Western and Central Africa
Western and Central Africa continue to face protracted insecurity and political instability, with conflicts in Central Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Mali, the Niger and Nigeria), and persistent armed violence in Central African countries such as in the Central African Republic. The impacts of such challenges are compounded by climate extremes, disease outbreaks and economic crises, including due to the socioeconomic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Extreme poverty in the region has increased and the combined effects of these factors have led to a deterioration of food insecurity and malnutrition, especially in conflict-affected areas. This includes the Democratic Republic of the Congo – still the world’s largest food crisis.
News
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News
FAO and WFP early warning report reveals worsening hunger in 13 hotspots; five with immediate risk of starvation
16/06/2025
Sudan, Palestine, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali remain hotspots of highest concern, and Democratic Republic of the Congo has returned as a hunger hotspot...
News
Acute food insecurity and malnutrition rise for sixth consecutive year in world’s most fragile regions – new report
16/05/2025
In 2024, over 295 million people across 53 countries and territories faced acute hunger—an increase of almost 14 million people compared to 2023, while...
News
Desert locust movements in Northwest Africa raise concern amid spring breeding season
29/04/2025
FAO calls to enhance monitoring and initiate early control measures in affected countries
Publications
Publications
Mali: Emergency and Resilience Plan, 2025-2028 (In French)
03/2025
FAO's Emergency and Resilience Plan 2025-2028 is designed to support vulnerable communities towards sustainable resilience through interventions tailored...
Publications
Niger: Humanitarian Response Plan 2025
03/2025
The Niger continues to face a complex humanitarian crisis, mainly due to civil insecurity, severe flooding and spillover effects from the conflicts...
Publications
Mali: Project Highlights - OSRO/MLI/073/FRA (In French)
03/2025
France funded EUR 500 000 for FAO's project entitled “Addressing the emergency food and nutrition crisis for displaced populations and host communities...
Multimedia
Photo Collection
Sierra Leone: Building resilient communities through climate-smart and market-driven production for improved
22/01/2025
View this gallery on Flickr
Photo Collection
Cameroon: Improving food security by supporting the productivity of smallholder farmers
19/05/2025
View this gallery on Flickr.
Photo Collection
Nigeria: DIEM-Monitoring Agricultural inputs survey, round 1
08/07/2024
View this gallery on Flickr.
Enhancing displaced women and children’s nutrition with Tom Brown in Nigeria
05/12/2023
In northeastern Nigeria, FAO is providing vulnerable pregnant and breastfeeding women and children affected by acute malnutrition with local supplementary food, known as Tom Brown, to support their recovery and prevent child wasting.
Bringing life back: Kaushan’s family from Ukraine restores their livelihood with the support of FAO
05/11/2023
Natalia and Serhii Kaushan from Mykolaivska oblast, Ukraine, used to be farmers with 500 ha of land. Due to the beginning of full-scale war and active hostilities, they were forced to flee their home in March 2022.
Seeds of hope: Mariana Shvaiko resumes her family business with the support of FAO
05/12/2023
Mariana Shvaiko runs her family farm in Dovzhyk village, Kharkivska oblast. She grows barley, wheat, peas, corn, and sunflower.
How can we reduce disaster risks and impacts in agrifood systems?
01/12/2023
Experts from various fields share their knowledge and insights on the road to the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28).
Lokuru’s story: when lives depend on livestock
29/11/2023
In South Sudan’s southeastern town of Kapoeta, livestock is livelihood for pastoralists like Lokuru.
The fight against drought in southern Ethiopia
30/10/2023
The three-year drought affecting southern Ethiopia’s Borana zone has wrought disastrous consequences. The death of millions of livestock has brought to this mainly pastoralist population high levels of acute food insecurity, malnutrition and a very uncertain future.
Anticipatory Action in Timor-Leste: Bracing for Drought
28/11/2023
As Timor-Leste shows signs of drought linked to El Niño, fears of food shortages are growing.
Betty’s story: Investing in agricultural livelihoods to support refugee and host communities
02/10/2023
Betty left South Sudan to find a place of refuge. She eventually settled in Kiryandongo, northern Uganda. A country with an inclusive refugee policy, Uganda is home to large refugee populations who are significantly vulnerable, food insecure and malnourished.
Miriam’s story: Investing in agricultural livelihoods to support refugee and host communities
18/10/2023
Miriam left South Sudan to find a place of refuge. She eventually settled in Kiryandongo, northern Uganda.
Christine’s story: Investing in agricultural livelihoods to support refugee and host communities
01/11/2023
Uganda, a country with an inclusive refugee policy, is home to large refugee populations who are significantly vulnerable, food insecure and malnourished. Most are dependent on food assistance for survival.
Mary’s story: Investing in agricultural livelihoods to support refugee and host communities
02/10/2023
Mary left South Sudan to find a place of refuge. She eventually settled in the Kalobeyei refugee settlement, Kenya. Kenya is home to large refugee populations who are significantly vulnerable, food insecure and malnourished.
FAO Digital Services Portfolio against climate change in the United Republic of Tanzania
16/11/2023
In this video, we dive into the concrete uses of FAO Digital Services Portfolio in the United Republic of Tanzania (Ugani Kiganjani) to address the challenges of climate change, illustrating the targeted impact and results of Digital in the field.
Tackling water challenges: An integrated approach to support farmers in Southern Bangladesh
16/10/2023
The Smallholder Agricultural Competitiveness Project (SACP), funded by the Government of Bangladesh and IFAD, seeks to enhance farmer incomes and resilience in the vulnerable coastal regions of Bangladesh, which face numerous water and climate challenges.
The Impact of Disasters and Climate Change on Agriculture and Food Security 2023
24/10/2023
Around the world, disasters are causing unprecedented levels of damage and loss in agriculture.
Women lead dairy production in Deir Ez-Zor
16/09/2023
A group of outstanding women have established a small dairy production unit to sell quality ghee, cheese and butter across Deir Ez-Zor, and broader.
Distribution of animal feed to rural household to keep their livestock alive during winter
30/08/2023
To reduce the pressure of the ongoing humanitarian crisis on vulnerable rural communities, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) continues to provide life-saving emergency support to vulnerable and food-insecure rural households across Afghanistan.
Distribution of concentrated animal feed and unconditional cash
30/08/2023
The generous funding of European Union Humanitarian Aid enabled FAO to safeguard the food and nutrition security of 12 000 vulnerable households (84 000 people) in four food-insecure La Niña impacted provinces (Badakhshan, Badghis, Faryab, Nuristan) through unconditional cash transfer and emergency livestock protection packages
Safeguarding Food and Nutrition Security During Disaster
18/09/2023
In Sool and Sanaag regions, seasonal rains have been erratic for three years, affecting crop and fodder production.
Promoting lasting resolutions to land conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
21/09/2023
The Democratic Republic of Congo is the largest country in Sub-Saharan Africa. But accessing arable land is a persistent challenge for many farmers.
Dimitra Clubs and Farmer Field Schools face off against COVID-19
09/03/2023
Leveraging the power of community groups.