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
Burkina Faso: Humanitarian Response Plan 2025
02/2025
In Burkina Faso, persistent insecurity, climate change and economic constraints are directly affecting the livelihoods and living conditions of millions...
Publications
Mali: Humanitarian Response Plan 2025
02/2025
In Mali, persistent insecurity and recurring floods deprive populations of their agricultural livelihoods.
Publications
Cameroon: Humanitarian Response Plan 2025
02/2025
In Cameroon, the protracted sociopolitical crisis in the North-West and South-West, Boko Haram attacks in the east, severe flooding in the Far North,...
Multimedia
Photo Collection
Sierra Leone: Building resilient communities through climate-smart and market-driven production for improved
22/01/2025
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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.
Embracing Technology to Promote Peace in Somalia
17/05/2023
A short yet perilous seven-kilometre road connects the towns of Buufow and Shalanbood in southern Somalia.
Restoring land and livelihoods with beekeeping in Tanzania
19/05/2023
In northern Tanzania, recurring drought in recent years caused by climate change has put pressure on communities who make their livelihoods by keeping cattle.
COVID Response in Bangladesh – A One Health Approach
09/05/2023
In response to COVID-19 in Bangladesh, the United Nations initiated an intervention, under the leadership of the Directorate General of Health Services, to improve community-level case detection and risk mitigation.
Interview with Rein Paulsen, Director of FAO's Office of Emergencies and Resilience
17/04/2023
The COVID-19 pandemic, the climate crisis, environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and conflicts have created significant food security challenges worldwide in the past years.
The status of women in agrifood systems
13/04/2023
Tackling gender inequalities in agrifood systems and empowering women reduces hunger, boosts the economy, and reinforces resilience to shocks like climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, reveals a new report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Tackling AMR in Bangladesh – a One Health approach
03/07/2019
Farmers need more help to feed the world in a safe and sustainable way.
Equipping communities in Somaliland with diversified livelihoods to fight food insecurity
01/03/2023
Thanks to funding from the Government of the Netherlands, FAO is carrying out a four-year Food and Nutrition Security Resilience Programme to strengthen food security, nutrition, livelihoods and resilience in conflict affected regions in the Horn of Africa.
Achieving better production in Asia-Pacific by using data to improve water productivity (sq) FR
13/03/2023
In the Asia-Pacific region, FAO is working with its Member Nations to help them advance to the 2030 Agenda by achieving the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, better environment and a better life – leaving no one behind.
FAO Turkey: Promoting Resilience through Improved Livelihoods Project
22/02/2022
Within the framework of the project financed by the European Union and implemented in partnership with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MoAF), and the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MoLSS), it is aimed to build the resilience of the Syrians under Temporary Protection and Host Communities in Turkey.
Helping rural communities in Syria to sustain and recover food production after the earthquake
16/03/2023
In the aftermath of the earthquake that hit Syria and Türkiye in February 2023, FAO will help rural communities to sustain & recover food production.
Women Empowerment: Paving the Way for Sustainable Natural Resource Management in Nepal
27/03/2023
FAO's gender policy recognizes that addressing gender inequalities and promoting women's empowerment is a significant element of its intervention.
Livestock Farmer Field School teaches good practices to reduce antimicrobial resistance
06/07/2021
Antimicrobial drugs are key in the treatment of diseases, and their use is essential to protect both human and animal health.
Addressing food crises through social protection
01/02/2023
In increasingly complex development and humanitarian contexts, hunger has reached critical levels.
Leveraging social protection's role in climate adaptation in rural areas
23/02/2023
Small-scale producers contribute the least to climate change, but are the most at risk of welfare losses due to increasing global temperatures and extreme weather events.
Providing cash transfers to support displaced people during crises in Burkina Faso
14/02/2023
Aïcha was forced to flee her home in search of safety. Thanks to FAO’s cash transfer assistance, she has acquired two oxen, a ram and an ewe, and is able to provide for her family.
Supporting breeders affected by COVID-19 in Burkina Faso through cash assistance
14/02/2023
The COVID-19 pandemic had a particularly negative impact on Burkina Faso’s livestock industry, threatening the livelihoods of many livestock breeders.
FAO’s Anticipatory Actions – protecting households’ livelihoods from floods in the Niger
13/02/2023
Anticipatory actions can save lives, safeguard livelihoods and strengthen the resilience of vulnerable communities.
Strengthening food Security and nutrition in Kyrgyzstan
06/04/2021
The FAO project “Strengthening food security and nutrition in the Caucasus and Central Asia”, funded by the Russian Federation, has proven to be an innovative initiative that is concretely contributing to the eradication of rural poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition of the most vulnerable communities in the region.
FAO Impact - Colombia
17/08/2021
Among the millions of Venezuelans who have migrated to Colombia, many have settled in La Guajira, an arid region already struggling with food insecurity and malnutrition.
FAO Angola–The FFS Chitaka Model, a fast and smart model for sustainable food system transformation
11/01/2023
The Chitaka Model is an innovative Farmer Field Schools (FFS) tool, that implements smart agriculture with a socio-productive inclusive approach.