7. Sustainable Development: Vulnerability and Crises

Humanitarian crises contribute to underdevelopment, while conflict has a devastating impact on societies in terms of suffering, death and economic damage. This is evident particularly in social institutions that are required to play roles in sustainable development. Conflict leads to greater underdevelopment contributing further to vulnerability and risk, and recurring negative cycles. Humanitarian action is mandated to support the sustainable development. Regarding power and vulnerability, the food-weapon is assessed. Local and national capacity building and empowerment is reviewed during and after crises in order to consolidate the development process. In the overall vision for a sustainable world, and nexus between food, power and hunger, the Global Hunger Index (GHI) remains vital in tracking hunger at different scales throughout the world. The UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) has long raised awareness of the link between conflict and hunger, and the food weapon. They and the EU and partners, provides updates on food security to the UN Security Council and annually publishes the Global Report on Food Crises, a crucial source for the humanitarian community. Adverse physical geographical and ecological conditions challenge the development momentum, and the struggle with credible nation-state building continues, especially in the Global South due to lack of good governance and democracy in many cases.