African food insecurity declines for first time in a decade; affordability is next challenge
For the first time in ten years, Africa has seen a decrease in food insecurity. In 2025, the proportion of the population experiencing hunger fell from 20.3% to 20%, and moderate to severe food insecurity dropped from 58.5% to 56.6%, representing 8.6 million fewer people. This marks a potential turning point after a decade of worsening conditions, demonstrating that existing food security architectures can function effectively. Several African nations, including Senegal, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Rwanda, and Mozambique, have achieved significant reductions in hunger over the past two decades through sustained public policies, even amidst global crises.
However, the focus must now shift from merely reducing hunger to ensuring access to nutritious food for everyone. While progress has been made in reducing the prevalence of hunger, the affordability of healthy diets, which include items like milk, eggs, fish, meat, fruits, and vegetables, remains a critical issue. Two out of three Africans cannot afford a healthy diet, a proportion that is increasing on the continent while decreasing elsewhere. The high cost of nutritious food is influenced by various factors along the supply chain, such as animal diseases, inadequate cold chains, poor road networks, high energy costs, and underdeveloped local markets.
To address this, African governments are encouraged to reallocate existing subsidies towards improving animal health, cold chains, rural infrastructure, energy access, and research into essential nutritious foods. While external aid remains vital, particularly in conflict-affected regions, strengthening national capacities, optimizing public spending, and building resilient supply chains are increasingly crucial. The success of these efforts will determine whether this recent improvement signals a new era of sustainable progress or proves to be a temporary respite.
This report highlights a significant, albeit modest, improvement in food security across Africa, marking the first decline in a decade. The data suggests that targeted national policies and investments in agricultural infrastructure, research, and market access have been instrumental in this progress, even as external funding becomes less reliable. The analysis correctly identifies the next critical challenge: transitioning from reducing hunger to ensuring the affordability of nutritious diets. This involves addressing systemic issues within food supply chains that inflate costs for essential food groups like animal products and fresh produce. Future policy interventions should focus on reallocating subsidies to address these specific cost drivers, rather than solely on increasing overall production. The long-term sustainability of these gains will depend on the capacity of national governments to implement coherent strategies that tackle both production and access, while acknowledging the continued need for external support in crisis zones.
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