NEPAD collaboration produces report on hunger in Africa
In September 2016, the NEPAD Agency and the Pardee Center for International Futures launched a report, Zero Hunger in Africa by 2025: Conditions for Success, at the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria, South Africa. The report helps put in perspective the magnitude of eliminating hunger and food insecurity by 2025, a target goal of both the African Union and Agenda 2063. Author Steve Hedden, Research System Developer for the Pardee Center, traveled to Pretoria for the paper’s launch.
Using the International Futures (IFs) model, researchers sought to describe the path Africa has been on, to show where this path will likely lead without significant change in policy, and to outline the conditions and actions necessary to eliminate hunger and food insecurity as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, the report concludes, Africa is not currently on track to meet these targets by 2025. The goal of eliminating hunger and food insecurity in this time-frame, however, while ambitious, may not be impossible. Immediate, mutually reinforcing interventions are required to bring the continent closer to it targets. A wide range of actions by a variety of actors may bring about substantial change in the dynamics of supply and demand. The report uses IFs to forecast major levers in policies, investments and technologies—as well as human and institutional capacities—necessary to sustain desired levels of access to food.
Other Pardee researchers who contributed to this report include Barry B. Hughes, Dale S. Rothman, Alanna J. Markle and Joel Maweni.