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Katlego Mohuba, one of the event facilitators and moderator of the webinar, opened with a stark warning: "If we do not act swiftly, millions, especially in Africa, will continue to suffer from chronic hunger." Citing Food and Agriculture Organization reports, Mohuba emphasized the need for immediate collective action.
Dorothy Nyanchwania, a registered nutritionist from Dedan Kimathi University in Kenya, delivered a presentation on malnutrition, particularly its effects on women and children. "The triple burden of malnutrition—undernutrition, obesity, and micronutrient deficiencies—is a global crisis, and without immediate intervention, children and pregnant women will remain the most vulnerable," she said.
Emma Rahman, an advocate for social justice from the Presbyterian Church in Trinidad and Tobago, highlighted the deep-rooted gender inequalities in food distribution, where women often eat last, prioritizing their families' nutrition over their own. "The gender norm in this context is that women naturally put themselves after the family by eating last, which does not ensure proper nutritional needs are met," Rahman explained.
Reflecting on the intertwined crises of hunger, climate change, and inequality, Dinesh Suna, coordinator of the WCC Ecumenical Water Network , said, "Food security cannot be addressed in isolation. It is intricately connected to land, water, and climate justice. Our responses must be holistic, ensuring that vulnerable populations receive the support they desperately need."
The webinar concluded with a call for structural changes in global food systems to ensure sustainable agricultural practices, gender equality, and food security for vulnerable populations. Athena Peralta, WCC director of the Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development, emphasized, "Hunger is at its core an issue of justice—economic justice, ecological justice, and definitely an issue of gender justice. We must look to those who are most affected by hunger for leadership and for alternative pathways."
