By Andanje Wakhungu
Despite the world’s capacity to produce enough food to feed everyone, malnutrition and food insecurity remain pressing global challenges. It is estimated that one-third of the world’s food production is lost to waste or poor post-harvest practices, due to inadequate road infrastructure and food management systems.
During the 15th Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security (ADFNS) and the 20th Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) Partnership Platform, held in Harare, Zimbabwe, Mrs. Estherine Lisinge-Fotabong, Director of Agriculture, Food Security, and Environmental Sustainability at AUDA-NEPAD, addressed Africa’s unique challenges with malnutrition. She emphasized that the continent is grappling with diverse forms of malnutrition, including undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and a growing prevalence of obesity, which contributes to non-communicable diseases across Africa.
Mrs Fotabong referenced a study on the “Cost of Hunger in Africa,” which highlights that child undernutrition alone costs Africa between 1.9% and 16.5% of its annual GDP. Furthermore, the AUDA-NEPAD report “Ending Hunger in Africa by 2025 – Conditions of Success” reveals that nearly one in five Africans faces hunger. Unfortunately, the CAADP biennial reviews show that a “business-as-usual” approach is failing to bring the continent closer to eradicating hunger and food insecurity by 2025.
To tackle these challenges, Mrs Fotabong underscored the need for African Union member states to address institutional gaps and strengthen capacities to support food and nutrition-sensitive initiatives. She stressed the importance of tackling climate change’s impact on Africa’s food systems and suggested a political shift toward creating sustainable solutions. Additionally, she pointed to the role of education in fostering the transformation of agrifood systems, as highlighted in this year’s African Union theme, which calls for connecting nutrition, agrifood systems, and education to drive Africa’s growth.
Mrs Fotabong highlighted successful initiatives like AUDA-NEPAD’s Home Grown School Feeding (HGSF) program, which integrates school nutrition with agricultural development. Since its inception in 2003, the HGSF has demonstrated the impact of integrated policies, helping to create resilient and sustainable agrifood systems that provide nutritious, affordable, and safe diets for all.
As Africa moves into the CAADP post-Malabo era, Mrs Fotabong called on stakeholders to embrace an expanded CAADP scope that includes agrifood systems. She emphasized the importance of building partnerships, aligning national agricultural strategies with broader food system objectives, and fostering public-private cooperation to mobilize resources. For long-term success, African countries should prioritize capacity-building for local communities, ensuring policy effectiveness and adaptability to meet the varied needs across the continent.
With a renewed commitment to the CAADP and ADFNS, Africa is poised to create safer, healthier diets and sustainable food systems that drive economic growth, integration, and inclusion across the continent.
