Regional overview of food security and nutrition in Africa 2016: the challenges of building resilience to shocks and stresses
This document provides a regional overview of food security and nutrition issues in Africa in 2016. The report is divided into three sections. Part 1 and 2 discuss the prevalence and trends in malnutrition, and policies and programmes in support of their improvements. Section 3 focuses on building resilience to shocks and stresses related to food security and nutrition in the context of climate change and conflicts.
Select key messages include the following:
- Some of the main causes of food insecurity and malnutrition in the region are associated with unstable food markets and commodity prices and natural disasters, including severe droughts and floods, leading to failed crops, insufficient pasture feed and water for livestock, and persistent political instability, conflicts and other forms of violence;
- As the magnitude and impact of crises and disasters increase, more and more households, communities and governments in the region are less able to absorb, recover and adapt, making them increasingly vulnerable to future shocks. Governments must intensify their efforts to ensure that years of gradual agricultural development gains are not wiped out by recurrent shocks;
- The impact of the El Niño and La Niña phenomena in 2014/15 has been one of the most intense and widespread in the past 100 years;
- Building resilience through peace-building efforts is critical to food security and nutrition. The critical role of the agriculture sector in crisis situations must not be overlooked and necessary investments need to be made.