SIPRI Research Policy Paper - FOOD INSECURITY IN AFRICA: DRIVERS AND SOLUTIONS

In 2021, a total of 20.2 per cent of the the Horn of Africa, the Sahel, African population was facing hunger, compared to 9.1 per cent in Asia, and Central and Southern 8.6 per cent in Latin America and the Caribbean, 5.8 per cent in Oceania and Africa—and several countries less than 2.5 per cent in North America and Europe.2 Current projections within these regions. [...] This urgent need to steer the response towards building resilient and sustain able food systems corresponds with calls made in the African Common Position on Food Security prepared for the UN Food Systems Summit in 2021 and the vision in the African Union Agenda 2063 to build a prospero us, peaceful and secure Africa based on inclusive growth and sustaina ble development.18 Furthermore, in the 201. [...] Agri- cultural activity, including farming and pastoralism, is the backbone of the region’s economy and more than 80 per cent of the population is employed in the sector.68 As farmers and pastoralists depend on rainfall to grow crops, and to feed and water their livestock, the region’s driest areas have seen a tremendous loss of livelihoods due to crop failure and livestock deaths.69 60 Barsoum, G. [...] For instance, pastoralists are forced to change their mobility patterns, which has led to conflict over resources among pastoralists and between pastoralists and farmers.70 At the same time, drought and other impacts of climate change are compounded by years of conflict and instability, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and rising food prices due, in part, to the war in Ukraine.71 As of June 202. [...] To this end, it would be advisable for African governments, the private sector, civil society and their international partners in governments, IFIs and UN and other agencies to do the following: • Review national and regional policies that address some of the drivers discussed in this paper to ensure that the policies address the linkages between the problems so that the solutions are as interconn.