Global Food and Nutrition Security Dashboard 2024: Best List

Global Food and Nutrition Security Dashboard 2024: Best List

Most Recent Update – July 1, 2024.

Global Food and Nutrition Security Dashboard 2024: Best List: Food price inflation continues to be elevated in numerous low- and middle-income nations. Currently, 59.1% of low-income countries are experiencing inflation rates above 5% (unchanged since the last update on May 30, 2024), along with 63% of lower-middle-income countries (also unchanged), 36% of upper-middle-income countries (an increase of 5.0 percentage points), and 10.9% of high-income countries (a decrease of 3.6 percentage points). In real terms, food price inflation has surpassed overall inflation in 46.7% of the 167 countries for which data is available. Global Food and Nutrition Security Dashboard 2024: Best List

Access the most recent report on increasing food insecurity and the World Bank’s initiatives.

Following the latest update on May 30, 2024, the indices for agricultural, cereal, and export prices have decreased by 8%, 10%, and 9%, respectively. This decline in the export price index was primarily influenced by significant drops in cocoa (16%) and cotton (11%) prices. Additionally, maize and wheat prices fell by 8% and 23%, respectively, while rice prices remained unchanged. Year-on-year comparisons show maize prices are down by 28%, wheat prices have increased by 8%, and rice prices are up by 18%. Compared to January 2020, maize prices are 10% higher, wheat prices are 5% lower, and rice prices have surged by 46%. (Refer to the “pink sheet” for updated monthly indices on agricultural and food commodity prices.)

The recent Hunger Hotspots report, which spans from June to October 2024, has been released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP). This report highlights a growing food insecurity crisis in 18 significant hotspots, which include 17 countries or territories along with one regional cluster. The situations in Mali, the Palestinian Territories, South Sudan, and Sudan are particularly alarming, while Haiti has been newly identified as a concern due to increasing violence from non-state armed groups. Global Food and Nutrition Security Dashboard 2024: Best List

Global Food and Nutrition Security Dashboard 2024: Best List

These regions are facing famine or are in significant danger, necessitating immediate measures to avert disastrous outcomes. The report highlights the urgent requirement for enhanced humanitarian aid across all 18 hotspots to safeguard livelihoods and improve food accessibility. Timely intervention is essential to close food gaps and avert a deeper descent into famine. The global community is called upon to invest in comprehensive solutions that tackle the complex factors contributing to food insecurity, ensuring lasting support that extends beyond emergency measures to foster resilience and stability in the impacted areas.

Global Food and Nutrition Security Dashboard 2024: Best List: A recent report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) highlights the ongoing catastrophic food insecurity in Gaza. The risk of famine remains high throughout the Gaza Strip as long as the conflict persists and humanitarian access is limited. According to the report, 96% of the population, or approximately 2.15 million individuals, are facing acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or higher), with 495,000 people experiencing catastrophic food insecurity (IPC Phase 5) projected through September 2024.

This alarming situation underscores the critical need to ensure that food and essential supplies reach all residents of Gaza. The report emphasizes that only a halt to hostilities, combined with consistent humanitarian access across the Gaza Strip, can mitigate the risk of famine in the region. Global Food and Nutrition Security Dashboard 2024: Best List

The AMIS Market Monitor for June 2024 The initial forecasts for global cereal production, published in May, reveal considerable uncertainty due to the pending planting of various crops in the Northern Hemisphere. The report examines the reliability of early estimates for wheat production in 2024/25, which are now under threat from unfavorable weather conditions, including drought and extended frost in crucial Russian areas that influence yield predictions. As a result, world wheat export prices increased in May, fueled by rising concerns over production limitations, especially in the Black Sea region. Given the essential nature of wheat as a staple food with few alternatives, importing countries are vigilantly observing these developments for their potential effects on food security.

Global Food and Nutrition Security Dashboard 2024: Best List: In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, there has been a significant increase in trade-related policies enacted by various nations. This has contributed to the worsening global food crisis, as many countries have imposed restrictions on food and fertilizer exports in an effort to boost domestic supply and lower prices. As of June 26, 2024, a total of 16 countries have enacted 22 bans on food exports, while 8 nations have introduced 15 measures to limit exports.

Initiatives by the World Bank

Global Food and Nutrition Security Dashboard 2024: Best List: Our food and nutrition security initiatives now extend to 90 countries. This portfolio encompasses both immediate measures, like enhancing social protection, and long-term strategies aimed at increasing productivity and promoting climate-smart agriculture. The Bank’s efforts are projected to positively impact 296 million individuals. Examples of these initiatives include:

• The Rural Competitiveness Project series (COMRURAL II and III) in Honduras is designed to foster entrepreneurship and job creation while advancing a climate-aware and nutrition-focused approach within agri-food value chains. So far, the initiative has positively impacted approximately 6,287 rural small-scale producers, including 33% women, 15% youth, and 11% indigenous individuals, who are involved in the production of coffee, vegetables, dairy, honey, and other goods. This has been achieved through improved market access and the implementation of enhanced agricultural technologies, resulting in the creation of 6,678 new jobs. Global Food and Nutrition Security Dashboard 2024: Best List
• The Corredor Seco Food Security Project (PROSASUR) in Honduras aims to improve food security for disadvantaged and at-risk rural families residing in the Dry Corridor. This initiative has assisted 12,202 highly vulnerable households by implementing nutrition-focused agricultural subprojects, food security strategies, community nutrition initiatives, and education on nutrition and hygiene. Among the families served, 70% of children under five years old and their mothers have achieved a dietary diversity score of at least 4, indicating they consume a minimum of four different food groups.
• The $2.75 billion Food Systems Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa aims to strengthen the resilience of food systems in the region and address the escalating issue of food insecurity. Currently in its third phase, the program will improve inter-agency responses to food crises while also promoting medium- and long-term strategies for sustainable agricultural production, responsible natural resource management, increased market access, and a heightened emphasis on food systems resilience within policy development. Global Food and Nutrition Security Dashboard 2024: Best List
• The Malawi Agriculture Commercialization Project (AGCOM) has received a $95 million credit from IDA aimed at enhancing the commercialization of specific agricultural value chain products and ensuring a prompt and effective response to any eligible crisis or emergency. Global Food and Nutrition Security Dashboard 2024: Best List
• The $200 million IDA grant allocated to Madagascar aims to enhance decentralized service delivery, improve water supply systems, restore and safeguard landscapes, and bolster the resilience of food and livelihood systems in the drought-affected ‘Grand Sud’ region. Global Food and Nutrition Security Dashboard 2024: Best List
• A $60 million loan has been allocated for the Integrated Community Development Project, which aims to enhance food and nutrition security, develop socio-economic infrastructure, and promote micro-enterprise growth in collaboration with refugees and host communities across four northern provinces of Burundi, utilizing a participatory approach.
• The Sahel Irrigation Initiative Regional Support Project, with a budget of $175 million, is enhancing resilience and increasing the productivity of agricultural and pastoral activities across Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Senegal. Over 130,000 farmers and pastoral community members are reaping the benefits of various small and medium-sized irrigation projects. This initiative is also developing a portfolio of viable irrigation investment projects covering approximately 68,000 hectares, with a focus on medium and large-scale irrigation in the Sahel region.
• The $50 million Emergency Food Security Response initiative has provided 329,000 smallholder farmers in the Central African Republic with seeds, agricultural tools, and training in farming and post-harvest practices, enhancing their crop yields and improving their resilience to climate and conflict challenges. Global Food and Nutrition Security Dashboard 2024: Best List
• The $15 million Guinea Bissau Emergency Food Security Project aims to enhance agricultural production and improve food access for at-risk families. More than 72,000 farmers have benefited from drought-resistant, high-yield seeds, fertilizers, agricultural tools, and livestock vaccines as part of a nationwide vaccination initiative. Furthermore, 8,000 vulnerable households have been provided with cash transfers to help them buy food and address food insecurity. Global Food and Nutrition Security Dashboard 2024: Best List
• The $60 million Accelerating the Impact of CGIAR Research for Africa (AICCRA) initiative has successfully engaged nearly 3 million farmers across Africa, with 39% being women, by providing essential climate-smart agricultural tools and information services in collaboration with the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers (CGIAR). These resources are enabling farmers to enhance their productivity and strengthen their resilience against the challenges posed by climate change. In Mali, research indicated that farmers who implemented the recommendations from the AICCRA-supported RiceAdvice experienced an average yield increase of 0.9 tons per hectare and an additional income of $320 per hectare. Global Food and Nutrition Security Dashboard 2024: Best List
• The West Africa Food Systems Resilience Program, with a budget of $766 million, aims to enhance readiness for food insecurity and strengthen the resilience of food systems across West Africa. This initiative is expanding digital advisory services focused on agriculture and the prevention and management of food crises, enhancing the adaptive capacity of agricultural stakeholders, and investing in the integration and trade of regional food markets to bolster food security. Furthermore, an additional $345 million is being prepared for investment in Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
• A $150 million funding allocation has been approved for the second phase of the Yemen Food Security Response and Resilience Project, aimed at tackling food insecurity, enhancing resilience, and safeguarding livelihoods.
• A $50 million grant has been allocated to Tajikistan to address food and nutrition insecurity challenges faced by households and to strengthen the resilience of the agricultural sector as a whole.
• A $125 million initiative in Jordan is designed to bolster the agricultural sector by improving its climate resilience, enhancing competitiveness and inclusivity, and securing food stability in the medium to long term.
• A $300 million initiative in Bolivia aimed at enhancing food security, improving market access, and promoting the adoption of climate-smart agricultural techniques. Global Food and Nutrition Security Dashboard 2024: Best List
• A loan of $315 million has been allocated to assist Chad, Ghana, and Sierra Leone in enhancing their readiness to combat food insecurity and strengthening the resilience of their food systems.
• A $500 million initiative aimed at enhancing food security and resilience in Egypt is designed to ensure that low-income and vulnerable families maintain consistent access to bread. This project will also fortify the nation’s ability to withstand food crises and promote reforms that aim to improve nutritional health outcomes.
• A loan of $130 million has been allocated to Tunisia to mitigate the effects of the Ukraine conflict. This funding will facilitate essential soft wheat imports and offer emergency assistance for barley imports necessary for dairy production, as well as provide seeds to smallholder farmers in preparation for the upcoming planting season. Global Food and Nutrition Security Dashboard 2024: Best List

In May 2022, the World Bank Group, in collaboration with the G7 Presidency, established the Global Alliance for Food Security. This initiative seeks to initiate a prompt and unified response to the escalating global hunger crisis. As part of its efforts, the Alliance has created the Global Food and Nutrition Security Dashboard, a publicly available resource that offers timely data to assist both global and local decision-makers in enhancing the coordination of policy and financial strategies addressing the food crisis. Global Food and Nutrition Security Dashboard 2024: Best List

On February 8, 2023, the leaders of the FAO, IMF, World Bank Group, WFP, and WTO issued a Third Joint Statement. This statement emphasizes the need to avert a deterioration of the food and nutrition security crisis, highlighting the necessity for immediate actions to (i) address hunger hotspots, (ii) promote trade, optimize market operations, and strengthen the private sector’s involvement, and (iii) reform and redirect detrimental subsidies with precision and efficiency. Nations are encouraged to strike a balance between immediate urgent measures and long-term resilience strategies in their response to the crisis.Global Food and Nutrition Security Dashboard 2024: Best List