What's New

As the food security emergency in the Horn of Africa continues, FEWS NET has compiled a wide-ranging collection of information and resources related to the ongoing drought, famine declaration, and causes behind the crisis.

Overall
FEWS NET Horn of Africa crisis web-page with all links (updated regularly)

Somalia 10 Day Update of Conditions

Kenya 10 Day Update of Conditions

East Africa: Multi-Sectoral Response is Critical

Special Report on Rice Prices

The Committee on World Food Security (CFS) has launched a global and inclusive online consultation on the Global Strategic Framework for Food Security and Nutrition – a document being developed to improve coordination and support global, regional and country-led actions to prevent future food crises, eliminate hunger and ensure food security and nutrition for all.

It is an opportunity for all stakeholders around the world to participate in the global policy debate and ultimately contribute to this important framework.

The ongoing crisis in the Horn of Africa has shown that the challenge of food insecurity is alive and well. The 2011 G20 meetings have paid particular attention to the issues of high food prices, food price volatility, and food insecurity. G20 leaders have involved leading international institutions, such as the FAO, IFAD, WFP, and IFPRI, and have established several action plans to address these important issues.

View a presentation by Maximo Torero (Division Director, Markets, Trade and Institutions Division, IFPRI) on food security and the G20.

While increasing access to well-functioning markets for high-value agricultural products is one key component of agricultural and economic development, an equally important component is ensuring that smallholder producers, particularly women, have the capacity to take advantage of this increased access.

In a recent issue of Foreign Affairs , Christopher Barrett and Marc Bellemare write a stimulating note on the recent price movements in agricultural commodity markets. They appear to have three clear messages for policymakers:

First, price levels and price volatility are different concepts. In recent months, markets have been characterized by very high price levels, but volatility “although high these past few years, is not out of line with historical experience and is generally lower than it was in the 1970s.”