Background

Populations across West Africa are vulnerable to intense shocks, such as flash flooding, locust invasions, desertification and conflict, which can severely impact their livelihoods and food security. In 2007, heavy rains and flash floods led to the destruction of infrastructure, food stocks, crops and livestock, affecting some 800 000 people. This was followed by a sudden and early end to the rains. As a result, many food crops will require a full year before the next harvest can take place, which will have a considerable impact on food security in 2008 in one of the poorest regions of the world.

The combination of poverty, lack of basic services and education and weak governance render communities in West Africa extremely vulnerable to recurrent disasters, disease outbreaks, violence and food insecurity. The region hosts a large number of displaced persons. In some countries, such as Liberia, the reduction in civil conflict has facilitated the return of IDPs and refugees, thus moving the country towards recovery and rehabilitation. There have also been signs of improvement in the complex socio-political crisis that has affected Côte d’Ivoire for four years. However, the long-term effects of these crises are expected to persist. In 2008 considerable support is needed to ensure the successful reintegration of displaced populations and restore the food security of host communities.

Despite progress in 2007 to address child undernutrition and hunger in the Sahel (Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania and the Niger and northern regions of Benin, Ghana and Togo), the area continues to experience some of the highest child undernutrition rates in the world. In 2005, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), WFP, the World Health Organization and FAO developed a joint strategy to prevent and treat acute undernutrition in children in the Sahel. In 2008, it remains imperative to implement programmes aimed at saving the lives of children, both in the Sahel and other countries at risk.

Challenges facing food security and livelihoods

In 2008, improving food security in the Sahel remains a priority. Over 13 million people in the area are food insecure. Those most vulnerable are farmers with limited access to land, animals and/or seeds for cultivation. Efforts to address food insecurity throughout West Africa require a coordinated response, taking advantage of synergies that exist between the projects and programmes being implemented by government partners, humanitarian organizations and UN agencies.

Coping with natural disasters has proven to be a major issue for governments and communities in West Africa. Although most countries in the region have a natural disaster management plan to assist in disaster preparedness, local populations are often unfamiliar with the national information system and governments are easily overwhelmed by the scope of a disaster. The exchange of early warning information between relevant actors in the region is essential to enhance preparedness and ensure a timely response. Most West African countries have limited preparedness capacities and poorly functioning early warning systems. Where early warning systems do exist, the information often remains centralized and is poorly communicated. 

FAO response

FAO is seeking US$24 592 550 for emergency and rehabilitation assistance in West Africa in 2008. The food security sector will seek to strengthen the capacity of humanitarian actors to respond to food insecurity in West Africa and prevent undernutrition in young children. FAO intends to continue to work with WFP to address food insecurity through joint planning of food and seed distributions, provision of seed protection rations and food- and cash-for-work interventions for asset creation, livelihood protection and risk reduction.

In collaboration with national governments and local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), FAO will aim to support the production capacity of farming and pastoralist households, targeting food insecure areas and those affected by flooding in 2007. This will be achieved through the distribution of key agricultural inputs, including cereal crop seeds (such as millet, sorghum and maize), veterinary drugs and vaccines and small ruminants.

FAO’s proposed interventions will also focus on providing vegetable seeds for backyard gardens to ensure dietary diversity in vulnerable households. With adequate funding, support will also be provided for the establishment of vegetable gardens in schools or feeding centres run by UNICEF in order to help combat child undernutrition and hunger. In addition, FAO will work in partnership with WFP to strengthen food security analysis at the national and regional levels and ensure that the humanitarian community can effectively and efficiently respond to future crises in West Africa.