The continent is currently in the grip of the worst food crisis for a generation. Around 282 million people are food insecure across Africa, 46 million more than in 2019. The figure could rise to 310 million by 2030, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
In the short-term, a series of external shocks are behind the crisis, including:
- Covid-19: Interruptions to global trade disrupted international markets and the flow of food to Africa. Many African countries followed more developed ones in ordering lockdowns, but did not introduce financial packages to support businesses, while funding for humanitarian projects dried up. As a result, millions of people were pushed out of work and left unable to feed their families.
- Climate change: Rising global temperatures have seen extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods, become more frequent. Four consecutive
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