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FAO's partnerships division, working with its rural transformation team, gathered faith-based organizations from diverse traditions to advance people's right to adequate and nutritious food. The gathering coincided with Jubilee Year 2025 and drew over 50 participants at FAO headquarters in Rome, with dozens more joining online.
"As we are going to sleep tonight, millions of children will go to bed hungry," Mtata said. He linked the crisis to ongoing conflicts in Sudan and Gaza that are driving children to starvation.
Mtata spoke about several WCC initiatives, starting with the "Roadmap for Congregations, Communities and Churches for an Economy of Life and Ecological Justice," which promotes sustainable agriculture and food systems. The WCC's "walk the talk" approach, he said, advocates for small-scale agriculture and community gardens. It promotes clean water access, renewable energy and waste reduction.
The WCC's Living Planet Monitor shows how land, water, food, and climate change are connected. Faith communities worldwide, Mtata said, unite through the Prayer and Action Against Hunger Coalition, using prayer, advocacy, and community mobilization to influence hunger reduction policies from local to international levels. "The greatest gift the FBOs can bring to the table is their faith and prayers to touch hearts and minds. We as Christians pray every day 'give us this day our daily bread'."
Mtata also presented a recently launched joint statement on the right to food and nutrition for marginalized communities, issued by the WCC, World Vision International, and Caritas Internationalis. The statement demands concrete government action to eradicate hunger, reduce military spending, and end the use of hunger as a weapon of war, noting the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The WCC plans to continue its collaboration with FAO and other faith-based organizations to translate the discussion into concrete action in communities worldwide.
Other panelists included Juan Echanove, team lead for the right to food at FAO, and Fatouma Seid, deputy director of FAO's partnerships division. Tacko Ndiaye, senior gender officer in FAO's rural transformation division, moderated the discussion.
Faith Leaders Statement on the Right to Food and Nutrition for Marginalised Communities including Children
FAO Statement on the Faith Leaders’ Declaration on the Right to Food and Nutrition for Marginalised Communities, Including Children
