Launch: 2016 Global Hunger Index: Africa Report
NEPAD Agency and partners launch 2016 Global Hunger Index: Africa Report
Addis Ababa, July 2, 2017 – The NEPAD Agency in collaboration with the African Union Commission, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Regional Strategic Analysis Knowledge Support System (ReSAKSS), Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe has launched the Global Hunger Index: Africa Report.
The report tracks and reports hunger levels in Africa. It builds on previous related efforts, and is calculated based on four indicators, namely undernourishment, child wasting, child stunting and child mortality.
Speaking during the launch, the NEPAD Agency CEO, Dr Ibrahim Mayaki reminded guests that the the launch of the Global Hunger Index: Africa Edition report presents a ray of hope in the fight against the scourge of hunger on the continent.
“We havemade progresses regarding the implementation of the Malabo Declaration, but we are still far away from achieving the goals. We are still facing issues of extreme hunger, and hence we need to think about strategic frameworks that allow for accelarated implementation. This will be an important lever in fostering transformation on the continent. “For 6 decades, policy makers have left implementation in the hands of experts; this has to change. Our leaders must get involved in implementation, as this is the only way that transformation can be assured” he said.
The launch, held on the margins of the 29th African Union Summit, aimed to secure buy-in and commitment among policy makers and other stakeholders on the Zero Hunger campaign by promoting the generation and application of GHI data. This commitment from the various stakeholders will aid in fostering evidence-informed interventions, and boost investments in food security and nutrition on the continent. The launch of the GHI provides enhanced impetus in the pursuit towards the continental target of Zero Hunger by 2025 in Africa.
The Zero Hunger by 2025 in Africa is a the target set by African Union in Agenda 2063 and the 2014 Malabo Declaration on agriculture transformation. The GHI study puts the magnitude of the task into perspective and highlights the major levers in policy, investment, technology as well as human and institutionalcapacity required for addressing hunger on the continent.