UN Warns Africa’s Hunger Crisis Worsening as Global Hunger Declines

Nairobi, Kenya – August 1, 2025

The United Nations has issued a sobering warning that Africa is on track to bear nearly 60% of the world’s hunger burden by 2030, even as global hunger rates show signs of modest improvement. The stark projection, released this week in a joint report by UN food agencies, paints a grim picture of worsening food insecurity on the continent amid persistent conflict, economic shocks, and climate extremes.

According to the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2025 report, 307 million people in Africa were undernourished in 2024—an increase of over 18 million compared to the previous year. This means nearly 1 in 5 Africans currently lacks access to sufficient, nutritious food.

“While global hunger numbers have slightly declined, Africa is moving in the opposite direction. Without urgent and sustained intervention, the continent could soon account for the majority of the world’s hungry,” said Cindy Holleman, senior economist at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Drivers of the Crisis: Conflict, Climate, and Cost-of-Living

The report attributes the deepening crisis to a convergence of factors:

• Armed conflicts in the Sahel, Horn of Africa, and Great Lakes regions continue to displace millions and disrupt food production.

• Climate shocks, including erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, and floods, have decimated crops and livelihoods.

• Inflation and currency depreciation in key economies have made staple foods unaffordable for millions.

In countries like Sudan, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, humanitarian agencies say famine-like conditions are emerging. In Ethiopia, nearly 20 million people are in need of food assistance due to conflict and failed harvests.

Meanwhile, despite a decline in global hunger—from 735 million in 2023 to 712 million in 2024—Africa’s figures continue to climb, highlighting a disproportionate burden that threatens to reverse decades of development gains.

Malnutrition and Youth Vulnerability

The report also notes alarming trends in child nutrition. Over 60 million African children under five are stunted due to chronic malnutrition. Many suffer from micronutrient deficiencies that impair growth, learning, and immunity.

“Hunger in Africa is not just a crisis of food quantity but also of food quality,” said Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). “We are seeing rising obesity and diabetes alongside malnutrition, especially in urban slums.”

UN Calls for Policy Reform and Investment

The UN agencies are calling on African governments, donors, and development partners to ramp up investment in climate-resilient agriculture, conflict resolution, and social protection programs to safeguard vulnerable populations.

Key recommendations include:

• Scaling up cash transfers and food assistance for conflict-affected areas

• Investing in irrigation and post-harvest storage to reduce food loss

• Supporting smallholder farmers with climate-adapted seeds and fertilizer

• Strengthening school feeding and nutrition programs for children

With just five years left to meet the Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger), experts warn that without a strategic shift, Africa could become the epicenter of a prolonged global food emergency.

“The time for short-term aid cycles must end. Africa needs long-term commitments to food systems that are inclusive, productive, and resilient,” said Máximo Torero, Chief Economist of the FAO.