As we mark World Food Day and celebrate the incredible progress Feed the Future has made possible, we are reminded that there is so much left to do. 800 million people will go to bed hungry tonight, and over 20 million people are at risk of starvation from the threat of famine. Increasing food security and building resiliency has taken on a new sense of urgency— but with continued investment and support, Feed the Future is well on its way to ending hunger once and for all.

The latest episode of the Brookings Cafeteria podcast delves into the current challenges facing U.S. foreign assistance— including how Americans perceive foreign aid, the role the United States plays in a complex and turbulent world, and a deep dive into the current consensus around restructuring and reforming the State Department and USAID.

As we mark this World Teacher Day, we are reminded of the partnerships around the world that help to provide quality education in challenging times. Now is the time to double down on efforts to equip educators around the world with the resources and training needed to do their jobs— because an effective teacher can make a world of difference.

While the coverage of President Trump’s first speech at the United Nations General Assembly has focused on his defense of his “America First” message, stress on “sovereignty,” and threat to totally destroy North Korea, close listeners may have also heard him mention America’s efforts to fight HIV/AIDS, stop preventable disease like malaria, and advance the rights of women and girls around the world for the first time in office.

Consider this: if every child learned how to read before leaving school, 171 million people worldwide would be lifted out of poverty. And if all women completed a primary education, maternal death rates would drop by 66 percent.

On September 12^th, the United Nations kicks off its 72^nd General Assembly with leaders from across the globe in attendance.  Coordination of the U.N.’s humanitarian and disaster relief efforts will be central to the conversation, especially in Yemen, which was recently declared the world’s largest humanitarian crisis by the heads of several global humanitarian agencies.

It’s vital for our nation and the world continue the fight against famine in some of the world’s most dangerous places.

Never in history has the global community had more young people to celebrate than on this International Youth Day, as the world recently hit the largest global youth population ever recorded.

For many people living in developing countries without strictly enforced medical hygiene and safety standards, a simple injection can sometimes lead to potentially life-threatening diseases like hepatitis and HIV. In honor of World Hepatitis Day, we acknowledge the great impact that public-private partnerships have had on tackling hepatitis across the globe.

After sailing through his nomination hearing with strong bipartisan support, senators on the Foreign Relations Committee and other development leaders have called for a speedy confirmation for Ambassador Mark Green as the 18th Administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development. While he will face a host of other challenges— including the largest humanitarian crisis since World War II, and a budget proposal that seeks drastic cuts to USAID— he remains hopeful about the opportunities and improvements that have been made at the agency.