Africa Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition 2017. The Food Security and Nutrition–Conflict Nexus: Building Resilience for Food Security, Nutrition and Peace

By Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

In sub-Saharan Africa there were about 224 million undernourished people in sub-Saharan Africa in 2016, up from 200 million in 2015. In many countries, the worsening situation in 2015 and 2016 can be attributed to adverse climatic conditions, often linked to the El Niño phenomenon, resulting in poor harvests and the loss of livestock. Conflict, sometimes in combination with drought or floods, also contributed to severe food insecurity in several countries. Lower commodity prices and a difficult global economic environment have furthermore contributed to the worsening food security situation.

The worrying trend in undernourishment is not yet reflected in the series of indicators referring to nutritional outcomes in the region, with the prevalence of stunting and wasting for children under the age of five continuing to decline gradually. However, progress towards the World Health Assembly global nutrition targets has been generally poor. While a relatively large proportion of countries are on track to meeting the target for overweight in children, the rates for adult obesity are soaring in all regions and are especially high in Southern Africa.

The report also finds that across the board, countries have developed and are developing policy frameworks and investment plans that are aligned, or efforts are being made to align them, with the goals of the Malabo Declaration and SDG 2. Through CAADP, policy processes are coherent, and this initiative has raised the profile of agriculture and heavily influenced agricultural policy at regional and national levels. However, the worrying trends in undernourishment underline the need for even greater efforts to achieve the SDG 2 by 2030.

The thematic part of the report focuses on the food security and nutrition–conflict nexus. Conflict is not only an increasingly important cause of food insecurity and malnutrition but food insecurity and malnutrition can also become conflict multipliers. Addressing the causes of conflicts and supporting food security and livelihoods can help build resilience to conflict and contribute to sustaining peace.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
• Release date: Feb 22, 2018
• ISBN: 9789251302279

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

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FAO. 2017. Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition in Africa 2017. The food security and nutrition–conflict nexus: building resilience for food security, nutrition and peace. Accra.

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CONTENTS

FOREWORD

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ACRONYMS

KEY MESSAGES

PART 1

REGIONAL OVERVIEW OF FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION

After a prolonged decline, hunger appears to be on the rise globally

The 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and food security and nutrition targets

Trends in food security and nutrition in Africa

SDG Indicator 2.1.1: Prevalence of undernourishment (PoU)

Prevalence of severe food insecurity measured with the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES)

The multiple burdens of malnutrition

Trends in multiple burdens of malnutrition in Africa

SDG Indicator 2.2.1: Prevalence of stunting

SDG Indicator 2.2.2: Prevalence of wasting and overweight in children

Progress towards the World Health Assembly targets

Exclusive breastfeeding

Anaemia in women of reproductive age

Low birth weight

Adult overweight and obesity

Progress has slowed, new concerns have emerged

PART 2

POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES TO SUPPORT FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION

The recent regional experience

The Malabo Declaration

Regional and national policies, strategies and plans to promote food security and nutrition

Regional and national policies for food security and improved nutrition outcomes reflect a broad, multidisciplinary approach

Raising agricultural production and productivity is essential for adequate food availability

Agricultural production and productivity and social protection – essential to improve access to food.

Stability of availability and access to food also important in ensuring food security

Food utilization also determines nutrition outcomes

Policies and programmes are aligned with the Malabo Declaration and achieving SDG 2

PART 3

CONFLICT, FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION

How does conflict affect food security and nutrition

Conflict and food security: some recent evidence

Can food insecurity and undernutrition trigger conflict?

Case study: Lake Chad crisis

International response mechanism

Regional response mechanism

National response mechanism

Building resilience for food security and peace

ANNEX

Regional and subregional policies and programmes

National policies and programmes

REFERENCES

TABLES, FIGURES AND BOXES

TABLE

Table 1: Undernourishment in sub-Saharan Africa and subregions, 2000–2016

Table 2: Undernourishment in Western Africa, 2000–2016

Table 3: Undernourishment in Middle Africa, 2000–2016

Table 4: Undernourishment in Eastern Africa, 2000–2016

Table 5: Undernourishment in Southern Africa, 2000–2016

Table 6: Prevalence of severe food insecurity (measured using the FIES) in the world and in sub-Saharan Africa, 2014–2016

Table 7: Level and growth in Dietary Energy Supply Adequacy

Table 8: Number of countries with different proportions of land equipped for irrigation

FIGURES

Figure 1: Prevalence of undernourishment in sub-Saharan Africa and subregions, in 2000–2016

Figure 2: Number of undernourished people in sub-Saharan Africa and subregions in 2000–2016

Figure 3: Proportion of stunted children under five by subregion in 2000–2015

Figure 4: Proportion of stunted children under five by countries

Figure 5: Prevalence of wasted children under five by subregion in 2015

Figure 6: Prevalence of overweight children under five by subregion in 2000–2015

Figure 7: Number of countries in each subregion and number of WHA targets they are on track for

Figure 8: Proportion of countries in each subregion that are on track to meet the WHA targets

Figure 9: Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in the first three months

Figure 10: Prevalence of anaemia in women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa in 2005 and 2015

Figure 11: Prevalence of adult obesity in sub-Saharan Africa in 2005 and 2014

Figure 12: Prevalence of adult male and female obesity in 2014 by subregion

Figure 13: Average DESA versus PoU for sub-Saharan African countries (2000–2015)

Figure 14: Net per capita food production indices for sub-Saharan Africa by subregion, 2000–2014

Figure 15: Total Factor Productivity indices for sub-Saharan Africa by region, 1981–1990, 1991–2000, 2001–2009

Figure 16: Value of food imports for sub-Saharan Africa by subregion, 2000–2014

Figure 17: Poverty rates for sub-Saharan Africa and subregions, 1990–2013

Figure 18: Real GDP per capita growth for sub-Saharan Africa and subregions, 2009–2014

Figure 19: Domestic food price index for sub-Saharan Africa and subregions, 2000–2013

Figure 20: Prevalence of stunting in children under five versus proportion of calories derived from cereals and roots and tubers out of total calories

Figure 21: Access to improved water sources, 2004–2014

Figure 22: Access to improved sanitation facilities, 2004–2014

BOXES

Box 1: The Prevalence of Undernourishment and the Food Insecurity Experience Scale

Box 2: Ghana, food security success story

Box 3: ReSAKSS: support to evidence-based decision-making

Box 4: Climate change and civil conflict

Box 5: Options for livelihood support for fishermen in northeast Nigeria

FOREWORD

During the first decade of the century, sub-Saharan Africa made sound progress in its fight against hunger with the region witnessing a decline in the prevalence and number of undernourished people. However, in 2015 and 2016, there was a reversal of this trend as even the prevalence of undernourished increased.

This trend reversal was attributable in many countries of the region to adverse climatic conditions, often linked to the El Niño phenomenon, which resulted in poor harvests and loss of livestock. Lower commodity prices and increasingly challenging global economic conditions, coupled with the outbreak of conflicts – at times concurrently with natural calamities such as droughts or floods – further exacerbated the food security and nutrition situation across the continent.

In the light of these recent developments, it is essential that we step up our efforts if we are to achieve a world without hunger by 2030.

Sub-Saharan Africa’s vision for development continues to be driven by the African Union’s Agenda 2063 as well as the principles enshrined in the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). The goal defined in the Agenda 2063, and further reaffirmed in the Malabo Declaration as well as in the Africa Regional Nutrition Strategy 2015–2025 of ending hunger and halving poverty by 2025, is closely aligned with the SDG 2 and the Decade of Action on Nutrition 2016–2025, the framework to implement the commitments taken at the second International Conference on Nutrition and achieve the World Health Assembly targets.

As depicted in this report, countries in sub-Saharan Africa have been developing policy frameworks and investment plans that should be conducive to the attainment of the goals set in the Malabo Declaration and the SDG 2, in conformity with the process advocated by CAADP of raising the profile of agriculture and reinforcing agricultural policies.

The report highlights the devastating effects of conflicts on food security and nutrition in many sub-Saharan African countries. Over one-third of the world's violent conflicts took place in sub-Saharan Africa and the region harbours nearly 70 percent of all conflict-affected countries in protracted crises.

Conflicts in the region have affected primarily rural areas, damaging agriculture and disrupting both food production and food systems. The resulting disruption or destruction of livelihoods constitute a major cause of acute and chronic food insecurity and malnutrition. The magnitude of the adverse impact of conflicts in this respect can be perceived in northeast Nigeria, South Sudan and Somalia, where conflict has led 15.8 million people to face severe food insecurity.

Equally noteworthy are the findings presented in the report that food insecurity and malnutrition could in turn constitute drivers of the complex interplay of grievances that spawn conflicts. The conflict and food insecurity nexus, which may be further aggravated by the climate change dimension, becomes a critical issue to focus on as we strive to decipher the complexities of the interrelationship between food security, fragility, conflict and violence in the quest of embedding sustainable development and ultimately achieving the SDG 2.

Recognition of the fact that mutually reinforcing factors link food insecurity, malnutrition, social and political instability and conflicts has led to the realization of the need to combine efforts across disciplines, supporting resilient livelihoods in conjunction with sustaining peace and conflict resolution, in order to achieve sustainable development as well as food and nutrition security.

Investing in food security and agriculture thus becomes essential if we are to help prevent conflict and achieve lasting peace. Populations affected by conflicts either as displaced persons or as host communities often require assistance, in terms of food or cash, or basic social services. In attributing greater focus on rebuilding livelihoods which are often linked to agriculture, it is important to underscore the significance of investments in infrastructure, such as irrigation, and in social protection systems so as to sustain households in times of need, thereby curbing the need to rely on destructive coping strategies and securing strengthened resilience of sub-Saharan African countries to the shocks of man-made disasters.

I trust that this report provides member countries the requisite information and insights that enable them to work effectively towards achieving the Malabo Declaration and the SDG 2. Its contents and findings are presented with the aim of providing a fresh perspective and renewed impetus towards building a peaceful and resilient continent through the pursuit of a coherent and multifaceted approach to strengthen livelihoods in agriculture, fisheries and forestry.

Bukar Tijani

Assistant Director-General and

Regional Representative for Africa

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This third edition of the Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition in Africa has been prepared by the FAO Regional Office for Africa (RAF) in close cooperation with the Agricultural Development Economics Division (ESA), the Statistics Division (ESS) and the Nutrition and Food Systems Division (ESN) in FAO headquarters.

Andre Croppenstedt (Policy Officer) coordinated the preparation of the document and led its production under the overall supervision and guidance of Bukar Tijani, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, assisted by Serge Nakouzi, Deputy Regional Representative for Africa, and by Abebe Haile-Gabriel, Regional Programme Leader for Africa and FAO Representative to Ghana.

Under the overall supervision of Kostas Stamoulis, FAO Assistant Director-General for the Economic and Social Development Department, the coordination and technical support provided by the Agricultural Development Economics Division (ESA) was led by Rob Vos, ESA Director, Cindy Holleman and Areej Jafari. Valuable contributions for Part Two were received from the Food and Agriculture Policy Decision Analysis (FAPDA) team of ESA Division, including Ekaterina Dorodnykh, Eugenia Stefanelli, and Luca Renzi. Data for Part One were provided by the FAO Statistics Division led by José Rosero Moncayo, Deputy Director ESS, and the Food Security and Nutrition Statistics Team led by Carlo Cafiero, including particularly Filippo Gheri and Anne Kepple.

Other valuable contributions for Part Two were received from the FAO subregional offices for Southern Africa and Central Africa; and the FAO country offices in Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Chad, Guinea, Kenya, Mozambique and Senegal.

The RAF Resilience team, led by Farayi Zimudzi and including Jacques Conforti, Abeshaw Gebru and Louise Tine, as well as Patrick David from FAO Senegal, made substantial contributions to Part Three. Martin Van der Knaap, RAF Fisheries Officer, also contributed material to Part Three.

The report benefited from several rounds of reviews by colleagues in the Economics and Social Development Department mentioned above, and Diana Carter, Ellen Andresen and Marco Knowles. Furthermore, the report was reviewed by Serge Nakouzi, Abebe Haile-Gabriel, Koffi Amegbeto, Berhanu Bedane, Joas Fiodehoume, Liliane Kambirigi, Igor Vinci and Mawuli Sablah from FAO Regional Office for Africa; David Phiri and Aida Galindo Ortiz from the FAO Subregional Office for Southern Africa; Victor Mamiharivelo from FAO Madagascar; Yves Klompenhouwer from FAO Lesotho; Claudia Pereira from FAO Mozambique; Cuthbert Kambanje from FAO South Africa; Charles Tulahi