There is an African proverb that states, “wisdom is like a baobab tree – no one individual can embrace it.”
This proverb can be applied to the fight against hunger in Africa. Collective action is fundamental to achieve the aim of the Malabo Declaration (to end hunger by 2025) as well as that of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 2 (eradicating hunger and all forms of malnutrition and promote sustainable agriculture).
From February 19 to 23 this year, in Khartoum, Sudan, the Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO) convened the 30th Regional Conference for Africa, where African ministers and other stakeholders met to review the achievements, challenges and priorities regarding the sustainable development of agriculture and food systems.
It is encouraging that some parts of the continent have made some significant progress, but pressing challenges remain for all.
The 2017 edition of the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World Report indicates that the number of undernourished people in sub-Saharan Africa in 2016 was about 224 million, an increase of 24 million compared to 2015. This means that 23pc of the population in sub-Saharan Africa, almost one out of four African people, was undernourished. However, compared with the percentage of undernourishment registered in 2000 – standing at 28pc – the numbers still show a relative decrease.
The increase of hunger in sub-Saharan Africa in 2016 is directly linked to conflicts and the impacts of climate change, such as the prolonged drought that affected the rural areas of many countries. Low levels of productivity, weak value-chains and high levels of vulnerability have also had negative impacts on food and agriculture systems and rural livelihoods, especially in relation to the poorest people.
It is also important to bear in mind that the SDG 2 calls for the eradication of all forms of malnutrition. There is a reason for this. In addition to undernourishment, we are currently facing a global epidemic of obesity and of being overweight.
This epidemic is cause for worry here in Africa as well. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 30pc of adults in Africa are overweight. Obesity rates are nearing 10pc in countries such as Sierra Leone and Liberia. Furthermore, about 41 million children in the world under the age of five are overweight. A quarter of these children live in Africa.
Rapid urbanisation and the consumption of highly processed foods are the major drivers behind this increase. People are often unaware that certain foods are unhealthy. Moreover, they do not see being overweight as a problem.
The challenge is how to promote a healthy diet when urbanisation is stimulating a dietary transition towards processed foods. Thus, countries need to act on two fronts: the production and consumption of healthy foods. This includes providing advertisement and information on food products. People must be aware of the pros and cons of what they are eating and also be encouraged to eat healthy kinds of food.
The struggle against malnutrition, however, also needs to include the eradication of hunger as a primary aim. Here, youth unemployment remains a biting challenge in the region. Estimates show that people between 15 and 24 years of age in sub-Saharan Africa will increase by more than 90 million by 2030, and most will be in rural areas. Providing decent jobs to this growing number of young people is not just essential for their personal future. It is also essential for the future of the continent.
The majority of Africa’s rural youth are in the informal economy, working as contributing family workers, subsistence farmers, home-based micro-entrepreneurs or unskilled workers. They typically earn low wages, work under casual or seasonal arrangements, and face unsafe and often exploitative working conditions, which compel many to migrate to urban areas.
Farm and non-farm activities hold enormous potential for unemployed African youth. But more effort is needed to transform rural economies. Successful and inclusive transformations encourage agricultural productivity growth, a shift of people and resources from agriculture towards manufacturing, industry and services, massive increases in per capita income, as well as steep reductions in poverty and hunger.
We still have good reasons to be optimistic and believe that eradicating hunger by 2030 is possible.
Political has not evaporated. It has in fact been reinforced. The United Nations (UN), led by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, has increased its focus on reducing conflicts through peacekeeping operations.
In relation to climate change, there is the Green Climate Fund, which is currently in place. Developing countries will have access to the necessary resources to implement climate-smart practices for adapting to a changing climate.
Furthermore, there are strong signs that the world economy is recovering and this will create favourable conditions for development.
On the margins of the African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Abeba a few weeks ago, I addressed heads of state and reaffirmed that achieving Zero Hunger is possible. Stronger commitment by governments, the private sector, civil society, the AU and the UN is needed to promote peace, human rights and sustainable development.
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