The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2013: The Multiple Dimensions of Food Security

The newest edition of the State of Food Insecurity in the World series by FAO presents updated estimates of undernourishment and progress towards the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) and World Food Summit (WFS) hunger targets. A total of 842 million people in 2011–13, or around one in eight people in the world, were estimated to be suffering from chronic hunger, regularly not getting enough food to conduct an active life. The MDGs are within reach for many developing regions as a whole although there are significant differences across regions and considerable and immediate efforts are needed to achieve them.

The 2013 report goes beyond measuring food deprivation. It presents a broader suite of indicators that aim to capture the multidimensional nature of food insecurity, its determinants and outcomes. This taxonomy gives a more nuanced picture of the world states' food security status as well as impacting on the implementation of targets and the establishment of effective policy measures by policy makers, that will eradicate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition.

 Food security dimensions at the national level

Drawing on the suite of indicators which captures the various dimensions of hunger (availability, access, utilization and stability), the report also examines the diverse experiences of six countries (Bangladesh, Ghana, Nepal, Nicaragua, Tajikistan and Uganda) in more detail, finding a mixed picture of progress and setbacks. Bangladesh, Ghana and Nicaragua have all managed to halve the prevalence of undernourishment since the beginning of the 1990s. Although many factors comes into consideration, this progress is largely due to the commitment of consecutive governments to long-term rural development and poverty reduction that has shaped the dynamics of change. Nepal, although in a state of conflict, for a long time is now on track to meet MDG1.

On the other end,Tajikistan and Uganda seem unlikely to reach the target. Uncomplete land reform in Tajikistan and low agricultural productivy in Uganda being the main obstacles.

Although their path have been different, the experiences of these 6 countries show the importance of social protection and nutrition-enhancing interventions, policies to increase agricultural productivity and rural development, diverse sources of income and long-term commitment to mainstreaming food security and nutrition in public policies and programmes.

The report also highlights the impact of remittances, which have globally become three times larger than official development assistance, on poverty and food security. This report suggests that remittances can help to reduce poverty, leading to reduced hunger, better diets and, given appropriate policies, increased on-farm investment.

Links to the reports

The State of Food Insecurity in the World: The multiple dimensions of food security Executive Summary

The State of Food Insecurity in the World: The multiple dimensions of food security

Ousmane Aly DIALLO