The World Bank has significantly increased its efforts to combat food insecurity, particularly in Africa, where millions are affected by rising hunger levels.
In a recent update, the Bank announced it has made $45 billion available for food security initiatives, surpassing its initial commitment of $30 billion. This funding includes both new lending and reallocations from existing portfolios, supporting a broad range of interventions in 90 countries.
A major focus of the World Bank’s efforts is on both immediate relief and long-term resilience. This includes expanding social protection programs, enhancing agricultural productivity, and promoting climate-smart agricultural practices. Special attention is given to women, who represent 53% of the beneficiaries and are disproportionately affected by food insecurity.
One notable initiative is the $2.75 billion Food Systems Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa. Now in its third phase, this program aims to strengthen food systems against crises, improve agricultural production, sustainably manage natural resources, and integrate market access.
Also, in West Africa, the $766 million West Africa Food Systems Resilience Program seeks to bolster preparedness against food insecurity through digital advisory services and regional market integration.
In the Sahel region, the $175 million Sahel Irrigation Initiative Regional Support Project is working to enhance the productivity and resilience of agricultural and pastoral systems across Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Senegal.
These comprehensive efforts underscore the World Bank’s commitment to addressing both the immediate and structural causes of food insecurity, aiming to benefit approximately 335 million people globally.
