The statements made and views expressed in this paper are solely the responsibility of the author and do not represent the views of the Wilson Center or Carnegie Corporation of New York. [...] The State of Food Security in Africa Africa is still plagued with serious local and transnational challenges, which impair its ability to achieve food security.³ Food security exists when people have secure access to sufficient “safe and nutritious food for normal growth and development and an active healthy life.”4 Africa scores poorly in all indicators regarding food security targets; nearly one. [...] Consequences of Food Insecurity in Africa Hunger and food security remain large barriers to development and pose enormous obstacles to human and economic development in Africa.10 Over half of Africans live below the poverty line,11 and a lack of money or other resources to purchase food results in hunger. [...] Childhood wasting (low weight for height) is attributed to higher risk of disease and death.13 Food insecurity has also aggravated social and economic inequalities that brew conflict.14 Steps to Enhance Food Security The leading voices in the food security agenda have been the AU, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD/AUDA), and regional economic communities.15 In 2014, African Heads. [...] The G7 leaders re-confirmed their goal to help African partner countries lead 500 million people out of hunger and malnutrition by 2030 and emphasized the need to mobilize further resources to “address food insecurity and support the sustainable transformation of food systems in Africa.”19 Kenya, as a member of the AU, has an obligation to put mechanisms in place to meet its targets.
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