Battling for food security in Africa: Is climate finance the missing bullet?

• Published date: 01 November 2024
• Author: Arsene Mouongue Kelly
• Date: 01 November 2024
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/wfp2.12078

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Battling for food security in Africa: Is climate

finance the missing bullet?

Arsene Mouongue Kelly

Dschang School of Economics and

Management (DSEM), University of

Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon

Correspondence

Arsene Mouongue Kelly, Dschang School of

Economics and Management (DSEM),

University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon.

Email: arsenkelly@yahoo.com

Funding information

This research received no external funding.

Abstract

As climate change increasingly threatens food produc-

tion and distribution in Africa, understanding how cli-

mate finance programs can effectively improve food

security in the region has become a critical research

priority. In this light, the present study investigates the

effect of climate finance on food security across

37 African countries from 2012 to 2021, utilizing sec-

ondary data and employing the system generalized

method of moments. Our findings consistently demon-

strate that climate finance plays a significant role in

reducing food insecurity in Africa. This effect remains

robust across various alternative food insecurity and

climate finance metrics. Furthermore, through analyses

of transmission channels, we confirm the indirect path-

ways through which climate finance contributes to

improved food security outcomes in the region. Based

on the findings, the study recommends strengthening

and expanding climate finance initiatives focusing on

enhancing accessibility, equity, and targeted support

for farmers to reduce food insecurity.

KEYWORDS

Africa, climate finance, food security, undernourishment

JEL CLASSIFICATION

Q18, Q54, I15, O55

Received: 20 July 2024 Revised: 10 October 2024 Accepted: 14 October 2024

DOI: 10.1002/wfp2.12078

World Food Policy. 2024;10:227–253. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/wfp2 © 2024 Policy Studies Organization. 227

1|INTRODUCTION

Despite the global commitment to mobilize $100 billion annually by 2020 for climate finance

under the Paris Agreement (Lattanzio, 2017), actual disbursements remain below target with

African countries receiving only a fraction of these funds (UNFCCC, 2018). Similarly, food secu-

rity in Africa remains a persistent challenge, with an estimated 282 million people facing hun-

ger and malnutrition across the continent (Mohajan, 2022). The region’s vulnerability to food

insecurity is exacerbated by a combination of factors, including poverty, limited access to agri-

cultural resources, climate-related shocks such as droughts and floods, conflict, and economic

instability (FAO, 2016). Smallholder farmers, who account for a significant portion of the agri-

cultural workforce in Africa, are particularly susceptible to these threats, often lacking the

means to adapt and build resilience to the impacts of climate change (Makate et al., 2019).

Climate finance, which refers to the flow of funds to mitigate and adapt to climate change,

is increasingly seen as a critical tool to fight hunger and enhance food security across the region

(Doku & Phiri, 2022). As such, understanding the link between climate finance and food secu-

rity is crucial for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa, particularly SDG

2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Effective climate finance can support innova-

tions in sustainable agriculture, enhance the adaptive capacities of farmers, and promote

climate-resilient infrastructure (Mungai et al., 2021).

Climate finance in Africa remains significantly underdeveloped despite the continent’s

urgent need for climate adaptation and mitigation investments. In 2019, Africa received only

about 3% of global climate finance flows, amounting to approximately $19 billion out of the

$632 billion tracked globally (Climate Policy Initiative (CPI), 2021; Strinati, 2021). This figure is

starkly contrasted with the estimated $2.8 trillion required by 2030 to effectively tackle climate

challenges (African Development Bank (AfDB), 2022). The African Development Bank (AfDB)

committed to allocating $25 billion between 2020 and 2025 to climate finance, yet the annual

financing gap still exceeds $100 billion (Adonu, 2020; African Development Bank

(AfDB), 2021). Moreover, private sector participation remains low, contributing less than 10%

to total climate finance, highlighting the need for innovative financing mechanisms and stron-

ger policy frameworks (Kalinowski, 2024).

Similarly, food insecurity in Africa has continued to be a critical issue; as of 2021, there were

an estimated 282 million undernourished individuals on the continent, up from 239 million in

2022 (about 21% of the total population) (World Health Organization, 2022). Severe food insecu-

rity in Africa affected 346 million individuals, representing 27.4% of the population, whereas

the global average was 10.5% (World Health Organization, 2021). Conflict, climate change, and

economic disruptions, including those exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, have led to a

20% increase in food prices in Sub-Saharan Africa between 2019 and 2021 (Mohiuddin, 2023).

Agricultural productivity in Africa remains low compared to global standards. Cereal yields

in Africa averaged 1.6 tons per hectare, significantly below the global average of 4.0 tons per

hectare (Abate, 2021). This low productivity, combined with a reliance on food imports, exacer-

bates food insecurity on the continent. From 2019 to 2021, Africa’s food import bills increased

by 15%, reflecting growing dependence on external food sources, whereas global food import

bills saw an increase of about 10% during the same period (UNICEF, 2021). Figure 1visually

depicts the status of food insecurity in Africa relative to the rest of the world.

Africa holds the worst rates globally with countries like Central Africa Republic, Congo

Republic, Malawi, and South Sudan having more than 50% of their populations in severe food

insecurity. These statistics highlight the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to improve

228 KELLY