The report aims to provide evidence-based and consensual information on acute food insecurity to better inform decision-making by policymakers, humanitarian and development organisations. Food crises are the extreme manifestation of complex crises often caused by interlinked drivers of vulnerability. The GRFC 2019 identifies three lead causes of food insecurity: conflict and insecurity, attributed to 74 million cases of acute hunger; climate and natural disasters, attributed to 29 million; and economic shocks, attributed to 10.2 million.
The number of people who need assistance to meet their daily food needs has been rising in recent years and, although humanitarian spending has significantly increased, from €16.4 billion in 2013 to €24.3 billion in 2017, the report points out that, too often, these resources are spent on tackling the effects of food insecurity, and not early enough on addressing the underlying causes. Nevertheless, according to the authors, humanitarian and development actors are now improving coordination mechanisms, including actors active in conflict prevention where appropriate in order to move away “from delivering aid to ending need.” This ‘new way of working’ is a response to a call for more innovative approaches to sustainably address food crises from the Agenda for Humanity at the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016.
Global Report on Food
Crises: Joint Analysis for Better Decisions
By the Food Security Information Network
FSIN, 2019; 202 pp.
Interview with Leonard Mizzi, Head of Unit at the European Commission, Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development
In this issue
Michael Hailu: “Digitalisation: a game changer in transforming smallholder agriculture”
As CTA launch a landmark report on digitalisation in agriculture in Africa, Michael Hailu, director of CTA highlights his hopes that the report will help inform other actors and inspire and engage investors by identifying impact and investment opportunities in this critical sector.
Digitalisation: an important lever for agricultural transformation
by Anne Legroscollard and Murielle Vandreck
In the 48 pages of their annual report, CTA demonstrates the extent to which their actions in support of digitalisation contribute to agricultural transformation in ACP countries. “It is becoming increasingly evident that a strong focus on digitalisation as a means to drive agricultural transformation is bearing dividends in the forms of increased production, better livelihoods, more efficient value chains and ultimately greater food and nutrition security,” is the message from Michael Hailu, CTA Director.
Zimbabwe commercialises its indigenous crops
A specialised research organisation in Zimbabwe is identifying and developing locally available and underutilised plant species into marketable products.
Renewable technology confronts Kenya’s food waste
Mobile refrigerated units, powered using solar energy, are providing farmers with an opportunity to preserve their produce at a convenient time and place.
Opportunities in Agriculture: Stemming youth migration
Africa’s growing youth workforce presents enormous potential for agricultural transformation, but to capitalise on this promising resource the sector must become a more attractive employment option for the continent’s young people.
Fixing food systems for environmental sustainability
by James Thorp
Two reports and a new book highlight how food can be used to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Face au climat, l’Afrique saisit sa chance
Confronté à de nombreux défis, le continent peut capitaliser une décennie de progrès et de croissance économique pour transformer son agriculture.
The Solomon Islands rediscover the taste of honey
Following destruction of the entire bee population by parasites in the 2000s, the Solomon Islands has now restarted its honey production, and has its sights set on the export market.
A zonal approach stimulates Madagascar’s organic sector
The development of zones dedicated to organic farming in Madagascar is increasing local adoption of the technique and generating higher incomes for small-scale farmers.
Analysing global hunger
The 2019 Global Report on Food Crises: Joint Analysis for Better Decisions is a product of the Global Network against Food Crises. It is the result of a collaborative effort involving 15 leading global and regional institutions – including the EU, FAO and WFP – to share data, analyses, knowledge and expertise regarding people facing food crises.
“We need to put food systems high on the political agenda”
Leonard Mizzi, Head of Unit at the European Commission, Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development, highlights the critical role of integrated action and collaboration in order to address the challenges raised by the latest global report on food crises.
Job creation: Agriculture’s potential to mitigate youth migration
As waves of young people leave their rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa in search of better work, can the agricultural sector provide the employment opportunities that they’re looking for?
Stemming youth migration: Improving agriculture’s employment opportunities
Africa’s growing youth workforce presents enormous potential for agricultural transformation, but to capitalise on this promising resource the sector must become a more attractive employment option for the continent’s young people.
Reality TV shapes up young farming in Eastern Africa
Agricultural TV shows that provide information on how to start an agribusiness are encouraging youths in Kenya and Tanzania to consider farming as a lucrative career choice.
Good farming practices help turn the tide on youth migration
A cereal production and marketing programme is substantially boosting smallholders’ incomes, making the agricultural sector much more attractive to young people. As a consequence, youth migration has decreased.
Sithembile Ndema Mwamakamba: Prioritising youth engagement in technology and innovation
by James Thorp
A programme manager for climate-smart agriculture at the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN), Sithembile Ndema Mwamakamba has a passion for working with and supporting African youth.
Blended finance funds impact African agriculture
Impact investment funds are fast becoming the vehicle of choice for governments and donors looking to invest in African agriculture and encourage private sector investors to do the same.
“Digitalisation of agriculture will leapfrog challenges women farmers face”
Deputy director for Agricultural Development, Global Growth & Opportunity at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Enock Chikava, highlights the key role of the public and private sectors to deliver agricultural digitalisation to connect smallholder farmers at scale.
Chilli exports challenge Rwanda’s post-harvest losses
by Aimable Twahirwa and Sophie Reeve
Young entrepreneur Diego Dieudonné Twahirwa is supplying global markets with his dry chilli and chilli oil products, whilst providing a ready market for local farmers.
Cycling for organic cocoa in Côte d’Ivoire
by Sophie Reeve and Cléophas Mosala
Innovative technologies in West Africa are reducing the environmental impacts of cocoa processing, and increasing farmer resilience to climate change.
The 2019 Global Report on Food Crises: Joint Analysis for Better Decisions is a product of the Global Network against Food Crises. It is the result of a collaborative effort involving 15 leading global and regional institutions – including the EU, FAO and WFP – to share data, analyses, knowledge and expertise regarding people facing food crises.
