Mali Key Message Update: Insecurity continues to negatively impact household food security in conflict affected areas, November 2019

Key Messages

• The overall average harvest throughout the country favors average to above average food availability during the 2019-2020 food year except for some areas facing deficits due to inadequate rainfall in the western Sahel and insecurity in the north and center of the country.

• Household access to food is satisfactory due to the availability of domestic production, payments in-kind, below-average food prices, and an improvement in goat/millet terms of trade. Therefore, the majority of households are facing Minimal (IPC Phase 1) food security outcomes.

• The average to above average availability of pastures and water sources is favorable to good livestock conditions until the new season starts in June 2020. However, pasture deficits in the western Sahel and disruptions to movement in conflict affected areas are likely to negatively impact livestock feeding conditions and pastoral incomes in those areas.

• Poor households in conflict areas in the northern and central regions are experiencing decreased incomes and deterioration of livelihoods that limit their capacity to meet their food and non-food needs without resorting to atypical strategies such as migration and the reduction of food and non-food expenditures. Therefore, they are facing Stressed (IPC Phase 2) food security outcomes that will degrade to Crisis (IPC Phase 3) starting in April without humanitarian aid. The same is true for displaced populations, estimated at over 187,000 people.