Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge
The Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge is a multilateral initiative launched in 2021 that mobilizes non-binding financial commitments from companies of all sizes to invest in evidence-based interventions aligned with SDG 2, coordinated by GAIN and the Shamba Centre for Food & Climate within the Zero Hunger Coalition.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- Headquarters—
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge does
The Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge is a multilateral initiative launched in 2021 at the United Nations Food Systems Summit under Action Track 1 to mobilize private-sector capital toward achieving SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by 2030. It calls on companies of all sizes — from multinational enterprises to SMEs and startups — to make non-binding financial commitments aligned with the intervention areas and 90 priority countries identified by the Ceres2030/Hesat2030 research. Pledge amounts range from USD 1 to USD 100 million; companies pledging more than USD 1 million undergo independent verification by Walk the Talk consultants, while smaller pledges report voluntarily.
Operationally, companies submit pledges through an online JotForm and select from 15+ implementing partners — including FAO, GAIN, IFAD, WFP, Grow Africa, Grow Asia, WBA, WBCSD, and IISD — to formalize and execute their commitments. The Pledge is coordinated jointly by GAIN (Lawrence Haddad) and the Shamba Centre for Food & Climate (Carin Smaller), and is housed within the Zero Hunger Coalition. Its core products are a commitment platform, a biennial Accountability Reporting System, a Reporting Framework, and an Impact Reporting Framework; the Pledge itself generates no revenue and operates on partner-funded secretariat support.
As of late 2025, more than 100 companies had signed, with aggregate pledges approaching USD 800 million and USD 440 million deployed across 40 priority countries between 2021 and 2024. Notable signatories include PepsiCo (USD 100M), Rabobank (USD 233M), Unilever (USD 65M+), Bayer (USD 101M plus USD 52M), and a long tail of mid-market and social-enterprise companies in Africa and Asia.
Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge
- Legal name
- Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge
- Website
- https://pledge.zerohungercoalition.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge is a multilateral initiative launched in 2021 that mobilizes non-binding financial commitments from companies of all sizes to invest in evidence-based interventions aligned with SDG 2, coordinated by GAIN and the Shamba Centre for Food & Climate within the Zero Hunger Coalition.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Hunger Eradication Coalition / Private Sector Development Initiative
- NAICS
- Community Food Services (624210), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs (HLAJAKAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA), Agriculture, Food Security & Nutrition Technical Assistance (BPADAEAG)
Keywords
Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Private Sector Financial Commitments: Companies make financial pledges/commitments to invest in evidence-based interventions to end hunger. These are non-binding statements of proposed investment plans. Pledges range from USD 1 to USD 100 million and span companies of all sizes (MNEs and SMEs).
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge is a multilateral initiative that recruits companies to make non-binding financial commitments aligned with evidence-based interventions (Ceres2030/Hesat2030) to end hunger. Companies submit pledges through an online JotForm, work with implementing partners (FAO, GAIN, IFAD, WFP, etc.) to deploy funds, and report disbursements via a biennial Accountability Reporting System verified by independent consultants for pledges above USD 1 million.
Product overview
The Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge is a commitment platform—not a traditional software product—comprising the core pledge submission system, accountability reporting mechanisms, and impact measurement frameworks. Companies join by submitting pledges through JotForm, detailing financial commitments across 14 high-impact intervention areas in 90 priority countries. The Accountability Reporting System and Reporting/Impact Frameworks enable biennial verification of disbursements by independent consultants for major pledges. The platform serves as a coordination mechanism rather than a self-service software product, facilitating private sector investment alignment with SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) based on Ceres2030 evidence.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge A multilateral commitment and accountability platform that enables private sector companies of all sizes to pledge financial investments toward ending hunger, aligned with the Ceres2030/Hesat2030 research framework across 10 high-impact intervention areas in 90 priority countries. Signatories submit pledges online and report on disbursements.
- Accountability Reporting System
Quantifiable outcome
- Over USD 440 million deployed between 2021-2024 in 40 priority countries
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge
Customer profileNamed customers20 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- SUN Business NetworkcoreSUN Business Network became the newest partner of the Zero Hunger Pledge in 2025, joining as a technical partner supporting the initiative.
- Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNi)coreATNi is the latest organization to join the mission of mobilising the private sector in the fight to end hunger and malnutrition, joining as a supporter in 2025.
- Global CitizencoreGlobal Citizen joined as a new supporter in 2024, working alongside technical partners FAO, GAIN, IFAD, Shamba Centre, WBA, and WFP.
- Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)coreGAIN is one of the organizations leading the Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge. Lawrence Haddad, Executive Director of GAIN, serves as co-coordinator. GAIN's Nourishing Food Pathways programme funds the Secretariat's work.
- Shamba Centre for Food & ClimatecoreThe Shamba Centre is currently acting as coordinator for the Pledge. Carin Smaller, Executive Director of the Shamba Centre, serves as co-coordinator of the Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge.
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)coreFAO is a founding organization and implementing organization for the Pledge. Companies can work with FAO through its Hand-in-Hand Initiative as an implementing partner.
- World Food Programme (WFP)coreWFP is a founding organization and implementing organization for the Pledge. WFP has benefited from PepsiCo contributions of more than $10 million through various programs during a decade-long partnership.
- International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)coreIFAD is a founding organization and implementing organization for the Pledge. Companies can partner with IFAD for implementation of their commitments.
- Grow AfricacoreGrow Africa is a founding organization of the Pledge that supports companies in implementing commitments across Africa.
- Grow AsiacoreGrow Asia is a founding organization of the Pledge that supports companies in implementing commitments across Asia.
- World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA)coreWBA coordinates reporting and quality assurance of accountability reports. Companies from G7 countries that sign the Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge automatically meet commitments needed for the G7 initiative based on WBA benchmarking.
- World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)coreWBCSD is a founding organization supporting the Pledge's mission to mobilize private sector action toward SDG 2.
- International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)coreIISD is a founding organization. The Ceres2030 study, which provided foundations for the Pledge, was conducted by IISD.
- Walk the TalkcoreIndependent consultants developing and managing the reporting framework and accountability process under supervision of the Pledge Coordinator.
- PlumpyField NetworkcoreNutriset and its PlumpyField Network partners (MFK in Haiti, Nutriguinée in Guinea, Innofaso in Burkina, NutriK in Nigeria, Samil in Sudan, Hilina in Ethiopia, Tanjaka in Madagascar, NutriVita in India) produce PlumpyNut and other nutritional solutions.
- Hesat2030corePart of Hesat2030 which charts a course for policymakers and donors to make high-impact decisions. The Zero Hunger Pledge aligns investments with scientific evidence from Ceres2030/Hesat2030 research projects.
- Ceres2030coreCeres2030 identified 90 priority countries and 10 high-impact investment areas where investments can have greatest impact to end hunger. The Pledge uses this evidence to guide company investments.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- World Food Programme (WFP): The UN's frontline food-assistance agency and a founding partner of the Pledge. WFP provides implementation pathways for corporate pledges and represents the institutional incumbent in the hunger/SDG 2 domain.
- Ceres: A long-established sustainability nonprofit that convenes investors and companies on climate and ESG issues. Ceres represents a broader incumbent model of corporate coalition-building that the Pledge follows in the SDG 2 domain.
- World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD): A CEO-led organization of over 200 businesses working on sustainability. A core partner of the Pledge, WBCSD provides broader corporate engagement infrastructure that complements the Pledge's focus on hunger.
Emerging players
- We Mean Business Coalition: A coalition of nonprofit organizations mobilizing business action on climate. Comparable as a multi-stakeholder convening platform that aggregates corporate commitments against a defined global goal.
- SUN Business Network: The private-sector arm of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement; joined the Pledge as a technical partner in 2025. Operates at the intersection of nutrition and private-sector engagement in lower-income countries.
Direct peers
- Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNi): Benchmarks food and beverage companies on nutrition commitments and is a 2025 supporter of the Pledge. Strongly comparable as a private-sector accountability mechanism targeting hunger-adjacent outcomes.
- RE100: A corporate commitment coalition led by The Climate Group in partnership with CDP, where companies pledge to source 100% renewable electricity. Mirrors the Pledge's model of voluntary, non-binding corporate pledges with public accountability.
- World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA): Benchmarks corporate performance against SDGs and is a core partner of the Pledge. WBA's food and agriculture benchmarks directly overlap with the Pledge's measurement of corporate alignment to SDG 2.
- Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi): Operates an evidence-based corporate target-setting and accountability framework (for climate, like the Pledge does for Zero Hunger). The closest analogue in structure: a nonprofit coalition that mobilizes corporate commitments against a scientific standard, with reporting and verification.
- Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN): Core partner and co-coordinator of the Pledge; GAIN's Nourishing Food Pathways programme funds the Secretariat. Operates a global portfolio of food system and nutrition programs closely aligned with the Pledge's intervention areas.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge social profiles
Digital presenceZero Hunger Private Sector Pledge financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge
What does Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge do?
The Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge is a multilateral initiative that recruits companies to make non-binding financial commitments aligned with evidence-based interventions (Ceres2030/Hesat2030) to end hunger. Companies submit pledges through an online JotForm, work with implementing partners (FAO, GAIN, IFAD, WFP, etc.) to deploy funds, and report disbursements via a biennial Accountability Reporting System verified by independent consultants for pledges above USD 1 million.
Is Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge a public or private company?
Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge founded?
Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge was founded in 2021. It employs 1 to 10 people.
How does Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge make money?
One revenue line is on record: private Sector Financial Commitments.
Who are Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are World Food Programme (WFP), Ceres and World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Emerging players are We Mean Business Coalition and SUN Business Network. Direct peers are Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNi), RE100, World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA), Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN).
Does Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge have an API?
No public API is recorded for Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge.
What industry is Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge in?
Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge's product category is Hunger Eradication Coalition / Private Sector Development Initiative. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAJAKAH, Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAA, Private Foundations. Its NAICS code is 624210 and its SIC code is 8300.