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INTRODUCTION
Food is the fundamental building block of life. It is a source of sustenance and well-being, providing the essential nutrients and energy required for individuals to grow, thrive, and achieve their potential. Recognizing its vital importance, the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirmed the right to food as an essential component of the right to an adequate standard of living. Food is more than a basic need; it is an inalienable human right that should be accessible to all, regardless of circumstance.
World Food Day, established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1979 and celebrated annually on October 16th, is a day to raise awareness of hunger and malnutrition around the world. This year’s theme, “The Right to Foods for a Better Life and a Better Future,” emphasizes the importance of ensuring equitable access to food as a cornerstone of human dignity and development. It aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which envisions a prosperous, food-secure continent. The Resolution on the Right to Food and Building Resilience in Nutrition across Africa, adopted by the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, further underscores the need to integrate nutrition into national policies to guarantee the right to food for all Africans, especially in vulnerable regions.
This article explores the multidimensional challenges to agricultural production and food systems in Africa and highlights the critical role that South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) plays in achieving the right to food for all.
MALNUTRITION AND HUNGER IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
Today, 2.8 billion people on the planet are unable to afford a healthy diet, a lack of which has given steady rise to all forms of malnutrition including micronutrient deficiencies, undernutrition, and obesity. Despite global progress, malnutrition remains a pervasive issue, with Sub-Saharan Africa facing significant challenges. In 2022, an estimated 269 million people in the region were undernourished, with approximately 20% of the population experiencing hunger. Stunting affected 23.8% of children under five in Sub-Saharan Africa, translating to approximately 55.6 million children. This prevalence is significantly higher compared to global averages.
The causes of hunger and malnutrition in Africa are complex and multifaceted. Climate change has severely impacted agricultural productivity, causing more frequent and intense droughts, floods, and other extreme weather events that disrupt food production and supply chains. Conflict and political instability in many countries exacerbate food insecurity by displacing populations and interrupting farming and trade. Additionally, economic shocks—such as fluctuations in global food prices, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and inflation—continue to weaken the purchasing power of vulnerable populations, further limiting their access to adequate and nutritious food.
Beyond these crises, structural challenges in Africa’s food systems contribute to persistent food insecurity. While smallholder farmers produce more than 70% of the continent’s food, they often lack access to essential resources such as high-quality seeds, modern farming equipment, and adequate infrastructure to store and transport their harvests. This not only affects agricultural productivity but also leads to substantial post-harvest losses. Furthermore, Africa’s food systems are often fragmented and lack the value chain integration required to make nutritious food available and affordable to all. Addressing these systemic issues requires a holistic approach that strengthens every component of the food system—from production and processing to distribution and consumption—while ensuring equitable access to resources and opportunities.
THE ROLE OF SOUTH-SOUTH AND TRIANGULAR COOPERATION IN SECURING THE RIGHT TO FOOD
South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) offers an innovative and collaborative platform for African countries to address food security challenges and advance the right to food. SSTC facilitates knowledge exchange, technology transfer, and capacity building between countries of the Global South, enabling them to share solutions that are adapted to local contexts. This cooperation is critical in addressing the unique challenges of food production, agricultural sustainability, and access to nutritious food across the continent.
The Regional Centre of Excellence against Hunger and Malnutrition (CERFAM) has been at the forefront of promoting SSTC to enhance food security in Africa. By fostering partnerships between countries, CERFAM facilitates the exchange of good practices and successful models for improving food systems. For example, China’s expertise in rice production has proven invaluable in West Africa.
Through partnerships between CERFAM, the WFP China Centre of Excellence, and governments in Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea, knowledge-sharing initiatives have led to improved rice value chains, from production to post-harvest management. These initiatives not only enhance agricultural productivity but also reduce post-harvest losses, increase food availability, and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
Similarly, the development of Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF) programs in Africa, supported by Brazil, highlights how SSTC can promote food security and nutrition. HGSF programs, which procure food locally for school meals, directly link smallholder farmers to secure markets while ensuring that children receive nutritious meals. This integrated approach addresses multiple dimensions of food security, including agricultural productivity, market access, and nutrition, demonstrating the power of SSC in fostering sustainable solutions.
CONCLUSION
Achieving food security and realizing the right to food in Africa requires a comprehensive approach that addresses the myriad challenges facing the continent’s food systems. From climate change and conflict to economic shocks and structural inefficiencies, the barriers to food security are complex and interrelated. However, through South-South and Triangular Cooperation, African countries can work together to overcome these challenges by sharing knowledge, technology, and innovative solutions tailored to local contexts.
As we celebrate World Food Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to advancing the right to food for all, as outlined in SDG 2 and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. By leveraging the transformative potential of SSTC, we can build resilient, inclusive and sustainable food systems that ensure every person in Africa has access to adequate and nutritious food, thereby securing a better life and a better future for all.
CALL TO ACTION
To achieve this vision, it is imperative that African countries and their global partners continue to deepen their collaboration through SSTC. By sharing solutions and resources, we can build food systems that are more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable, ensuring that the right to food becomes a reality for every African, today and for generations to come.
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ABOUT CERFAM
The Regional Centre of Excellence against hunger and malnutrition (CERFAM) is a centre specialised in knowledge management, technical assistance, and South-South Cooperation, created in 2019 by the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire with the support of the World Food Programme (WFP) to accelerate progress toward ending hunger and malnutrition on the continent.
Embedded within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, CERFAM identifies, documents, promotes and disseminates good practices and lessons learned while facilitating the provision of technical expertise and capacity building to support the implementation of good practices through South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC).
The Centre aims to bring together all initiatives in the field of nutrition, home-grown school feeding (HGSF), community resilience, and value chain optimization with a focus on post-harvest losses in a synergy of action with relevant stakeholders.