What was originally a financial crisis has developed into a global economic crisis since 2008. Not only does the crisis exacerbate the acute problem of hunger by further reducing the purchasing power of poor people; for years to come, it also threatens to limit the possibilities of combating hunger by means of investments and innovations.
 
For the world's poorest countries in particular, it is all the more important that at least official development aid (ODA) by the rich donor countries will not be restricted but rather increased. In view of the world hunger situation, focus should be placed more on poverty-oriented development of the agricultural sector and rural areas.
 
But modern development policy must amount to more than just the allocation of promotion funds. In partnership with recipient countries, it is, of course, essential to ensure efficient and effective use of funds. The first step to this end is to reform inefficient and incoherent policies and gear them towards sustainability. This is particularly true for the support to OECD-agriculture, but also for foreign direct investments (FDI). Internationally certified Codes of Conduct have to be urgently drawn up and monitoring and evaluation procedures developed which verify that they are adhered to.

Heino von Meyer
Head of OECD Berlin Centre
Berlin, Germany
heino.vonmeyer@oecd.org