(Ecofin Agency) - On September 3, the United States announced $40 million in aid to combat food insecurity and improve resilience in Africa. The funding, provided through USAID, will primarily go toward projects in Tanzania, Madagascar, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

This financial support will help farmers adapt to extreme weather by using improved crop varieties and strengthening water access and usage. The goal is to reduce risks to future harvests in the Zambezi River basin.

According to the official statement, "In line with the U.S.-African Union Joint Strategic Partnership on Food Security, the funding will help accelerate a regional, African-led approach to boost agricultural productivity, market linkages, improve nutrition, and leverage the private sector to enhance food security”.

In 2022, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported that 20% of Africa’s population—about 282 million people—were undernourished. Around 868 million Africans faced moderate or severe food insecurity, with 342 million in a state of severe food insecurity.

The FAO attributed this crisis to climate change, the impacts of conflicts, the war in Ukraine, and economic slowdowns. The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) estimates that the continent needs an additional $257 billion in annual investments in agriculture to build resilient food systems and meet the "zero hunger" goal by 2030.