The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) obtained nearly US$2 billion in funding pledges from the international community to combat food insecurity in the Sahel and Lake Chad region. The information was disclosed in a press release, published, Thursday (April 7) by the organization on its website.
The pledges represent almost half of the humanitarian appeal launched by the FAO. The proceeds are intended for emergency assistance and to strengthen "the resilience of vulnerable people and agri-food systems" in the affected regions.
Part of the funds pledged will come from the European Union (€654 million) in the framework of its 2021-2024 assistance program “to provide a long-term development assistance response to the structural food crisis in the seven most affected countries.”
According to FAO Deputy Director-General Laurent Thomas (photo), this aid will help meet the humanitarian needs of 41 million people this year. The official calls for “significant efforts (...) to provide an immediate response but also to address the root causes of this crisis, otherwise, levels of acute hunger will continue to rise.”
The EU estimates that currently, 29.5 million people living in the project areas need emergency humanitarian assistance.
"There is absolute urgency to re-invest in local food production together with humanitarian food assistance and safety nets. Investing in saving agricultural livelihoods today means saving the lives of millions tomorrow. Countries of the Sahel region need to invest in making agrifood systems more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable," Laurent Thomas said.
Between 2019 and 2022, the number of people affected by acute food insecurity rose from 10.8 million to 40.7 million. For FAO, “millions more [are] at risk of slipping into a crisis or worse."
Jean-Marc Gogbeu
The BCID-AES launches with 500B CFA to fund Sahel infrastructure, asserting sovereignty from the B...
Togo passes new law tightening anti-money laundering and terrorism financing rules Legislat...
Gabon names Thierry Minko economy and finance minister in Jan. 1 reshuffle Move follows tra...
Ethiopia agreed in principle with investors holding over 45% of its $1 billion eurobond due 2...
Heirs Energies acquires M&P’s 20% Seplat stake for $496M, exiting french group Maurel & Pro...
Acumen closed a $250 million blended-finance raise for off-grid electricity in sub-Saharan Africa. The H2R Amplify debt fund reached $180...
Ivory Coast expects a new government after the prime minister and cabinet resigned following December 27 legislative elections. The ruling RHDP won...
West African Resources produced 205,228 ounces of gold at Sanbrado in 2025, within its guidance range. Total Burkina Faso output from Sanbrado and...
Morocco digitized 68 of its 76 fish markets to improve transparency and transaction monitoring. Authorities now track all vessels operating in Moroccan...
The Sundance Institute selected three African films from more than 16,000 submissions across 164 countries. The 2026 festival will run from January 22...
Organizers opened submissions for the sixth Annaba Mediterranean Film Festival from Jan. 8 to Feb. 28, 2026. The festival accepts feature films, short...