Nearly 55 million people in West and Central Africa will struggle to feed themselves during the dry season from June to August 2024, according to the analysis on food security by the Cadre Harmonise released in March 2024 by the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS), as stated in a press release by the Africa Regional Office of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
This figure represents an increase of four million people facing inadequate nutrition compared to the forecast from November 2023 and highlights a fourfold increase over the past five years.
The situation is particularly concerning in the northern part of conflict-affected Mali, where it is estimated that around 2.600 people will experience catastrophic hunger (IPC/CH phase 5). The latest data also reveal a significant shift in factors contributing to food insecurity in the region, beyond the usual conflicts.
Economic challenges such as currency devaluation, rapid inflation, stagnant production, and trade barriers have exacerbated the food crisis, affecting ordinary people across the region, with Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Mali among the hardest-hit countries.
Prices of major staple grains continue to rise across the region by 10 to over 100 percent compared to the five-year average, influenced by currency inflation, fuel and transportation costs, ECOWAS sanctions, and restrictions on the flow of agropastoral products. Currency inflation is the main factor driving price volatility in Ghana (23 percent), Nigeria (30 percent), Sierra Leone (54 percent), Liberia (10 percent), and Gambia (16 percent).
The West and Central Africa continue to heavily rely on imports to meet the population’s food needs. However, import bills continue to rise due to currency depreciation and high inflation, even as countries grapple with significant fiscal constraints and macroeconomic challenges.
Cereal production for the 2023-2024 agricultural season shows a deficit of 12 million tons, while cereal availability per capita has decreased by two percent compared to the previous agricultural season.
“The time to act is now. All partners need to take steps, get involved, adopt, and implement innovative programs to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control and ensure that no one is left behind,” said Margot Vandervelden, Acting Regional Director of the World Food Program (WFP) for West Africa.
“More investment is needed in building resilience and long-term solutions for the future of West Africa,” she added.
In response to the growing needs, FAO, UNICEF, and WFP call on national governments, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector to implement sustainable solutions that strengthen food security, increase agricultural productivity, and mitigate the negative effects of economic volatility. Governments and the private sector need to collaborate to ensure that the fundamental human right to food is upheld for all.
