On July 9th, 2024, Ambassador Beresford-Hill addressed the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) at a headline event on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2: Zero Hunger. The meeting brought together stakeholders to review the progress of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, specifically by discussing new findings and best practices on ending hunger.

SDG 2 is of special importance to the Sovereign Order of Malta as its aid workers help communities fight against hunger on nearly every continent. Ambassador Beresford-Hill shared the Sovereign Order of Malta’s critical work on combatting hunger in South Sudan, particularly the establishment of dual-purpose gardens in schools. These gardens produce food that provides children with a much-needed meal during the day while also teaching students how to incorporate sustainable farming in their communities.

Ambassador Beresford-Hill also highlighted the Order’s work in Haiti, where forty-five percent of the Haitian population faces acute food insecurity due to natural disasters, as well as political, economic, and social instability. As one of the last humanitarian organizations still operating in Haiti, the Order’s work has taken on even greater importance, and maintaining lines of aid into the country remains one of the Order’s top priorities.

Ambassador Beresford-Hill concluded by recognizing that partnerships with NGOs, governments, and international agencies are key to achieving sustainable outcomes and advancing SDG 2. “By involving local entities in decision-making processes, we ensure that efforts to address hunger and other SDGs align with the specific needs, priorities, and capacities of the communities we serve.”