In 2023, around 281 million people faced high levels of acute food insecurity in 59 countries/territories, up from 258 million people in 58 countries/territories in 2022. A staggering 36 million of these people were in the emergency phase, one step away from famine (IPC/CH phase 4) and over 705 000 people faced catastrophic or famine-like conditions (IPC/CH phase 5). These alarming numbers deserve an appropriately strong reaction.

In response to the rising levels of needs, FAO Director-General set an ambitious target for the Organization to reach at least 80 million people a year with emergency and resilience activities.

“We are pooling our collective efforts at the highest levels, including through the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Task Force on Preventing Famine… Yet, the agriculture sector is receiving less than 10 percent of the allocated humanitarian assistance, when more than two-thirds of the people affected by crises rely on agriculture… Let me be very clear in that context: Agriculture is very crucial and cannot wait for other priorities to be addressed first. Protecting rural livelihoods must be a fundamental element of the immediate emergency humanitarian response.”                                                         _{FAO Director General Qu Dongyu}

What FAO does

Between 60 and 80 percent of the acutely food insecure people live in rural areas and rely on agriculture as a primary source of survival. Smallholder farmers, herders and fishers – including in food crisis countries − not only produce food for themselves but also for their communities, and beyond. When local agrifood systems collapse and large portions of a population cannot access food, acute food insecurity and even famine can emerge rapidly.

FAO’s emergency agricultural assistance is a fundamental part of the humanitarian response to growing food crises, enabling the most vulnerable populations to secure their own food production and meet immediate food needs. Agriculture is a sure and safe way for these households to feed their families and earn a decent wage. With the appropriate resources, FAO can support these communities and secure their livelihoods.

In addition to food, agriculture (including crops, livestock, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture) provides livelihood and income. It can simultaneously address the immediate need to end hunger while building resilience of rural populations to better prevent, anticipate, absorb, adapt and transform in the face of risks and vulnerabilities, by ensuring that the most vulnerable people benefit from both emergencies and resilience interventions, according to their situation and needs.

As such, the agriculture sector is the ideal entry point for the Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) nexus; besides being the main source of livelihood for the majority of those experiencing acute food insecurity, if appropriate policies and risk-informed investments are made, the sector can be remarkably resilient in conflict and disaster contexts and can recover quickly.

The role of FAO in Geneva

With the rising humanitarian needs, it is crucial to advocate for more effective and sustainable investments in agriculture-based livelihoods as part of emergency responses to address acute hunger, save lives and support countries experiencing food crises return to a path of growth and prosperity. The International Geneva is a key hub for this advocacy, where intensified efforts can drive the necessary change.

The FAO Liaison Office in Geneva (LOG) works in close collaboration with FAO’s Office of Emergencies and Resilience (OER) to contribute to such efforts and make a difference through various initiatives and activities in the Geneva humanitarian response arena. With FAO’s leading role in building evidence around acute food insecurity, LOG informs members and partners in the International Geneva with the latest information.

In close collaboration with UNHCR, LOG participates in the global advocacy for increased Investment in sustainable, climate-smart agricultural livelihoods and agrifood systems as transformative opportunity for both refugees and the communities and countries.

LOG also supports different initiatives related to disaster risk management, including the Risk-informed Early Action Partnership (REAP) and the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative. The Liaison Office maintains and develops partnerships with key organizations in Geneva and closely communicates with diplomatic missions on food security and agrifood systems issues related to humanitarian crises.

Through its Liaison Office, FAO continuously strengthens its engagement in Geneva-based humanitarian policy fora, such as the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and the Grand Bargain processes. Moreover, FAO in Geneva also participates in briefings of Geneva based International Organizations’ governing bodies to advocate for increased investment in Agriculture and making emergency agriculture assistance part of the response to crises.

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