Archive for category: Hunger

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6 Facts About Hunger in Liberia

Hunger in Liberia
Liberia is a country on the West African coast. Neighboring the Ivory Coast, Guinea and Sierra Leone, it spans just under 100,000 square kilometers of land. A long civil war, consistent disease outbreaks and widespread economic instability have led to prevalent hunger and malnutrition. Here are six facts about hunger in Liberia.

6 Facts About Hunger in Liberia

  1. Human Development Index: Liberia ranks 176th out of 189 countries on the Human Development Index. The country is one of 14 African countries ranking within the lowest 15 on the index. This is largely because the country’s life expectancy at birth is quite low, being less than 64 years.
  2. Global Hunger Index: The country ranks 112th out of 117 countries on the 2019 Global Hunger Index (GHI). The index consists of a range of scores, 0.0-50.0, where Liberia holds a score of 34.9. The score indicates the country’s hunger levels are ‘serious’ and on the brink of becoming ‘alarming.’ According to the previous index scores, however, Liberia has consistently improved their conditions and lowered their GHI score by 13.7 points throughout a course of 19 years, from 48.6 in 2000 to 34.9 in 2019.
  3. Malnourishment: Approximately 45% of Liberia’s population is chronically or acutely malnourished. According to several experts and NGOs, the country’s destitute circumstances are due in part to the Ministry of Health undermining the severity of the situation. Additionally, in the country’s impoverished capital, Monrovia, 45% of deaths of children under the age of five are due to a lack of food and being underweight.
  4. Sustainable Development Goals: Liberia ranks 154th out of 157 countries on track to meet the Sustainable Development Goals. The country’s economic and social development has been stunted for a long period of time. The 14-year civil war, which formally ended in 2003, contributed to the country’s leading issues today: widespread economic instability and insecurity, destroyed infrastructure, poverty and poor living conditions. According to Famine Early Warning Systems Network, 32% of the country’s population is classified as having moderate or severe chronic food insecurity. This affects more than 1.55 million people.
  5. Economic Collapse: The country’s continued engagement in several internal and external conflicts led to a 90% drop in the GDP between 1987 and 1995. Liberia’s plummeting economic situation is amongst the biggest economic collapses ever recorded. The weak economy has continually increased the prices of products and decreased income, making it hard for families to sustain their basic needs. The rising cost of food has resulted in increased chronic food insecurity throughout Liberia. On average, 1 in 5 households in the country is food insecure. Moreover, 2 in 5 households are marginally food insecure. While the country has been successful in decreasing their chronic malnutrition rates from ‘critical’ to ‘serious’ levels according to the WHO classifications, food insecurity continues to remain an important issue.
  6. Child Hunger and Mortality: One in 11 Liberian children dies before the age of five. In 2007, an average Liberian woman had more than five children. This number decreased to just under five in 2013. While poor water sanitation and an alarming rate of food insecurity consistently claim the lives of approximately 10% of children under five, 60% of girls that survive tend to begin childbearing at the age of 19. These malnourished adolescent girls tend to give birth to malnourished babies with low birth weights. And as a result, the babies have an increased risk of illnesses and premature death.

Fighting Hunger in Liberia

While hunger, malnutrition and poverty are persistent issues, many humanitarian organizations such as the WHO, UNICEF and the Action Against Hunger are working toward improving Liberia’s living conditions. Action Against Hunger, for example, recently assisted more than 90,000 people and helped the country’s government implement policies to make progress in alleviating Liberia’s hunger.

Action Against Hunger started Liberian programs in 1990 and has continually improved the lives of hundreds of thousands in the country. One of the prominent programs started by the organization involved training of mother-to-mother support groups to ensure healthy child-feeding practices. With widespread malnutrition, Action Against Hunger also worked with Liberia’s Ministry of Health to implement clean water, sanitation and hygiene improvement programs.

Moving Forward

Hunger in Liberia, while affecting millions every day, is on the path of improvement. With the help of numerous humanitarian organizations, hunger in Liberia will hopefully decrease. The United Nations aims to end hunger and diminish food insecurity in Liberia within the next ten years. Accomplishing this will require a continued focus on decreasing hunger in the nation.

– Omer Syed
Photo: Flickr

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Hunger in Nigeria: A Crisis Impacted by COVID-19

hunger in NigeriaYahabba Adam, 30, smiled in the Maiduguri city center in Nigeria. Her four children would eat that day. She searched the market, and the $47 (NGN 17,000) provided by the World Food Programme’s (WFP) cash assistance program filled her wallet and heart with hope. Adam is one of 5.1 million Nigerians who are food insecure and in need of assistance. Conflict in the Northeast has heightened food insecurity and hunger in Nigeria, with another 7.7 million people now in need of humanitarian assistance.

The Boko Haram Insurgency and Crisis in the Northeast

In northeastern Nigeria, Boko Haram insurgency attacks and other conflicts have displaced two million people. With assistance from Benin, Chad, Niger and Cameroon, the Nigerian military has expelled the group from several northeastern provinces. Boko Haram still holds control over villages and other small territories. It continues to launch deadly attacks, often against women and children.

These attacks have contributed to a decline in agricultural production through the destruction of productive equipment and the displacement of farmers. In 2017, two senior politicians in Nigeria’s Borno state, which is the epicenter of the insurgency, sent a message to Boko Haram. Kashim Shettima and Olusegun Obasanjo donated 36 metric tons of maize, cowpea and rice seed and hundreds of new tractors to farmers. The officials saw an opportunity for the region to move forward in agriculture despite the conflict.

The northeast region of the country has a history of chronic food insecurity. Unfortunately, it is now in what the Famine Early Warning System Network describes as the crisis or emergency stages of acute food insecurity. Almost three million people in the region are food insecure, according to the WFP.

In November 2019, Cadre Harmonisé, a regional group that aims to diminish hunger in Nigeria, released a monthly report. It estimated that 2.6 million people in the Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states were severely food insecure. Without continued humanitarian support, the report projected the number would rise to 3.6 million by mid-2020.

COVID-19 Impact

There have been 35,454 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria and 772 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. The pandemic is affecting every aspect of Nigeria’s economy.

“Countries like Nigeria are large food importers but are now being doubly hit – by COVID-19 and by plunging oil prices, the country’s main source of revenue, decimating the government’s budget and making food and other imports even more expensive,” said Julie Howard, a senior adviser on global food security at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). 

COVID-19 is threatening the already fragile state of hunger in Nigeria. Citizens across the country are going against pandemic regulations to sell small items or beg for food on the streets. In Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, the federal government and humanitarian organizations distribute free food to people whose food supply has been cut off by pandemic safety measures. However, many risk stampedes to get the food and some leave empty-handed. 

“We were scrambling for food when my sister with a young baby on her back was pushed away, and she had to give up,” said Folashade Samuel, a resident of the Lagos slums. “The situation is very, very tough. It is very dangerous to scramble for food because you can fall and get trampled on.”

Additionally, lockdowns and border closures within the nation pose a danger to the agricultural sector, which forms the base of the Nigerian economy. For most Nigerians, agriculture serves as the primary source of livelihood, with the sector employing 36.5% of the entire labor force. More than 30 million naira (about $77,500) had been lost as of May 2020 in the yam markets alone because of the pandemic lockdowns.

In order to combat the pandemic’s adverse effects on agriculture, the Nigerian government created a task force. This task force is creating ID cards to allow agricultural workers to move freely. The agriculture ministry and central bank are working to provide support through locally produced fertilizers and financial expansion for farmers.

What is Being Done?

This June, the Nigerian government launched a seed support initiative in partnership with a group of agricultural research institutes and programs. The initiative worked to deliver improved seeds to farmers in 13 states in order to lessen the harmful impact of the pandemic on hunger in Nigeria.

In Adam’s home city, Maiduguri, the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) received presidential clearance to continue emergency operations, which include delivering food. The WFP manages the UNHAS. While its operations are limited, this humanitarian aid provides support similar to the $47 Adam carried that day in the market.

Along with managing UNHAS, the WFP distributed food and cash assistance to 1.2 million Nigerians in 2017 and 2018. During the pandemic, the WFP has continued its outreach and efforts to curb hunger in Nigeria, assisting 632,500 people with food and nutritional needs. Because schools often provide a much-needed source of food for children, the WFP is also supporting the government in adjusting the national home-grown school feeding programme to reach nine million children while schools are closed.

Many people in Nigeria face hunger and are in need of help. The Boko Haram Insurgency and the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated the problem of food insecurity in the country. As a result, the government and outside organizations are stepping in to help those in need and work to decrease hunger in Nigeria. 

– Olivia du Bois
Photo: Flickr

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Hunger in Eswatini Remains Severe

Hunger in Eswatini
The Kingdom of Eswatini (referred to as Swaziland until 2019) is a small country in the southern tip of Africa, bordering South Africa and Mozambique. The country has a dense population of around 1.14 million, and it is estimated that 63% live below the poverty line. Eswatini is currently ranked 74 out of 117 countries on the Global Hunger Index and received a GHI score of 20.9, putting them at a “serious” hunger level. The 2019 Eswatini Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis (VAA) estimated that as much as 25% of the rural population — around 232,000 people — experience severe hunger and food insecurity during the lean season.

Little to no rain across Eswatini poses a huge threat for the harvest season. Many farmers choose not to plant their usual amount of crops in anticipation of severe drought, and crop production is projected to decrease by 30% in the coming years. Labor opportunities on farms also decrease, as a result depriving some people of their source of income for the season. Decreased crop yield leads to a huge spike in prices, which limits food access for those already living in poverty.

Hunger Leads to Increased Sickness and Disease

Sickness and disease are typically more prevalent in tight-knit communities that face hunger and poverty daily. Often, sickness in impoverished countries is a direct result of prolonged deficiencies of essential nutrients and inadequate caloric intake. Eswatini has a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, with an estimated 25% of the population being infected. HIV is a disease that harms the immune system, meaning many Swazi citizens experiencing HIV are at a heightened risk for other infections.

The under-five mortality rate for children in Eswatini is 54 out of 1,000 live births, the lowest value on record as of 2018. In terms of maternal health in Swazi women, there is not enough data on their specific nutrition and diet habits. However, it is important to note that approximately one-third of women of childbearing age experience HIV, compared to only 19% of men. The high prevalence of HIV in pregnant and nursing mothers increases the likelihood that their children will experience nutrient deficiencies as a result. Fortunately, HIV can be prevented with proper sexual practices and an increase in condom usage.

Factors Increasing Hunger in Eswatini

Citizens have attempted to import maize from the neighboring country of South Africa, but much of it is confiscated by border control due to strict limitations on the amount of foreign products allowed into the country. Government officials claim that these regulations help protect domestic vendors and farmers, but many citizens are unable to afford the local prices. With limited access to imported goods and steep domestic rates, many Eswatini people are left helpless and hungry.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly all the residents of the Kwaluseni township have lost their jobs, forcing people to stay home and avoid going to their place of work. Already impoverished citizens, now with no source of income, have resorted to scavenging for food. Some have even been sighted consuming weeds for sustenance. Local soup kitchens and schools were also forced to shut their doors due to coronavirus concerns, leaving more than 11,000 children without daily access to meals. Before, children received two meals a day provided by the government and various international donors. Now, the Swazi government has offered little to no aid to combat the exacerbated hunger crisis, especially in its larger cities.

Foreign Assistance Has Begun, But It’s Not Enough

Many foreign aid organizations have helped fund the World Food Programme (WFP) in Eswatini, reaching over 55,000 people in vulnerable areas this past year. WFP also provides support to many orphans and vulnerable children by establishing Neighbourhood Care Points for food and social services across the country. While much is being done to help the people of Eswatini, more resources are needed to cover a growing funding gap.

The hunger crisis in the Kingdom of Eswatini is an immense threat to the livelihoods and wellbeing of Swazi people. As a result, organizations such as the WFP are stepping in to help those in need. Along with the help of outside organizations, understanding hunger in Eswatini is an important step toward finding a long-lasting, successful solution.

– Mya Longacre
Photo: Flickr

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5 Ways to Fight Hunger in Nicaragua

Nicaragua, although having made tremendous progress in recent years, is still one of the poorest and least developed countries in Latin America. According to the World Bank, 24.9% of Nicaraguans lived in poverty as of 2016. Of those people, 200,000 lived in extreme poverty making less than $1.90 a day. As a result of poverty and harsh climate conditions, hunger in Nicaragua is a prominent issue. Even though approximately 70% of the population works in agriculture, 300,000 people still require food aid. Located in what’s known as the Dry Corridor, Nicaragua faces erratic weather patterns prone to climate shocks that are consistent threats to stable food production. However, in spite of the unfavorable conditions, many organizations and programs are on the ground working to fight hunger in Nicaragua.

5 Initiatives to Fight Hunger in Nicaragua

  1. The World Food Program (WFP) offers various programs and services to alleviate hunger in Nicaragua. Since 1971, WFP has implemented strategies to improve food security. By supporting the National School Meal Program, the organization helped provide meals to more than 182,000 schoolchildren in April of 2020. Following a five-year plan that spans from 2019 to 2023, WFP aims to find long-term solutions to hunger in Nicaragua. Along with direct food assistance, WFP promotes creating efficient and sustainable agricultural practices by providing technical assistance in implementing weather-resilient farming methods, improving degraded ecosystems and developing technology for accurate climate information.
  2. The organization Food for the Hungry believes that chickens can be a catalyst for solving hunger. Food for the Hungry stated that chickens rank close to the top of its annual gift catalog because of their uses in decreasing hunger. The nonprofit sponsored a program in El Porvenir, Nicaragua called “Happy Chicks”. This initiative taught the locals skills related to running a poultry farm, which is a creative and sustainable way to provide daily meals to the community and, especially, children. These skills help communities learn to operate self-sufficiently.
  3. Indigenous women have a history of banding together to develop more sustainable agricultural practices. Slow Food is an organization that values the protection of food culture and understands the importance of responsible food production. The organization partnered with communities of indigenous women in Nicaragua to encourage cooperation in improving the quality of agricultural systems. Women in the organization shared ideas about planting and harvesting crops, while also promoting economic autonomy through marketing and commercializing excess products.
  4. The Caribbean Coast Food Security Project (PAIPSAN) is collaborating with communities on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua to fight hunger. The organization provides assistance to those who would normally not have access to adequate technology or resources to engage in sustainable agricultural practices. PAIPSAN encourages farmers to utilize climate-resistant seeds and organic fertilizers, while also promoting innovative and environmentally friendly pest and disease control practices. The program also provides educational services to increase awareness of improving nutrition.
  5. Food assistance programs are a popular way of directly fighting hunger in Nicaragua. Food assistance programs generally provide a stable source of food for those in need. Hope Road Nicaragua works alongside other organizations, such as the Orphan Network and Rise Against Hunger, to provide 3,000 children with meals that include vitamin-dense rice and soy packs, beans, vegetables, chicken and tortillas.  The Rainbow Network is another food assistance program. It has set up 489 feeding centers, reaching approximately 13,581 people. The Rainbow Network also works with The American Nicaraguan Foundation to train community members on how to cook and operate the feeding centers. The American Nicaraguan Foundation itself is an organization that has provided more than 297.3 million meals to Nicaragua’s most vulnerable in the past 25 years. Along with its network of more than 700 partners, the foundation coordinates a variety of programs and allocates resources dedicated to poverty relief.

Nicaragua has made progress in recent years. However, vulnerable groups still need assistance with fighting hunger, a direct result of poverty in the country. In order to address this, many organizations are working to foster the idea of food sovereignty and fight hunger in Nicaragua. 

–Melanie McCrackin
Photo: Flickr

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Hunger in The Gambia: A Continuous Fight

Hunger in the Gambia
The Gambia is a country located in Western Africa near the country of Senegal. Over the past 5 years, The Gambia has been dealing with an increase in food insecurity. This increase is largely due to the 2018 drought which caused a decrease in food production. In 2019, The Gambia only produced 50% of the food supply needed, leaving many to go hungry. As food insecurity continues to rise, from 5% to 8% in recent years, many organizations are stepping in to help decrease hunger in The Gambia.  

The Fight Against Hunger in The Gambia

The World Food Programme (WFP) is an organization that has been committed to helping individuals in The Gambia since 1970. WFP has created a campaign designed to bringing food to households and schools in The Gambia. It is estimated that 10,000 households have been affected by hunger. The main focus is to send money and food to certain areas in The Gambia, specifically households that may need more support during the food crisis. More vulnerable populations include women, persons with disabilities and people suffering from diseases such as HIV. Through the WFP’s school program, the organization has helped 115,000 children throughout primary and pre-schools.

UNICEF, WFP, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) worked with The Gambia’s government in 2017 to launch the ‘Post-Crisis Response to Food and Nutrition Insecurity in The Gambia.’ The program aims to help decrease hunger in The Gambia. Not only will it help to fund and bring food to the country, but it also aims to help farmers produce sustainable agriculture.

Malnutrition in The Gambia

Malnutrition largely affects individuals in rural areas of The Gambia. Underfunding, lack of resources, such as foods high in vitamins, and limited knowledge of nutrition are all factors in the problem of malnutrition. Though malnutrition in children has decreased from 23% in 2010 to 19% in 2018, there is still more work to be done. In 2016 UNICEF worked closely with The Gambia’s government to help address malnutrition. UNICEF is urging the officials to have better funding within the healthcare system in regard to nutrition.

Small Victories

The ‘Post-Crisis Response to Food and Nutrition Insecurity in The Gambia’ was also able to donate nearly 3,000 metric tons of nutritious foods, in the hopes of bringing down malnutrition rates. The European Commission has also funded additional programs that not only help supply nutritional food resources, but also educational promotions about nutrition as it relates to infant and child feeding. These programs help to bring resources to rural areas of The Gambia while also informing youth about how to address the issues of hunger and malnutrition.

Over the past few years, The Gambia has been facing increased food insecurity. Providing resources to the public on malnutrition and hunger is more important than ever, as 48% of Gambians are still living in poverty. Programs such as the ones organized by UNICEF and WFP are working to decrease hunger in the coming years. 

– Olivia Eaker
Photo: Flickr

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Hunger in Dominica: 5 Fast Facts

Hunger in DominicaDominica is a “small island developing state” of fewer than 75,000 people, located just north of Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea. Dominica, frequently referred to as the Nature Isle of the Caribbean, is known for its breathtaking views and tropical climate. Its Human Development Index—which ranks countries on a long and healthy life, access to knowledge and a decent standard of living—is High, 97 out of 193 countries ranked. At the same time, Dominica is not immune to economic challenges, climate disasters and attendant issues such as food insecurity.

Hunger in Dominica: 5 Fast Facts

  1. Health and Hunger Indicators: The Food and Agriculture Organization reports the following three-year averages (2021-2023) for Dominica: Undernourishment 13.4%; prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity 34.4%. Also, anemia among women of reproductive age, 20.8% in 2019, a decrease of 5% since 2000; and prevalence of adult obesity, 31.3% in 2022, an increase of 14% since 2000. 
  2. Effects of Climate Change: Because of its location in the Caribbean, Dominica is susceptible to various natural disasters, most notably hurricanes. Category 5 hurricanes Irma and Maria, in the fall of 2017, destroyed or damaged agricultural infrastructure, including croplands, roads and facilities. Over 70,000 people were affected, with 90% of buildings destroyed. This led to both an increase in food prices and well as a significant increase in food imports. This past year, 2023, saw the reverse—decreased rainfall as a result of extreme heat, with a similar negative effect on agriculture.
  3. Impact of COVID-19:  The COVID-19 pandemic, emerging in 2020, added to the disastrous impact of the hurricanes, especially by halting tourism, which supports about a third of employment and makes a similar contribution to GDP. The U.N.’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported a poverty rate in Dominica of almost 29% by mid-2021, with 58% of those surveyed reporting food price increases. OCHA noted that over 40% of the population was vulnerable to food insecurity, particularly the working poor, including fisherfolk and farmers, as well as indigenous peoples. 
  4. Enhancing Agriculture: Dominica is one of four Caribbean countries participating in the five-year Sustainable Agriculture in the Caribbean (SAC) project implemented by the World University Service of Canada in 2021. SAC promotes climate-resilient agriculture targeting economic prosperity for youth and women. It aims to improve food productivity and food security, which includes increasing the country’s agricultural self-reliance. 
  5. Decreasing Dependency on Food Imports: The FAO has reported a steady increase in the volume of food Dominica imports over its total merchandise exports (%) from 57% (2000-2002) to 261% (2020-2022). Dominica’s participation in the Caribbean Community is one way to address this.

Dominica has been one of 15 Member States of CARICOM for over 50 years. CARICOM comprises mostly small, developing island countries, whose objectives include sustained economic development along with increased production and productivity. Among its many initiatives, in 2010 CARICOM established the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency to assure the highest standards for trade in agricultural products. Dominica joined the 25% by 2025 initiative, where participating governments are working to reduce the region’s food import bill by 25% by 2025. This effort is linked to CARICOM’s Agri-Food Systems Strategy whereby special attention is given to priority crops and products, e.g., rice, “niche” vegetables, meat, poultry, corn and soya—all products heavily imported in the region.

– Staff Reports
Photo: Flickr
Updated: September 25, 2024

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Poverty, Policy and Pandemic with Johan Swinnen

Poverty Policy and Pandemic
The Borgen Project has published this article and podcast episode, “Poverty, Policy and Pandemic with Johan Swinnen,” with permission from The World Food Program (WFP) USA. “Hacking Hunger” is the organization’s podcast that features stories of people around the world who are struggling with hunger and thought-provoking conversations with humanitarians who are working to solve it.

 

When it comes to ending global hunger, policy plays a powerful role. It shapes the operation and strategy of humanitarian organizations and influences their ability to make an impact. Smart policies enable WFP, for example, to reach even more people with the lifesaving support they need.

That’s why organizations like International Food Policy Research Institute – known as IFPRI – are critical to advancing the fight against hunger. IFPRI provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries. Its solutions have influenced government and NGO policies across the globe.

As COVID-19 threatens to increase rates of global hunger and poverty, IFPRI’s insights are more critical than ever as governments desperately seek to lessen the virus’ economic impact.

On today’s episode of Hacking Hunger, we caught up with Johan Swinnen, IFPRI’s director general, to get the inside scoop on his predictions of the virus’ impacts, challenges and potential effects, and solutions that might protect vulnerable people from it now and in the future.

Click the link below to listen to what Johan Swinnen’s predictions are regarding the pandemic.

 

 

Photo: Flickr

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Hunger in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Hunger in Bosnia and HerzegovinaDuring the Bosnian War, a bloody conflict centered in the Bosnian capital city of Sarajevo from 1992 to 1995 and thousands of people experienced immense hunger in the country. Sarajevo did not have a connection to the rest of the world, resulting in immediate shortages of food, medicine, water and electricity. Lacking these basic necessities and in constant danger of violence, nearly 12,000 civilians died by the end of the war. Unable to survive on what remained in the country, United Nations humanitarian aid efforts saved many by bringing in 160,000 tons of food, medicine and other essential goods.

Postwar Challenges

The end of the war in 1995 brought necessary relief, as well as a new set of challenges as the nation recovered. In 2014, with an unemployment rate of 27.5%, frustrated people in Sarajevo rioted in response to the government insisting that there was no hunger in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This statement angered citizens, and it led to the closure of several factories that had laid off many workers. They responded by setting fire to multiple government buildings, a scene reminiscent of the Bosnian War just years before.

In 2020, the European Union, in partnership with the United Nations Development Program, allocated 20 million euros to the development and modernization of the agri-food sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Although the program was positioned to independently assist countries in implementing the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals, strong partnerships with entities such as the European Union were considered to be crucial for the goals’ success.

Nevertheless, by 2021, the prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in Bosnia and Herzegovina was 13.4%, the highest it had been in the previous decade and almost 5% higher than its 2017 low point. 

In May of 2021, the Council of Ministers of BiH and the United Nations Country Team signed a four-year Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2021-2025) that included reference to future accession to the European Union. One of the commitment’s four strategic priorities was “quality, accessible and inclusive education, health and social protection,” and one of the many stated related human rights was the right to adequate food, with food safety noted as an intended cooperation outcome.

Targeted Food Insecurity

Then, with the  February 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, came a further impact on both income and food security for those who were already vulnerable. 

A UNDP December 2022 Assessment Report for BiH reported sufficient availability of food but also noted that vulnerable groups did not have enough money for a regular diet because of inflation. The majority (80%) of humanitarian organizations managing soup kitchens felt that they had insufficient funds and that the inadequacy of social protection affected their ability to reduce hunger. At that time, BiH was a net importer of foodstuffs and agricultural products. 

A small, 2022-2023 UNDP rapid countrywide assessment, published in May 2023, found a third of those surveyed defined themselves as food insecure, the most insecure being the elderly and single parents. The General Food Insecurity Index labeled almost 78% of those surveyed to be at risk of food insecurity and food deprivation.

The 2023 Global Health Index identified BiH as one of 20 countries with a GHI score in the Low category, but that was because there was insufficient data to calculate a score. Nevertheless, the trend for BiH indicator values has been low since 2000, based on the indicators of the percentage of the population undernourished, and the percentage of children younger than 5 who suffered from child wasting, child stunting and child mortality. 

Early 2023 saw inflation grow to over 14%, causing extreme challenges in the agricultural sector. The price of foodstuffs, for example, was affected by an increase of up to 200% for some raw materials. This reduced those in greatest poverty to being able to buy fruits and vegetables only by the piece.

With an SDG Index Score of 73.99 (out of 100), BiH now ranks 50 of the 166 countries ranked on the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals in the 2024 Sustainable Development Report. This is the country’s overall progress toward meeting the 17 goals. On SDG 2, Zero Hunger, BiH is seen as making moderate improvement, but with significant challenges remaining. Although improvement has been made in tackling undernourishment and wasting in children under 5 years old, the most significant remaining challenge is the prevalence of obesity. 

A Multisectoral Approach

Hunger can also be tackled in a multi-pronged approach that simultaneously addresses other social issues. U.N. Women and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), with support from Sweden, have held a series of workshops pairing “gender-sensitive credit solutions” with climate-resilient agriculture. While BiH’s agricultural sector includes women entrepreneurs, only 8% of the country’s agricultural assets are women-owned. In June 2024, 12 workshops were planned across the country, with the ultimate aim being to include a gender perspective in “agricultural and rural development policies, enhancing the resilience and inclusivity of these sectors in light of climate vulnerabilities.” In other words, the plan is to address climate-resilient agriculture, rural economic sustainability, financing and gender equality at the same time. In August 2024, 23 “commitment makers” pledged to focus on gender equality activities.

– Staff Reports
Photo: Flickr
Updated: September 1, 2024

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Hunger in Moldova: What You Need to Know

Hunger in MoldovaThe Republic of Moldova is a small (almost 3.6 million population) landlocked country in Eastern Europe that gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. It is surrounded by Ukraine and Romania. An upper-middle-income economy, Moldova’s average economic growth rate is over 5% annually and it has experienced continued decreases in the rate of poverty since the early 2000s to virtually zero according to the International Poverty Line. 

The Global Hunger Index 2024 ranked Moldova 26 out of the 126 countries ranked. Its score has dropped 68% since its first ranking 20 years ago, moving it from the Moderate to Low hunger category. All of the component indicators for the index were under 10%, with the highest being children under five who are stunted (6.6%). The percent of the population undernourished is less than 2.5%. 

At the same time, food security varies among target groups. As noted by the World Food Programme, the Moldova 2022 Social Cohesion and Reconciliation Survey reported that 43% of women surveyed said that they could not meet household nutritional needs, with 24% saying they didn’t have money for food. This was particularly true for women older than 65, women survivors of domestic abuse, and women in the north of the country. Other at-risk groups included rural citizens, the disabled, those with less education, the unemployed, single-person households and households with five or more children. 

Key Challenges to Food Security in Moldova

  • War and Refugees. The war in Ukraine has had a significant impact on Moldova, which is characterized as the highest per capita host of Ukrainian refugees—almost a million as of February 2024, or the equivalent of 27% of its population. These displaced persons comprise primarily the elderly, women and children, and those with disabilities. In addition, the war has led to a rise in energy and food prices and an increase in poverty.  Interestingly, the 2022 social cohesion survey found that positive attitudes toward refugees increased with food security.
  • Climate and Its Impact on Agriculture. Agriculture contributes about 12% to Moldova’s GNP and employs almost a third of the population—25% of the formal workforce and over 60% of the informal workforce. Approximately 70% of the rural population is dependent upon agriculture; most of these are smallholder farmers who contribute over 62% of agricultural produce. Climate vulnerabilities include increasing droughts, extreme fluctuations in temperature, unpredictable precipitation and flash floods and landslides. Agriculture, including its dependence on infrastructure, is particularly susceptible to global climate change. 
  • Additional Factors. In addition, there are shortcomings including cyclical crop seasons that affect the consistency of supply. In addition, shortcomings in irrigation infrastructure, including threats from Russia; labor shortages; and dependence on foreign remittances.

Three Responses to Moldova’s Food Security Challenges

As of 1993, there has been a legal basis for ensuring “the right to adequate food” enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova.

  1. In 2022, Moldova published a medium-term public policy planning document, the Food Security Strategy, for 2023-2030. Various national ministries and agencies have responsibility for implementing the strategy, along with NGOs and international development partners. The goals of the strategy are to “increase the population’s access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food, improve the quality of food, increase the purchasing power of the population and reduce the gaps related to food access for different categories of people.”  
  2. In 2023, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations developed a Rapid response plan, March – December 2023, to address the impact of both the Ukraine war and climate conditions. The program provided cash, grants, supplies, and technical assistance. This included livestock feed and nutrients, training and “knowledge-sharing opportunities” and subsidies. 
  3. The Government of Japan is financing a half-million 2024-2025 project to increase “agri-food resilience to intensifying external and climate shocks” in at least seven towns in Moldova. The goal is to prepare the country for future food crises. This effort is seen as moving to the achievement of commitments made under the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. 

– Staff Reports
Photo: Flickr
Updated: November 2, 2024

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Hunger in Namibia: What You Need to Know

Hunger in NamibiaAlthough Namibia is an upper-middle-income country, it still struggles with a high rate of poverty and undernourishment. According to the World Food Program, 26.9% of the country’s population lives in poverty. In addition, according to the U.N., 430,000 people are in desperate need of food. Namibia, since its independence, has seen good economic growth. The country’s GDP grew from $3.8 billion in 2000 to $12.3 billion in 2019. However, hunger in Namibia remains a growing issue.

Over the past years, the agriculture economy in Namibia has suffered from droughts. The reduction of produce from the food industry is causing hunger in Namibia as families struggle to grow enough food to feed their families. Hunger in Namibia is leaving many children and families malnourished which significantly affects the progress of the nation. Still, both the government and its partners are working to address hunger in Namibia.

Who Is Affected?

Over the past decade, Namibia has faced a lot of droughts leaving low-income-earners struggling to make a living. With a population of approximately 2.4 million people in 2018, 18% (430,000) of the country’s people face severe acute food insecurity and need humanitarian aid.

According to a government report, the country’s agriculture sector, which is partially powered by smallholder farmers, provides for most of the country’s population. Many families who are low income find it difficult to buy food because of increasing food prices.

Malnutrition in Namibia is also affecting children. According to the World Food Program, approximately 23% of children in Namibia are stunted in their growth because they do not eat enough nutritious food. Stunting can have a dangerous effect on the development of children and can even influence their behaviors as they grow older.

Causes of Hunger in Namibia.

In 2019, because of the lack of rain, Namibia food production, both its crops and livestock, fell. Namibia lost 60,000 tons of crops and 60,000 livestock. The two main crops that are planted are maize, which declined in production by 26% between 2018 and 2019, and millet, which declined by 89%. The lack of rain in Namibia hit cereal production the hardest.

The most affected regions of the country are Northwestern parts and the Southern provinces. Due to losses in sales from their livestock, some farmer’s households are finding it difficult to purchase food from markets. Currently, families in 14 regions in Namibia spend more than 50% of their income on food. The cause of drought in Namibia has been attributed to climate change, which is said to be only getting worse.

What Is Being Done?

To help fight against the hunger crisis, the government incorporated the Hunger Initiative in the Harambee Prosperity Plan in August 2016, a plan which is in action through 2020. The plan focuses on 5 different pillars: Effective governance, economic advancement, social progression, infrastructure development, international relations and cooperation. The fight against hunger falls into the Social Progression sector. According to a government report in 2019, Namibia’s government is addressing the country’s hunger crisis by making food banks available in 7 different regions in the country. These food banks reach 17,260 food-insecure households. To deliver food the government relies on unemployed youth who are part of Street Committees.

Government aid provided to people who are food-insecure varies. For example, between 2016 and 2017 the government spent $304 million on its drought program but only $5 million in 2017-2018 because the impact of the drought was lower. To provide malnourished children with food, the government uses a program called the School Feeding Programme. In 2017 they fed 377,521 students. According to the government, providing students with food helps limit the school dropout rate among students who live in poverty. The World Food Program is also helping the government fight malnutrition in children by providing Namibia with technical assistance; the group also helps the country with both policy and strategic guidance.

Furthermore, to help farmers, the government work also extends to provide them with 162 tractors to aid in the cost of plowing for communal farmers.

Although Namibia faces the constant threat of drought, the government and its partners are dedicated to providing nutritious food to many families in need.

– Joshua Meribole
Photo: Flickr