The Nexus of Food Security, Peace, and Stability: A Call for Integrated Policy Solutions in Africa

Food systems, which include agricultural production, supply chains, and food distribution, play a crucial role in ensuring food security. Resilient food systems make nutritious food accessible and affordable, reducing vulnerability to economic and environmental shocks. However, weak food systems lead to food insecurity, which in turn fuels instability and conflict.

Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, African Union Special Envoy for Food Systems, highlights that food insecurity is not just a humanitarian issue—it is a major driver of economic and social instability. In Africa, millions suffer from chronic hunger, particularly in remote areas where nutritious food is scarce and expensive. In 2022, 282 million Africans faced hunger, representing 38% of the global total. Eastern Africa had the highest number of undernourished people (134.6 million), followed by Western Africa (62.8 million), Central Africa (57 million), Northern Africa (19.5 million), and Southern Africa (7.6 million). The continent remains off track in meeting SDG 2 and the Malabo targets to eradicate hunger by 2025.

While some progress was made between 2000 and 2010, hunger has surged in recent years, exacerbated by climate change, post-harvest losses, poor infrastructure, and market volatility. Climate change has particularly worsened food security by reducing livestock productivity, increasing heat stress, and altering pest and disease patterns. These challenges have raised the cost of maintaining a healthy diet, making it unaffordable for much of Africa’s population. In 2021, the cost of a healthy diet stood at 3.57 PPP dollars per day, well above the extreme poverty threshold of 2.15 PPP dollars per day. As a result, more than one billion Africans—over three-quarters of the continent’s population—could not afford a healthy diet in 2021. The situation has worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in Eastern and Western Africa.

The link between food security and peace requires an integrated policy approach. Armed conflicts in several regions disrupt food production and supply chains, making food more scarce and expensive. The competition for land and water resources further exacerbates tensions, increasing pressure on farmers who struggle with traditional farming techniques. Without intervention, food insecurity will continue to drive instability and humanitarian crises.

A sustainable solution lies in helping farmers adapt to climate change through regenerative agriculture and innovative farming methods. Local communities play a crucial role in addressing humanitarian crises and ensuring food resilience. Collaboration among policymakers, aid agencies, and local governments is essential to dismantling siloed approaches and ensuring equitable, effective responses. Integrating security early warning systems with humanitarian and food systems will help break the cycle of food insecurity and instability.

Several initiatives offer practical solutions. The Africa Risk Capacity (ARC) provides insurance against droughts and climate shocks, allowing governments to respond swiftly to crises. The African Development Bank’s Feed Africa Strategy focuses on agricultural investments, irrigation, and value chains to boost food security. These strategies are embedded in the Kampala Declaration, which calls for decisive action in transforming Africa’s food systems.

Singapore provides a successful model for food security despite limited agricultural resources. By incorporating food security into its Total Defence Strategy, diversifying import sources, investing in urban farming, and maintaining emergency food stockpiles, Singapore has built a resilient food system. Africa can learn from this model by strengthening cross-border food trade, adopting climate-smart agriculture, and implementing sustainable food policies.

The solutions to Africa’s food security challenges are clear and within reach. What is needed now is political will and decisive action to implement the Kampala strategy and ensure that food security contributes to stability and economic growth across the continent.