Africa's Hunger Crisis, Latin America's Progress

Global Hunger Shows Signs of Decline, But Challenges Persist

Recent data indicates a slight decrease in global hunger, offering a glimmer of hope in the ongoing fight against food insecurity. However, the progress is unevenly distributed, with some regions experiencing setbacks and persistent challenges continuing to threaten vulnerable populations.

The latest "State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World" report reveals that in 2024, approximately 673 million people worldwide are facing hunger. This represents a reduction of 22 million compared to 2022, signaling a positive trend. Notably, Asia and South America have demonstrated progress in reducing hunger rates.

Regional Disparities Undermine Overall Progress

Despite the encouraging global figures, the report highlights growing hunger in Africa and Western Asia. This divergence underscores the complex and multifaceted nature of food insecurity, where regional factors and specific challenges play a crucial role.

Furthermore, persistent food price inflation, particularly in low-income countries, is undermining the progress made. Rising food prices disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, making it difficult for them to access healthy and nutritious diets.

The Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Region: A Mixed Bag

The Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region presents a mixed picture. While the region has successfully reduced hunger and food insecurity for the past four consecutive years, significant disparities persist. Hunger in LAC fell to 5.1% of the population in 2024, down from 6.1% in 2020. This positive trend brings hunger levels below pre-pandemic figures, a significant achievement considering the disruptions caused by COVID-19.

Moreover, LAC has experienced the greatest reduction in the prevalence of food insecurity globally in recent years. However, these gains are overshadowed by the fact that one in four people in the region still suffers from food insecurity.

• Uneven Distribution: In 2024, hunger affected approximately 34 million people in LAC, representing 5.1% of the population.
• Rural vs. Urban: Food insecurity remains consistently higher in rural areas (28%) than in urban areas (23%), highlighting the challenges faced by agricultural communities.
• Gender Gap: LAC exhibits the largest gender gap in food insecurity, with women experiencing a 5.3 percentage point higher prevalence than men.

The Paradox of Food Insecurity in Rural Areas

A concerning paradox exists in rural areas, where food is produced yet food insecurity remains prevalent. This underscores the need to address systemic issues that prevent rural populations from accessing the food they grow.

Challenges Faced by Specific Countries in LAC

The situation varies significantly across countries within the LAC region:

• Dominican Republic: While hunger has been reduced significantly, a "double burden of malnutrition" exists, with undernutrition coexisting with high rates of overweight and obesity (over 63% of the adult population). Challenges include inadequate irrigation systems and declining groundwater levels.

• Cuba: Historically, Cuba maintained low levels of undernourishment. However, recent years have seen a drastic reduction in staple food production and decreased resources for food imports, impacting families' access to state rations. The country remains heavily dependent on imports, sourcing 60-70% of its food requirements.

• Guatemala: Guatemala faces a severe food security and nutrition crisis. One in two people are food insecure, and chronic child malnutrition (stunting) affects 44.6% of children under five – the highest rate in the region and among the highest globally, particularly affecting indigenous peoples and rural populations. This has significant and long-lasting consequences on brain development, school performance, and future earning potential.

Climate Change: An Exacerbating Factor

Climate change poses an increasing threat to food security in the LAC region, disrupting food systems, agricultural productivity, and supply chains. The region is the second most exposed in the world to climate change. Extreme weather events and climate variability reduce agricultural productivity, damage crops, and disrupt supply chains, leading to rising food prices and reduced access to healthy diets.

The Need for Investment and Targeted Interventions

Addressing food insecurity requires a multi-pronged approach that includes:

• Investing in Climate Change Adaptation: Supporting small-scale farmers and vulnerable households to adapt to the impacts of climate change is essential.
• Improving Agricultural Productivity: Addressing low agricultural productivity, limited access to financial services, low technology adoption, and the aging of rural populations are crucial.
• Targeting Vulnerable Populations: Redoubling efforts to invest in populations being left behind, such as rural areas and women, is critical.

IFAD's Role in Addressing Food Insecurity

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) plays a crucial role in supporting rural populations and promoting food security. IFAD's projects in LAC focus on:

• Promoting food and agricultural production
• Tackling climate change
• Prioritizing rural populations, small-scale producers, women, and indigenous communities

These projects aim to promote food and agricultural production, and tackle climate change with a special focus on rural populations, small-scale producers, women, and indigenous communities who are still the furthest left behind in the journey towards zero hunger.