This report, planned to be released annually, is about working through the real-life choices and practical constraints that make it difficult to address hunger effectively. It is aimed at policy makers in developing and developed countries, and attempts to fill an important gap in existing reports on hunger. While other reports monitor trends towards international goals or serve primarily as advocacy tools, the "World Hunger Series" (WHS) focuses on practical strategies to achieve an end to hunger. It examines themes related to three types of risks--social and health; markets and trade; and political and environmental--that perpetuate hunger and stymie development. Each report in the new series will present state-of-the-art thinking on that year's theme, combined with an analysis of the practical challenges to implementing solutions. Based on this context, the reports will identify realistic steps to address hunger. This edition of the report examines the relationship between hunger and learning. It takes a long-term perspective: what happens at one stage of life affects later stages, and what happens in one generation affects the next. The "Series" has four parts. Part one, the Global Hunger Situation, surveys the current state of hunger in the world. Part two, Hunger and Learning, explores the two-way relationship between hunger and learning through the life cycle. Part three is an Agenda for Action, identifying concrete interventions to promote hunger reduction and learning. Finally, part four, a Resource Compendium, contains technical annexes and supporting data.