The Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Guidance Document for Companies

The Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge is a non-binding initiative designed to encourage companies to align their financial investments with evidence-based interventions to end hunger by 2030. This guidance document outlines the conditions for signing the pledge, the types of eligible financial commitments, the governance structure of the initiative, and the reporting requirements for participating companies.

• Companies signing the pledge must make a financial commitment in at least one of 10 high-impact intervention areas and in at least one priority country or region, or commit to global research and development. They must also identify partners for implementation, which can include governments, civil society organizations, or specific implementing organizations such as the World Food Programme (WFP) or the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
• The pledge accepts four categories of financial commitments: core business investments (direct investments in operations), subsidized contributions (selling goods/services at below-market rates or offering price premiums to smallholders), cash contributions (via ESG or charitable activities), and in-kind contributions (such as assigning employees, providing IP rights, or granting access to credit).
• The pledge is a non-binding statement of intent and does not create legally enforceable obligations. To move from a pledge to a formal partnership, companies must undergo due diligence and sign a binding agreement with an implementing organization. Public communication about specific partnerships is prohibited until such a binding agreement is signed and express consent is granted.
• Investments must be future spending, although past commitments that have not yet been spent can be included. Companies can determine the duration of their pledge (e.g., 1, 5, or 10 years).
• Reporting and accountability are tiered based on the investment amount. Pledges over USD 1 million are subject to full reporting standards based on the CDP Protocol and Global Reporting Initiative, while pledges under USD 1 million are reported via stories and case studies. The World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA) monitors progress using 10 indicators from the Food and Agriculture Benchmark (FAB).
• The governance of the pledge is structured to avoid expensive new legal institutions, consisting of a Leadership Group for oversight, a Management Committee (or Technical Committee) for operational approvals and risk management, a Coordination team for day-to-day mobilization, and the WBA for validation and audit.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (n.d.). The Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Guidance Document for Companies. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-12/faq-zero-hunger-pledge-en.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. The Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Guidance Document for Companies. n.d. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-12/faq-zero-hunger-pledge-en.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=The Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Guidance Document for Companies |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-12/faq-zero-hunger-pledge-en.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopmentndzero, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{The Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) \& Guidance Document for Companies}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-12/faq-zero-hunger-pledge-en.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }