Inflation and Food insecurity leading to growing Poverty in Africa

New UN report raises alarm

After decades of progress, the past two years have seen a historic decline in global rates for life expectancy, education and income, according to a new UN Report*. The report states that nine out of ten countries have slid backwards in the Human Development Index, reversing a thirty-year trend, due to Covid 19, climate change, conflict and the recent war in Ukraine.

Covid 19 lock-down measures across the world caused a hit on human development, particularly on the African continent. It was a painful trade-off for containing the spread of the virus. But just as the continent was emerging from this trauma, Russia’s attack on Ukraine early this year unleashed another hit on the region’s economy and development. With the added impact of a rapidly changing climate, causing droughts and flooding, the result is an unprecedented cost-of-living and food security crisis. It is devastating for the countries where we are working in Africa.

Ukraine and Russia are huge exporters of wheat, maize and oil to Africa, and Russia also supplies it with fertiliser. The war has sharply disrupted supplies, causing global shortages and sky-rocketing prices for these basic commodities. People from poor countries inevitably suffer the most because they spend a larger share of their income on food and fuel (which has also increased in cost) than people in high-income countries. Meanwhile, widespread drought and crop failure for consecutive years, coupled with a global fertiliser shortage, means countries, particularly in East and Central Africa, were unable to grow their own food. As a result, tens of millions of people have been tipped into poverty and even starvation in a very short time (UNDP, 2022). For many, this means what was affordable yesterday can no longer be afforded today.

The impact on our work in Africa

Food packages to help households in Kenya

ACT project partners in Kenya, Uganda, DR Congo and Burkina Faso have given us insight as to what this crisis means for widows and children in the communities where we work.

In each country, ACT care teams have reported increasing hunger. Harriet, our project officer in Uganda, has reported that many families can only afford one serving of porridge a day. Sadly, some non-ACT supported people in the community have died trying to fill their stomachs with wild cassava. In DR Congo, parents are choosing between sending their children to school, feeding them or paying rent. Meanwhile, in Western Kenya, our partners say that even families with a full-time breadwinner can no longer afford to put basic food, such as bread, on the table.

Burkina Faso

In Burkina Faso, the situation has been made worst by the governments on-going battle against ISIL and other Islamic fundamentalist groups in the North of the country. This has triggered an exodus of people from that region leaving the fields empty and massive internal migration of people seeking refuge in the safer southern regions. In combination with drought and rising costs, this means food supply is rapidly dwindling. ACT partners are concerned that many of the households will go hungry.

“A few months ago, a family in the village could budget $3 to feed the whole family. Now, it-has dropped to $1.5. Meanwhile, with food supplies going down, we can no longer afford to feed children after paying their school fees. I am concerned that families may go without food”

(Helen, Burkina Faso).

Uganda

In every country, the impact of rising food and fuel costs on education has been severe. In Uganda, teachers have noted that children, unable to pay increased transport fees, are walking for two hours to get to school and arrive exhausted. Meanwhile, teachers are on strike as their meagre salaries fall far short of rising costs.

Kenya

In Kenya, our partners inform us that struggling schools are raising their fees and are no longer providing food for students – many of whom rely solely on school meals.

DR Congo

In DR Congo, we are told that school attendance has dramatically decreased, with numbers from one primary school dropping from 600 to 150 students this year alone. Our partners report increased violence – particularly against girls. They describe child labour, sexual exploitation and domestic violence. This situation is amplified by ongoing conflict in the country and the movement of dislocated populations which means violence and crime are high in Lubumbashi, where our work is located.

“Our colleagues struggle to feed their families and are inundated with social needs from the surrounding population. We are often the first place they turn in desperation for large sums of money. We are faced with the dilemma of who to help”

(Ginny, Congo DR).

Unsurprisingly, the impact of this crisis on volunteers and project leaders on the ground has been overwhelming. All our partners report high expectations and increased need from the families and communities that we support, at a time when their own resources are depleted – both financially and emotionally.

Widows Sustainable Life Skills Project: Farming (Webuye, Kenya)

ACT is for the people otherwise forgotten

At ACT, we are doing everything we can to make sure every child that we support can achieve their full potential in life, and that the women (widow, single mother or guardian) in our care have the opportunity to build a sustainable livelihood that can support themselves and their families. In times such as this, our work is crucial, and it saves lives. But we cannot do it alone, we need your support.

For just £15 a month you can sponsor a child to receive an education, and provide school items like uniform, shoes and school meals each day.

With £50 you can support a widow and her family for a month and help them with income generation. Please click here to donate.

* UN (2022), “Uncertain Times, Unsettled Lives: Shaping our Future in a Transforming World”, HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2021-22.

*UNDP (2022), “Addressing the cost-of-living crisis in developing countries: Poverty and vulnerability projections and policy responses”.