Nourishing Change (Through the Food Supply Chain) to Combat Hunger in West Africa

Written by Lakshay Sood

Hunger is a severe problem around the world and nowhere is this truer than in West Africa, one of the globe’s most impoverished regions. Figures from the Food & Agriculture Organization suggest that 66.4 percent of West Africans (FAO, 2023) struggle from moderate food insecurity with 15 percent facing malnutrition – the most extreme form of food insecurity. Many factors can be attributed to this lack of access to food such as extreme droughts induced by climate change, rapid population growth, land degradation and poor agriculture practices. However, the most important hurdle to providing West Africa with the food it needs concerns global supply chains, which favor advanced economies over low-income developing countries. Moreover, inequality exists between countries like Gabon and Mali, which further strains efforts to alleviate hunger. However, with a three-pronged policy approach involving governments, multinational corporations, and farmers, the supply chain can be shifted to feed West Africans which empowers them to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.

Aspect 1: Government Action 

Many believe that West African nations lie in a state of long-term food insecurity because of government inaction. However the real problem is that West African governments lack the resources and coordination expertise to effectively address the region’s food security crisis. These challenges can be attributed to limited budgets due to International Monetary Fund (IMF) structural adjustment conditions and low GDP, weak & corrupt institutions, and a lack of regional cooperation inhibit the ability to implement comprehensive food security policies. For example, in Niger, the government has established a national food security strategy, but struggled to reach remote areas during food crises because of limited infrastructure and resources caused by budget deficits which reached 6.3% of GDP in FY23 (Winkler, 2024). While this number seems small it prevents effective resource allocation. On the governmental level, creating joint economic policies through collaboration could alleviate some of the stress that countries face. 

For one, ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), an economic union of West African countries, can be used to establish a West African Food Security Alliance (WAFSA) to appropriate funding and recruit experts to coordinate regional food security. Such a solution has already been successfully implemented on the African continent in Southern Africa. The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Regional Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis program has successfully improved food security monitoring and coordinated response in Southern Africa. The SADC has standardized vulnerability assessment methods across member countries to more accurately identify at-risk populations (Ngoma, 2022). Pooling resources and expertise via WAFA will allow West African nations to enhance their abilities to address food insecurity. A coordinated approach more efficiently allocates shared resources, and the centralization improves crisis response. Ultimately food insecurity can be alleviated in West Africa. 

Aspect 2: Accountability of Multinational Corporations (MNCs) 

The role of multinational corporations (MNCs) is also crucial for progress towards alleviating food security in West Africa, given the design of global markets. The problem with MNCs is their prioritization of profit over local food security, leading to exploitative export-oriented production over the well-being of local communities and a dependence on imports. MNCs are able to escape accountability relatively unscathed because of a lack of incentives and regulations encouraging them to invest in local food systems and support smallholder farms. By focusing on global supply chains that favor developed economies, MNCs have left West African countries vulnerable to food shortages and

price fluctuations. An estimate from the World Food Program found that prices of major staple grains have increased across West Africa from “10 percent to more than 100 percent compared to the five-year average (Dasylva, 2024).” 

One way to mitigate the negative impacts that MNC actions have on West Africa’s food security is to invest in local agriculture, and food processing by forging partnerships with smallholder farmers. Investments benefit local communities as MNCs can help grow the food supply and allow them to improve their corporate social responsibility message. In Ghana, Nestlé, a Swiss MNC invested in a grains quality improvement project, showing promising results in helping local farmers increase production and improve the quality of their agricultural output (Ghana News Agency, 2018). As of 2018 they reached 110,000+ farmers, helping them increase crop yield and incomes which lead to a greater supply of high-quality grains for the local market. The role MNCs play by pursuing mutually beneficial partnerships with smallholder farmers demonstrates their impact in improving the food supply in West Africa (Nestle, 2018). 

Aspect 3: Empowering Farmers 

Farmers in West Africa must confront several challenges like limited access to physical capital, climate-induced droughts, and an unstable market. This is because a combined lack of agricultural infrastructure, climate change, and economic mismanagement has made farming harder and less desirable. Because of droughts in the Central Sahel area (Burkina Faso and Mali), “7.5 million people have become food insecure, up from 5.4 million” in 2023 (Winkler, 2024). In addition to MNC investments, NGOs can implement programs to empower smallholder farmers by providing access to improved seeds, fertilizers, irrigation systems, and climate-smart agricultural practices like regenerative agriculture. The WFP (World Food Program), an arm of UNICEF, initiated a resilience program which transformed 290,000 hectares of degraded land into arable fields. Production was bolstered, which improved food accessibility for four million people and gave farmers a liveable wage. Consequently it was key to “reducing vulnerabilities and building [community] resilience” (Madjiangar, 2024). Farmer empowerment through resources and training will improve resilience and productivity, and is key to establishing long-term food security in West Africa. 

In conclusion, while West Africa’s systemic hunger issue still remains a challenge, practical solutions exist when entities on a global, national, and local level come together. This collaborative approach must integrate government action, MNCs accountability, and farmer empowerment. While this approach offers a solid foundation, it is critical to concentrate on ensuring the sustainability of regional partnerships, enforcing corporate responsibility, and employing technology for agricultural

innovation. Additionally, these solutions must be adapted to meet the country-specific needs in West Africa which differ based on climate, cultural beliefs, political systems, and more. Adaptability is important for long-lasting solutions. Upholding the commitments of all stakeholders is important to create a more resilient food system to provide food for West African communities. 

References

Dasylva, M. (2024, April 12). Worsening hunger grips west and Central Africa amid persistent conflict and economic turmoil: World Food Programme. UN World Food Programme. https://www.wfp.org/news/worsening-hunger-grips-west-and-central-africa-amid-persistent-con flict-and-economic-turmoil

Food and Agriculture Organization. (n.d.). Section 1.2.  https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/dca947e8-08ca-47df-a686-48499811 a2e5/content/sofi-statistics-africa-2023/food-insecurity-experience-scale.html

Madjiangar, D. (2024, June 18). WFP kicks off major lean season response in West Africa amid dwindling funding for humanitarian operations: World Food Programme. UN World Food Programme. https://www.wfp.org/news/wfp-kicks-major-lean-season-response-west-africa-amid-dwindling-f unding-humanitarian

Nestlé and USAID partner for High Quality Maize in Ghana. Nestlé CWA. (2016, December 6). https://www.nestle-cwa.com/en/media/pressreleases/nestle-and-usaid

Ngoma, T. (2022, June 7). SADC Regional Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis Programme: Joint evaluation. UN World Food Programme. https://www.wfp.org/publications/sadc-regional-vulnerability-assessment-and-analysis-program me-joint-evaluation

Winkler, K. (2024, May 6). Food insecurity at an all-time high in west and Central Africa: Millions of people face hunger if no immediate action is taken, warns IRC. The IRC. https://www.rescue.org/press-release/food-insecurity-all-time-high-west-and-central-africa-milli ons-people-face-hunger-if