Introduction and Context

SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) calls for an end to hunger and the creation of sustainable food systems by 2030. In Bahrain, food security has become a national priority due to limited arable land and heavy reliance on imports. The government's National Food Security Strategy emphasizes boosting local production through sustainable farming (e.g. hydroponics, aquaculture) and maintaining strategic food reserves. Ahlia University (AU) aligns with these national efforts by embedding social responsibility and sustainability into its core mission. Over the past five academic years, AU has undertaken numerous initiatives to support SDG 2: Zero Hunger, focusing on campus food access, community outreach, academic programs, and policy engagement. These efforts demonstrate AU's commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to ensuring healthy, affordable food for all.

On-Campus Initiatives for Healthy and Sustainable Food Access

Ahlia University has implemented programs and policies that foster healthy, affordable, and sustainable food access for students and staff. The campus cafeteria and food services emphasize nutritious options and reasonable pricing, ensuring that wholesome meals are accessible to the university community. AU's sustainability initiatives target food systems on campus — for example, the university encourages reducing food waste in cafeterias, promotes the use of reusable containers, and offers a range of nutritious food choices in its dining facilities. Such measures help make healthy meals affordable while minimizing waste.

Student-led activities have further enriched the campus food environment. In March 2019, AU's Student Council organized the first Ahlia Food Festival, a vibrant on-campus event featuring dozens of local restaurants, cafes, and student-run food projects. The festival celebrated culinary diversity with dishes ranging from Middle Eastern to Western cuisine — notably including healthy and organic foods alongside traditional fare. As Student Council President Abdullah Al-Shaer explained, the festival aimed to enhance campus social life and "emphasize the culture of diversity drawn by different foods and colors." The strong turnout and positive feedback underscored how such events raise awareness of nutritious eating in an enjoyable, affordable way for students.

In addition, Ahlia's College of Medical & Health Sciences and student clubs have hosted workshops to educate the campus community on healthy nutrition. For instance, in March 2025 the college held a workshop titled "Healthy Nutrition in Ramadan" to provide practical dietary strategies and wellness tips for fasting students and staff. Topics included the health benefits of fasting, optimal meal planning for nutritional balance, and avoiding unhealthy eating habits during Ramadan. This event — open to all students, faculty, and staff — reflects Ahlia's proactive approach to promoting dietary well-being on campus. By leveraging its academic expertise in nutrition (AU offers a B.Sc. in Nutrition and Dietetics) and student engagement, the university ensures that members of its community have the knowledge and resources to maintain a healthy diet.

Moreover, Ahlia University's support systems help prevent hunger among students facing financial difficulties. Through needs-based scholarships and financial aid, AU strives to make education accessible to all economic groups. This reduces the financial burden on low-income students, indirectly ensuring they can afford basic necessities like food while pursuing their studies. In summary, AU's on-campus efforts — from dining services and waste reduction to educational events and financial support — create an environment where healthy, affordable food is available to everyone, aligning with SDG 2's call for zero hunger.

Community Outreach and Partnerships for Food Security

Ahlia University extends its commitment to zero hunger beyond campus through community outreach programs and partnerships focused on food security, hunger relief, and nutrition education. Charitable campaigns and volunteer initiatives by Ahlia students and staff have directly addressed hunger in the local community. Notably, AU volunteers participate in Bahrain's annual Ramadan food drives to support those in need. For example, more than 30 Ahlia University students took part in an "Iftar on the Road" campaign to distribute meals at sunset to fasting motorists and laborers who might otherwise go hungry. Over the course of three days, the students handed out about 1,000 free iftar meals each day to people on the road at fast-breaking time. The aim was to ensure that individuals caught in traffic or without immediate food could break their fast safely and on time. This large-scale volunteer effort — totaling 3,000 meals — exemplifies Ahlia's community spirit and its direct action to alleviate hunger (even temporarily) among the public. It also fosters empathy and social responsibility in students, in line with the values of SDG 2.

Other community initiatives have focused on raising awareness and supporting food-related causes. During Ramadan and other occasions, Ahlia's Student Affairs department and clubs have organized charity drives where proceeds go to humanitarian causes. Although some campaigns targeted health issues (e.g. fundraising for the Cancer Society), the model of community bazaars and charity sales has also been used to promote food security causes. In these events, students sell goods or food items and donate the funds to local charities, embodying Ahlia's core goal "to give back to the community." Furthermore, the university often collaborates with civil society organizations on awareness campaigns. For instance, Ahlia has worked with local NGOs and social groups to host educational sessions on topics like healthy eating, food safety, and waste reduction for the public. By leveraging such partnerships, AU amplifies its impact on hunger and nutrition issues in the wider community.

Ahlia University also engages in outreach to vulnerable groups to improve food access and nutrition. As part of its social responsibility programs, the university's students have visited orphanages and elderly care homes, providing support and donations. In one initiative, Ahlia students raised funds to support the Yoko Parents Care Home, an eldercare facility, through a series of charitable events. While this particular effort was aimed at general welfare, the spirit of charitable participation it cultivates often extends to food relief activities as well. During the COVID-19 pandemic, AU declared its readiness to volunteer in national campaigns, reflecting an institutional ethos of aiding the community in crises — an ethos that would equally apply to any emergent hunger-relief needs in society.

In summary, through volunteer food distributions, charitable fundraisers, and collaborations with community partners, Ahlia University has actively contributed to fighting hunger and improving nutrition beyond its campus. These outreach initiatives not only provide immediate relief (such as thousands of iftar meals) but also build long-term awareness and solidarity around food security in Bahrain. They demonstrate Ahlia's role as a civic leader galvanizing action toward SDG 2 at the community level.

Education, Research and Innovation for Sustainable Food Systems

Advancing SDG 2 is also central to Ahlia University's academic and research mission. Over the past five years, AU has developed curricula, research projects, and student initiatives that address sustainable food systems, nutrition, and agriculture. This academic focus both enriches student learning and contributes new knowledge to the fight against hunger and malnutrition.

Curriculum & Programs

Ahlia integrates topics of food security, nutrition, and sustainability into its courses, especially in programs like the B.Sc. in Nutrition and Dietetics and environmental science electives. Students learn about global hunger challenges, public health nutrition, and sustainable agricultural practices as part of their studies. The University's commitment to Education for Sustainable Development ensures that graduates are aware of issues like hunger, food waste, and malnutrition, and are equipped with the skills to devise solutions. Co-curricular activities, such as seminars and student projects, reinforce this learning. For example, Ahlia has hosted guest lectures on food waste management and sustainable agriculture techniques. In one on-campus workshop titled "Green Solutions for Leftovers" (May 2023), a sustainability expert guided students on the negative effects of food waste and the importance of recycling organic waste, presenting creative solutions for reusing leftover food. The session highlighted environmental, economic, and social impacts of waste, linking them to food security — an invaluable learning experience for future leaders in sustainability.

Research & Innovation

Ahlia University actively encourages research that drives progress toward zero hunger. Faculty and student researchers have explored a range of topics, from improving agricultural productivity to reducing food loss. Notably, AU is home to scholars with expertise in food security and sustainable agriculture. Dr. Sarra Ahmed, a senior researcher associated with Ahlia, has led multiple research projects on food security, soil productivity, and climate change, and has advised government and private sectors on organic food production in low-fertility soils. Her work exemplifies how Ahlia's academics contribute innovative solutions for resilient food systems (e.g. improving soil for higher crop yields and better nutrition). Across the University, research outputs have examined the intersection of environment and hunger. For instance, one study published through Ahlia found that a quality environment is essential for ensuring food security, analyzing how carbon emissions and climate factors affect agricultural development. Another conference paper presented at an AU-hosted seminar discussed strategies for "Securing the future of Food, Water and Energy in the GCC," reflecting a nexus approach to regional sustainability challenges. By contributing to scholarly discourse on topics like sustainable agriculture, food policy, and nutrition science, Ahlia University is helping to shape the evidence base that policymakers and practitioners rely on to combat hunger.

Student Innovation

Students at Ahlia are also engaging in innovative projects aligned with SDG 2. Through the Ahlia Research Forum and capstone projects, students have tackled real-world problems such as food waste reduction in hospitals and smart agriculture solutions. Such projects, often showcased in competitions or community presentations, not only enrich the students' educational experience but also propose practical interventions for more sustainable food systems. The University supports these efforts by providing mentorship from faculty and opportunities to present findings in national and international forums. This culture of inquiry and innovation ensures that Ahlia's contribution to zero hunger is not just theoretical — it's yielding fresh ideas and technologies that can be applied in Bahrain and beyond.

Advocacy and Policy Engagement

Ahlia University leverages its platform to support broader policy and advocacy efforts related to SDG 2. While AU is not a governmental entity, it contributes to shaping the conversation on food security and nutrition through events and partnerships that involve policymakers, and by aligning its strategies with national priorities. The University frequently invites government officials, industry experts, and NGO leaders to campus events to discuss food security challenges and solutions with students. These cross-sector dialogues — for example, panel discussions on Bahrain's food security strategy or guest lectures by Ministry of Agriculture representatives — serve a dual purpose. They educate the academic community on policy initiatives, and they allow Ahlia to feed its research and grassroots insights into policy discussions. By hosting such forums, AU acts as a bridge between the scientific community, youth, and policymakers in the realm of hunger and sustainability. This collaborative approach aligns with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) and strengthens the impact of AU's SDG 2 initiatives.

At the national level, Ahlia University publicly supports Bahrain's efforts to improve food security. The University's leadership has endorsed the Bahrain government's Food Security Strategy 2030, echoing its emphasis on sustainable local agriculture and strategic food reserves. AU's own Sustainable Development Plan (2021–2025) explicitly maps onto key SDGs including Zero Hunger, ensuring that the university's growth contributes to national and UN targets. On certain occasions, Ahlia academics have provided expert input to national policy conversations — for example, participating in conferences or committees on sustainable agriculture and environmental management. An illustration of this is AU's involvement in sustainability conferences that include policy makers: Ahlia co-organized an international conference on sustainable development goals which brought regulators and researchers together to discuss issues like food security and resource management. Such engagements indicate that while Ahlia's primary role is education, it also serves as a thought leader advocating for policies that advance zero hunger.

Finally, through its membership in global networks like the United Nations Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI), Ahlia University shares best practices and reports its progress on SDG commitments. This transparency and advocacy on an international stage help promote stronger collective action on hunger. By documenting programs (like those in this report) and tracking outcomes, AU contributes to global benchmarks (e.g. Times Higher Education Impact Rankings) that incentivize all institutions to do more for SDG 2. In essence, Ahlia's policy and advocacy efforts, though often behind the scenes, amplify the reach of its on-ground initiatives and underscore its dedication to a hunger-free world.

Conclusion

Over the past five academic years, Ahlia University has demonstrated a comprehensive and genuine commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger. Through on-campus initiatives, AU ensures that its students and staff have access to healthy, affordable food and are educated about sustainable consumption. Through community outreach, it extends help to vulnerable groups and raises awareness on food security challenges in Bahrain. Via its academic programs and research, Ahlia contributes knowledge and innovation toward sustainable agriculture, improved nutrition, and reduction of food waste. And by engaging with policymakers and reporting on progress, the university helps drive systemic change aligned with the 2030 Agenda.

These multi-faceted efforts form a cohesive strategy: no one at Ahlia goes hungry, and Ahlia University plays its part so that no one in its broader community should go hungry either. Whether it is a student volunteer handing a meal to a person in need at dusk, a professor researching climate-resilient farming, or a campus chef opting for locally sourced ingredients, each action reinforces the university's ethos of sustainability and humanity. Ahlia University's work on SDG 2 showcases the impact that higher education institutions can have in battling hunger — not only by caring for those within their walls but also by contributing to the well-being of society at large. In doing so, Ahlia stands as a leader in the region, embodying the principles of Zero Hunger and inspiring others to join in building a future where everyone has adequate, nutritious food.