions are standing together for a vision of a better future: a future in which all people have the opportunity to be the principal authors of their own development, where the equality of women is the most essential element in that progress and where people's partnership with local government ensures that their voices are heard and they gain access to resources.
The Hunger Project (THP) is not just an organization. It is a movement of people throughout the world who are committed to achieving the sustainable end of world hunger and poverty. And, today that work is more urgent and critical than ever.
We face challenging setbacks. The number of chronically hungry people in the world has grown in the past two years. This stems from the lingering effects of the world food price crisis in 2008, the adverse impacts of the global financial downturn on the developing world and lower agricultural yields as environmental disasters and global warming take their toll. And, as always, it is the poorest of the poor who are hit the hardest.
Combined, these pressures have added yet another 100 million people to the numbers of those who do not have enough food. There are now 1.02 billion hungry people in the world.
This situation should not, and must not, be accepted as inevitable. THP has a deep and informed understanding-inspired by the creativity, resilience and determination of the millions of people with whom we have partnered over the years-that through true empowerment, it is indeed possible for women and men to end their own hunger and poverty.
The support of our investors year after year remains critical. Such investment enables us to test new approaches that keep us at the cutting edge, expand into new areas, respond quickly and flexibly to emerging opportunities and maintain the highest quality standards. As you will see from the achievements outlined in this report, the leverage gained and the return on those investments have never been higher - and can only grow in coming years.
Steven J. Sherwood
Chair, Global Board of Directors
