Sub-Saharan Africa Faces Rising Hunger Crisis: FAO’s HiHI Initiative Takes Action
Sub-Saharan Africa is grappling with an alarming increase in hunger, compounded by challenges such as climate change, conflicts, and economic conditions. Regrettably, Africa has the highest percentage of its population experiencing hunger compared to other regions worldwide, with over 1 billion Africans unable to afford a nutritious diet.
To address this crisis and support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of eradicating poverty, ending hunger and malnutrition, and reducing inequality, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) established the Hand-in-Hand Initiative (HiHI). This market-oriented approach aims to enhance the quantity, quality, diversity, and accessibility of nutritious food in local, national, and regional food markets.
Abebe Haile-Gabriel, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, emphasized the need for collective action and participation in bringing transformative changes to Africa’s agrifood systems. He urged all stakeholders to play their part, whether through investment, knowledge sharing, or contributing best practices.
Currently, FAO is actively working with 35 sub-Saharan countries and collaborating with governments and other stakeholders on HiHI activities. Through this initiative, they have supported countries in developing investment cases and hosting multi-stakeholder forums to facilitate investments. This approach has already garnered interest and commitment from nations like Mali and Zimbabwe, which organized successful national Hand-in-Hand Investment Forums.
Recognizing the critical nature of achieving the SDGs, the FAO Regional Office for Africa organized an online roundtable in August 2023 to inspire greater involvement in the HiHI Initiative within the African region. This followed the success of the inaugural global HiHI Investment Forum held in Rome last October and served as preparation for the upcoming second global HiHI Investment Forum scheduled for October 2023.
During the roundtable, twelve African countries, including Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Zimbabwe, presented their investment cases. They collectively called for a total investment of USD 10 billion to directly impact more than 70 million smallholder producers across Africa. The presentations were followed by responses, Q&A sessions, and discussions among various stakeholders, including the European Union, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Mastercard Foundation, and the World Bank.
The first edition of the global HiHI Investment Forum in 2022 saw the presentation of investment cases worth USD 3 billion from 20 countries, including seven from sub-Saharan Africa. Out of this amount, USD 1 billion has already been mobilized.
Moving forward, FAO will continue to support high-level delegations from African countries to participate in the global HiHI Investment Forum 2023. They will facilitate matchmaking with potential partners and investors, as well as mobilize the necessary investment to achieve the 2030 Agenda. The aim is to transform agrifood systems into more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable models that promote better production, nutrition, and the environment, leaving no one behind.
The FAO’s HiHI Initiative is a crucial step towards addressing the rising hunger crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa. By fostering collaboration, investment, and knowledge sharing, this initiative aims to make significant strides in eradicating hunger and ensuring a better future for all Africans.
