World Bank’s Holistic Approach to Alleviate Food and Nutrition Crises in Sahel and Horn of Africa: Achievements, Challenges, and Future Goals

In the Sahel and Horn of Africa regions, where persistent food and nutrition crises are exacerbated by drought, conflict, and fragility, the World Bank is intensifying its efforts to address the challenges. The approach is multifaceted, involving financial support, technical assistance, and analytics. The Bank’s commitment of $45 billion, including $13.2 billion for West and Central Africa and $10.6 billion for East Africa, underscores its dedication to enhancing food and nutrition security.

Key Highlights of World Bank Interventions:

• In Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mali, 1.8 million beneficiaries received food rations and vouchers, while 8 million people in Ethiopia were provided with food and cash assistance.
• Anti-locust assistance in Kenya, Djibouti, and Ethiopia covered 3.3 million hectares of land, benefiting food production.
• Drought impacts on 1.6 million pastoralists in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia were mitigated.
• Somalia experienced a 200 percent increase in households able to consume two meals a day after receiving assistance post-2017 drought.

Challenges:

• The global food and nutrition crisis has intensified since 2014, affecting 221 million people across 54 IDA countries.
• Causes include conflict, population displacements, weather extremes, disrupted food systems, regional trade barriers, poor policies, and COVID-19 fallout.
• The war in Ukraine has further escalated food prices and volatility.

World Bank Approach:

• The Bank employs a multi-sectoral approach, addressing short-term and long-term needs in four areas: supporting food production, facilitating trade, assisting vulnerable households, and investing in sustainable food and nutrition security.
• Financing, technical assistance, and analytics are deployed across sectors to ensure a comprehensive response.
• Notable programs like the West Africa Food System Resilience Program (FSRP) and FSRP for Eastern and Southern Africa aim to increase food system resilience.

Results and Regional Solutions:

• In the G5 Sahel, emergency measures, including CERCs, CRW ERF, and reallocation, reached almost 5 million beneficiaries.
• In the Horn of Africa, programs like the Emergency Locust Response Program (ELRP) supported swarm surveillance and control, benefiting countries like Kenya, Ethiopia, and Djibouti.
• Country-specific projects, such as the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project and the National Agriculture Rural Inclusive Growth Project, target farmers, particularly women, with input, extension services, and market access.

Social Protection and Collaboration:

• Social protection programs, like Somalia’s Baxnaano initiative, play a vital role in supporting vulnerable households facing high food prices and shortages.
• The World Bank collaborates with various partners, including the Global Alliance on Food Security (GAFS), regional organizations (AU, IGAD, ECOWAS), and country-level partners like WFP, FAO, UNICEF, UNOCHA, and ICRC.

Looking Ahead:

• The World Bank emphasizes the impact of climate change on food security and has identified Food and Nutrition Security as one of its global challenges.
• The Global Challenge Program on Food and Nutrition Security aims to strengthen food stability, availability, utilization, and access while enhancing crisis preparedness and early warning systems.
• Future goals include improving sustainable impacts of public spending and mobilizing private investment in resilient food systems to break the cycle of food and nutrition insecurity by 2030.

In conclusion, the World Bank’s unwavering commitment and multifaceted approach to addressing food and nutrition crises in the Sahel and Horn of Africa regions demonstrate a dedicated effort to tackle complex challenges. Through financial support, technical assistance, and collaborative initiatives, the Bank has made significant strides in providing immediate relief and building long-term resilience. Despite persistent challenges such as conflict, climate change, and global disruptions, the World Bank’s integrated strategies and partnerships with various organizations pave the way for a more sustainable and secure future. As the world faces evolving crises, the Bank’s forward-looking goals underscore its determination to break the cycle of food and nutrition insecurity, emphasizing the importance of global collaboration, innovation, and holistic solutions for lasting impact.