Thumbnail Image

Agriculture and Food Insecurity Risk Management in Africa: Concepts, Lessons Learned and Review Guidelines

Year of publication 2016

Pages 92 p.

Author Mulat Demeke, Michele Kiermeier, Mariam Sow and Lavinia Antonaci

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Book (stand-alone)

ISBN 978-92-5-109359-X

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) Africa is one of the regions in the world most affected by food price volatilities and production variability. Spiking and volatile food prices have created uncertainty and risks for producers, traders and processors, resulting in increased food insecurity for consumers. At the root of the food price and production variability are hydro-meteorological disasters which comprise cyclones, floods, landslides, wild fires and dry spells. Droughts affect the largest number of people on the continent, f ollowed by floods and storms. Geological disasters, such as earthquakes and volcanoes, are relatively less frequent and impact fewer countries. A review of best practices and country experiences has demonstrated that there is no agricultural transformation without risk management. Mapping the various risks faced by farmers, value chain operators, and the households’ access to food is fundamental. Governments need to support appropriate risk-hedging instruments and engage in capacity development to increase the effectiveness of the different measures applied. It should, however, be noted that risk management strategies are context specific and vary from one region to another.

Language English

Also available in:
No results found.

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Thumbnail Image
    Document
    Towards a Policy that Pairs Microcredit and Micro-Insurance Tools. What Impacts on the Fight Against Poverty and Risk Management? Lessons Learned from Experiences in India and Madagascar. Policy Brief
    Thematic Overview. EASYPol Module 206
    2008
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    The main objectives of this policy brief are to present the experiences of two very different countries, India and Madagascar, in microfinance. This brief specifically deals with the linking of microcredit and micro-insurance policies as an effective strategy for risk management, as well as the various ways in which this can be implemented, according to the characteristics of the country, the risks involved and the needs of beneficiaries. By providing examples of a variety of different mechanism s that make this linking possible, this brief aims to conclude that for each situation it is possible to tailor a risk transfer and risk management strategy by building partnerships among NGOs, the public/private sectors, donors, government and microfinance institutions in line with the development objectives of the country.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet
    Strengthening resilience to food and nutrition insecurity in the Sahel and West Africa
    Good Practices Booklet
    2016
    Also available in:
    In the Sahel, around 65 percent of the active population works in the agriculture sector and their livelihoods are therefore affected by climate change, markets and environmental factors. More than half of these are women. Recurring crises pose real concerns for the achievement of sustainable food and nutrition security in the region. The root causes of vulnerability to food insecurity and malnutrition are complex and multidimensional. They are linked to a range of closely related factors, such as poverty, health, hygiene, access to basic social services, dietary behaviour, socio-cultural norms, weak production levels, access to markets and the inadequacy of some public policies, as well as to climate variations and other frequent shocks, which result in large numbers of people being plunged into an almost permanent state of fragility. To address these recurrent crises, analytical tools to assess the situation and identify vulnerable populations have been set in place in the region and refined in recent years (including first and foremost the Cadre Harmonisé). In addition, innovative practices have been developed, to support risk reduction, climate change adaptation, the fight against malnutrition and social protection (particularly through approaches based on social safety nets and cash transfers). Among other achievements, the Knowledge Share Fair organized by CILSS, IGAD, FAO and their partners in 2013, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, offered an opportunity for national and international actors to exchange experiences of these food related practices. This booklet presents eleven good practices that were developed during the Knowledge Share Fair, with the aim of promoting their dissemination and replication at regional and international level.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Document
    Disaster Risk Management Strategy in West Africa and the Sahel | FAO (2011-2013) 2011
    Also available in:
    Every year, countries of the West Africa and Sahel subregion are adversely affected by natural disasters, such as droughts and floods, as well as transboundary animal diseases, economic crises and civil conflicts. These events result in losses of life, assets and livelihoods, consequently weakening the food and nutrition security of the populations. Given the increasing frequency and complexity of such crises, a holistic approach is needed. Such an approach would integrate actions intend ed to strengthen crisis preparedness and to prevent and to mitigate risks through effective and rapid response and interventions that facilitate the transition towards conditions of stability and development. In line with this need, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has elaborated a new Strategic Framework (2010-2019). The goals set in the FAO’s Strategic Framework 2010-2019 are to improve preparedness for and response to food and agricultural threats and emergencies through timely action before, during and after a crisis. The Strategic Framework provides the basis for FAO’s Disaster Risk Management Strategy in West Africa and the Sahel (2011-2013). This subregional strategy provides an integrated approach to planning disaster risk management and disaster risk reduction activities for the relevant FAO country offices, while at the same time laying the foundation for the development of national Plans of Action. The strategy will be impleme nted in coordination with other relevant actors, such as regional and subregional institutions, the governments involved, United Nations agencies and other non-governmental organizations.
Show more

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

No results found.