About FIAN
Who We Are
FIAN International — FoodFirst Information and Action Network — is a human rights organization that has been advocating for the right to food and nutrition since 1986. We support grassroots communities and movements in their struggles against right to food violations.
Through our national sections and networks, we work in over 50 countries around the world. We document violations, advocate for policy change, and build the capacity of communities to claim their rights.
We believe that hunger and malnutrition are not inevitable — they are the result of injustice, inequality, and systemic failures. But, we believe they are fully preventable.
50+
Countries
40+
Years of Impact
100+
Partner Organizations
1M+
Lives Impacted
Our Values
The principles that guide every aspect of our work, from grassroots casework to international advocacy.
Human Rights Framework
We ground all our work in international human rights law, holding states accountable for their obligations.
Solidarity
We stand with affected communities, amplifying their voices rather than speaking for them.
Sustainability
We advocate for food systems that respect nature’s boundaries and sustain life for future generations.
Feminist Approach
We integrate gender justice and intersectionality into all our analysis and advocacy.
Global Perspective
We connect local struggles to global processes, building bridges across 50+ countries.
Evidence-Based
Our advocacy is grounded in rigorous research, casework, and community-based monitoring.
40 Years of Impact
Key milestones in FIAN’s history of fighting for food justice.
1986
FIAN International founded in Heidelberg, Germany, as the first human rights organization dedicated to the right to food.
1993
FIAN receives consultative status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
1999
FIAN plays a key role in the adoption of General Comment 12 on the Right to Food by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
2004
Active participation in drafting the UN Voluntary Guidelines on the Right to Food, a landmark in international food policy.
2012
FIAN co-founds the Civil Society Mechanism for relations with the UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS).
2018
Launch of the Strategic Plan 2018–2023, focusing on systemic change in food systems through a rights-based approach.
2021
FIAN publishes landmark report on corporate capture of food governance, influencing UN treaty negotiations.
2024
Launch of the Strategic Plan 2024–2030, deepening commitment to food sovereignty, gender justice, and agroecology.
2026
FIAN celebrates 40 years of fighting for the human right to adequate food and nutrition in over 50 countries.
Meet the People Behind the Work
Our board and secretariat team work every day to advance the right to food worldwide.