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Foreword
Global hunger has risen for a fifth consecutive year, pushing us further from the goal of eradicating hunger by 2030. In 2023, 281.6 million people in 59 countries and territories faced high levels of acute food insecurity, an increase of nearly 24 million from the previous year, according to the 2024 Global Report on Food Crises. Over 705 000 people in Palestine, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Somalia and Mali were projected to be in Catastrophe (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification/Cadre Harmonisé Phase 5), double the number in 2022.
Conflict, economic shocks and climate extremes remained the primary drivers of food insecurity, with conflict being the most prevalent. It continued to disrupt the lives of millions, undermining their resilience and ability to cope. El Niño contributed to making 2023 the hottest year on record, by an alarmingly large margin, leading to more frequent climate shocks. Crops and rangelands were decimated, yields low and communities left vulnerable. Meanwhile, the lingering effects of COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine had a lasting impact on the global agrifood system, while the cost-of-living crisis further strained families’ purchasing power.
In 2023, the Government of Sweden, through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), contributed SEK 120 million (USD 13.08 million) to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Thanks to this support, FAO implemented 13 projects from 1 January 2023 to 30 April 2024 focused on scaling up life-saving agricultural assistance and implementing anticipatory actions to assist communities affected by food crises across 11 countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Haiti, Mali, Myanmar, the Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, the Syrian Arab Republic, Türkiye and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
FAO reached nearly 75 000 vulnerable households (465 000 people), including 30 000 (40 percent) headed by women, with a variety of context-specific, needs-based assistance. This included agricultural inputs, such as crop and vegetable seeds, tools, and fertilizers; cash assistance; training on good agricultural practices; as well as vital livestock and animal health support. This assistance enabled farmers on the frontlines of food crises to produce over 33 000 tonnes of food locally, feeding their families and communities and selling the surplus for income. Additionally, approximately USD 1.1 million in cash assistance helped families cover immediate food and basic needs, while engaging in their livelihood activities. Moreover, pastoral households received 2 430 tonnes of animal feed and nearly 322 000 livestock were vaccinated against common diseases, keeping the animals that families rely on for their livelihoods and nutrition healthy and productive. Anticipatory actions in areas at risk of drought also resulted in the renewal of 54 000 m3 of water and addition of 545 000 L of rainwater storage, restoring and enhancing communities’ access to water for livestock, agricultural and household use.
FAO delivered this critical assistance to at-risk communities thanks to our local partners. In the 11 countries where projects were implemented, FAO collaborated with over 45 implementing partners, including national non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations and government institutions. Their efforts ensured that support reached those most vulnerable and guaranteed accountability towards affected populations. FAO provided training to enhance their capacity and expertise in delivering quality assistance consistently, ensuring the sustainability of interventions.
Recognizing the crucial role of women as the bedrock of our communities, FAO prioritized their active participation and inclusion in projects. Consultations helped to identify their unique challenges and needs, and interventions were tailored to ensure these in project design and implementation contributing to their social and economic empowerment. Projects also prioritized households with displaced people, people living with disabilities, children under five years old, the elderly, and pregnant and lactating women acknowledging the additional challenges these groups face. FAO remains committed to ensuring that humanitarian assistance is inclusive, leaving no one behind.
Sida’s long-standing partnership has enabled FAO to reach the people who feed the world. Together we supported vulnerable communities to improve their food security, nutrition, self-reliance and ensured they could engage in the livelihood activities they depend on despite the challenges.
Thank you for continuing to join our efforts to defeat hunger and malnutrition.
Rein Paulsen
Director, Office of Emergencies and Resilience
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations