In Africa, recent estimates suggest that 73 million people are acutely food insecure. Furthermore, since last year, African regions, particularly the Sahel and southern Africa, have been severely affected by climate change (UNCTAD).
In Africa, recent estimates suggest that 73 million people are acutely food insecure. Furthermore, since last year, African regions, particularly the Sahel and southern Africa, have been severely affected by climate change (UNCTAD).
Since long before the COVID-19 pandemic, these chronic food crises have been driven by various factors, including economic shocks, climate, and conflict. A regional slump in food production and a fall in global demand may prolong the negative effects of COVID-19, with poverty and food insecurity expected to continue to rise in 2021.
Countries must take steps to build resilient, climate-smart, and competitive food systems in the long term. Increasing the productivity of agricultural systems; it also aims to diversify agriculture by supporting the development of other value chains.
Ideas we are looking for:
- Pre-organized food distribution systems for a door-to-door distribution to avoid public gatherings.
- Distribution systems of seeds for future harvests to help households that may go hungry due to COVID-19.
- Mobile payment mechanisms to distribute compensation for vulnerable households.
- Other creative ideas on how to provide food for those in need.
- Agtech solutions that increase productivity and diversify agriculture. Solutions to transform the delivery of inputs, soil testing, crop insurance, credit, extension advice, and market linkages.
- Solutions that help all food producers, smallholder, and commercial farmers alike, adopt sustainable practices to become more climate-smart and therefore protect the entire ecosystem upon which human food production depends.