The United States, through USAID, announced today that it is providing an additional $40 million to address ongoing food insecurity and strengthen food systems across Africa. The new funding will be directed towards several countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia.
“This investment will support smallholder farmers by increasing crop yields and improving water use efficiency,” USAID stated. The funding aims to reduce the risks of future harvest failures, particularly in the Zambezi River Basin, where extreme weather has impacted agriculture.
Although food prices have decreased from the record highs of 2022, food insecurity remains a significant issue due to ongoing global challenges, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the effects of El Niño. USAID emphasized that the funds would help to “mitigate the impacts of food system shocks and build resilience for the future.”
Through the Feed the Future initiative, which is part of a broader U.S. strategy to enhance food security, USAID has seen significant progress in reducing hunger and poverty in supported areas by up to 25 percent over the past decade. The agency underscored the importance of long-term investments, noting, “Hunger cannot be solved by emergency aid alone.”
This funding is also aligned with the U.S.-African Union Joint Strategic Partnership on Food Security, focusing on promoting an African-led approach to boosting agricultural productivity and leveraging private sector partnerships.
