Food Insecurity Persists in Sub-Saharan Africa Despite Efforts to Halve Hunger By 2015

Book excerpt: Despite pledges by world leaders to halve the proportion of the world¿s population that is undernourished by 2015, the number of undernourished people in sub-Saharan Africa has increased from 170 million in the period of 1990-1992 to over 200 million in the period of 2001-2003. Since early 2007, food-related riots have occurred in 15 countries, incl. 7 in sub-Saharan Africa, leading both the U.N. and the World Food Program to express concern about the impact of chronic undernourishment, or food insecurity, on world peace and security. This report examined: factors that contribute to persistent food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa; and the extent to which host governments and donors, incl. the U.S., are working toward halving hunger in the region by 2015. Illus.