Ideas worth spreading

Hunger isn't a food issue. It's a logistics issue

96,075 views |

Esther Ndichu |

TED@UPS

• September 2015

Most people presume that world hunger is caused by a lack of food. But Esther Ndichu, Humanitarian Supply Chain Director at UPS, argues that the real issue is logistics. She points out that farmers often struggle to get goods to market and that food often rots just miles from the neediest people. She explains that by fixing "the last mile" hunger can be solved in our lifetime.

Most people presume that world hunger is caused by a lack of food. But Esther Ndichu, Humanitarian Supply Chain Director at UPS, argues that the real issue is logistics. She points out that farmers often struggle to get goods to market and that food often rots just miles from the neediest people. She explains that by fixing "the last mile" hunger can be solved in our lifetime.

About the speaker

Esther Ndichu

Esther Ndichu

Humanitarian advocate

Esther Ndichu is responsible for the UPS Foundation’s global humanitarian engagements, where she manages solutions, operations and support resources for external partners as they prepare for and respond to disasters. Born in Nairobi, Kenya, Ndichu understands first-hand some of the challenges the humanitarian organizations face when delivering aid and relief, which has grown into a vested interest in seeing UPS expand into Africa and the humanitarian sector.

About TED Institute

Every year, TED works with a group of select companies and foundations to identify internal ideators, inventors, connectors, and creators. Drawing on the same rigorous regimen that has prepared speakers for the TED main stage, TED Institute works closely with each partner, overseeing curation and providing intensive one-on-one talk development to sharpen and fine tune ideas. The culmination is an event produced, recorded, and hosted by TED, generating a growing library of valuable TED Talks that can spur innovation and transform organizations.

Read more about the TED Institute