Published on: 2026-04-30
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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In Africa, the level of hunger has been increasing for the eighth consecutive year, and without urgent and coordinated financial measures, the situation will only worsen. This is stated in a new joint report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the African Union Commission.
According to the authors’ estimates, there are about 306 million undernourished people in Africa — that is more than 45 percentof the total number worldwide. Another 892 million people face moderate or severe food insecurity. The main causes are conflicts, climate shocks, economic downturns, and growing inequality.
Healthy eating is becoming inaccessible
Average costhealthy dietIn Africa, it reached $4.41 per day (in purchasing power parity), which is 5.5 percent higher than the level in 2023. This significantly exceeds the international extreme poverty threshold of $2.15 per person per day. As a result, 67 percent of the continent’s population could not afford adequate nutrition in 2024—more than twice the global indicator (about 32 percent).
More than 30 percent of children under five years old in Africa suffer from growth retardation, which indicates chronic malnutrition. Although this indicator is gradually decreasing, it remains high.
Lack of funding
The report highlights a significant gap between current investments and the real needs for the transformation of agri-food systems. Although government spending on agriculture in Africa has been growing since 2018, this is not sufficient to achieve the goals of eradicating hunger.
International aid is increasing only slightly, with less than 27 percent of such funds being directed towards food security and nutrition.
Private investments remain extremely low. Bank lending to agriculture accounts for less than 4 percent of the total volume, while direct foreign investments in the sector often do not exceed 2 billion dollars per year.
Small and medium-sized enterprises feel the shortage of financing particularly acutely: they are too large for microfinancing, but not significant enough to obtain bank loans.
Necessary new sources of funds
The authors of the report call for the creation of a more favorable policy and institutional environment for attracting investments, including through public-private sector partnerships. The report also emphasizes the importance of inclusive solutions – with particular attention to the interests of women, youth, and small farmers.
Separately, the potential of blended finance is noted: from 2020 to 2023, 99 such deals were implemented in Africa for a total amount of about 3 billion dollars. However, most of them are focused on large companies, while small enterprises continue to experience a shortage of capital.
Climate financing – an untapped resource
Africa also receives insufficient climate financing. In 2021–2022, its volume amounted to 44 billion dollars – an increase of 48 percent compared to previous years, but significantly lower than the required level of 250 billion dollars annually.
Experts emphasize that linking climate finance with the development of food systems will become key to increasing resilience.
Governments and development partners are recommended to coordinate investments, promote sustainable and inclusive policies, and consider agri-food systems as the foundation of economic growth, health, and sustainability.
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