MAL57:23 | Page 32

Preamble

The Ipsos Africa Centre for Development Research and Evaluation provides insights for evidence-informed programs and policies ; evaluation of programs , policies , and communications ; and understanding of perceptions on a range of issues . The centre works with governments , donors , international NGOs , academic institutions , and multilateral organizations to help them achieve their project goals and performance targets and helps them make informed decisions by providing insights into public policies . Its work spreads across multiple sectors , including politics , governance , health , finance , livelihoods , and media .

As the adverse effects of climate change continue to skyrocket all over the world , coupled with the global shocks that have been observed over the past 3 years due to the Covid-19 epidemic such as trade restrictions , rising food prices , economic instability , exacerbated by the Russia- Ukraine war , Sub Saharan Africa ( SSA )

FOOD SECURITY

Addressing Food Insecurity In Sub-Saharan Africa : Challenges , Potential , And Lessons From Israel

has been feeling the heat and has been at the receiving end to say the least , as most African countries are battling with the severest drought ever experienced in 40 years especially the horn of Africa .

Food insecurity has worsened , these shocks have been adding an even heavier burden to an already brink situation . At least one in five Africans sleeps hungry , while an estimated 140 million people in Africa face acute food insecurity , according to 2022 global report on Food crisis mid-year update .

The two most critical 2030 sustainable development goals of the United Nations of eliminating hunger and achieving food security seems a far-fetched goal in SSA .

The big question is why is SSA unable to make progress in achieving food security , ending hunger , and promoting sustainable agriculture and improving nutrition despite receiving massive support from international organizations and what can be done to reverse this ?

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The big question is why is Sub Saharan Africa unable to make progress in achieving food security , ending hunger , and promoting sustainable agriculture and improving nutrition despite receiving massive support from international organizations and what can be done to reverse this ?

By Simpson Murangiri

Having grown up in the rural area in Kenya , where smallholder farmers cultivate large tracts of land , and work hard every single day in the farms , it baffles me that the food insecurity situation is still deteriorating .

The concept of food security relies on four pillars ; availability of food which addresses supply of food , accessibility , stability ( absence of food shortage ) and utilization which tackles the socio-economic and biological aspect . From this definition , it is clear the demand and supply of food is the drive to food security . Low crop productivity , weak economic growth and high inflation rates and food prices , inadequate investment in modern irrigation in agriculture , high population , poor policy frameworks , are some of the challenges hindering the ability of these countries becoming food secure .

Ban Ki moon once said that " Saving our planet , lifting people out of poverty , advancing economic growth ... these are one and the same fight . We must connect the dots between climate change , water scarcity , energy shortages , global health , food security and women ' s empowerment . Solutions to one problem must be solutions for all ."

According to Global Hunger Index ( GHI ), 2022 , south of Sahara had the highest levels of hunger at 27.1 , implying stagnation in the goal towards “ zero hunger ” by 2030 . One-third of the world ’ s undernourished comes from Africa , which currently has a population of at least 1.4 billion according to the United Nation and this explains how grave the matter of food insecurity is .

It is ironical that agriculture is at the heart

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