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OCHA Policy Brief on Gendered Drivers, Risks and Impacts of Food Insecurity in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (2023) CC

It is widely understood that the food insecurity crisis in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa is one of the world’s fastest growing and most neglected crises. It lacks sufficient global focus, resources and urgency. As in so many crises, women and girls are disproportionately affected and shoulder t...he consequences of protracted neglect, with unconscionable impacts on their safety, life chances and agency. Gaining a holistic view of the gendered drivers, risks and impacts of food insecurity in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa is difficult. This is due to a lack of data and prioritization, and the large geographical and socioeconomic terrain covered by both regions. However, what we do know about this crisis is more than enough to urgently address the needs of women and girls. An OCHA discussion paper on this topic (which will be published imminently, and from which this policy brief is drawn) found that there is: A strong risk of profound regression in gender equality gains made to date in the countries of concern, including on education, sexual and reproductive health, and the economic independence of women and girls (with knock-on effects on broader humanitarian and development outcomes). An increasing challenge to reverse what must be recognized as a protracted and growing gender-based violence (GBV) emergency in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa. The food insecurity crisis in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa is protracted, multidimensional and highly gendered, with spiralling impacts on gender equality and food security outcomes. It is driven by interwoven and overlapping factors, including climate change, political instability, conflict, socioeconomic conditions, migration and displacement and, more recently, COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine. Interlinked with these factors are gendered structural drivers of food insecurity, including deeply entrenched gender inequalities and harmful social norms. Gendered risks and impacts of food insecurity include alarming limitations on access to education, sexual and reproductive health rights, women’s agency and participation, and dramatic increases in different existing forms of GBV and the emergence of new ones. Recognition of such gendered dimensions of food insecurity and of the need for a multisectoral approach in the response is key to addressing the crisis, along-side sustained commitment and adequate allocation of resources. This policy brief draws out key findings from the OCHA discussion paper on this topic, which includes a desk review of studies, assessments and reports, and interviews with local women’s organizations on the front lines of the food insecurity crisis in communities across both regions. Below are the most pressing gendered drivers, risks and impacts of food insecurity (not in order of priority), as well as key gaps in the current humanitarian response to food insecurity, and recommendations to take forward. more

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Africa’s digital solutions to tackle COVID-19

European Investment Bank EIB and UN Development Programme UNDP (2020) CC

It highlights how proven digital innovation can be replicated to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Africa. It also estimates investment required to implement such high impact solutions.

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Africa’s Health Financing in a New Era

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) (2025) CC

Africa’s health sector is facing an unprecedented financing crisis, driven by a sharp decline of 70% in Official Development Assistance (ODA) from 2021 to 2025 and deep-rooted structural vulnerabilities. This collapse is placing immense pressure on Africa’s already fragile health systems as ODA ...is seen as the backbone of critical health programs: pandemic preparedness, maternal and child health services, disease control programs are all at risk, threatening Sustainable Development Goal 3 and Universal Health Coverage. Compounding this is Africa’s spiraling debt, with countries expected to service USD 81 billion by 2025—surpassing anticipated external financing inflows—further eroding fiscal space for health investments. Level of domestic resources is low. TThe Abuja Declaration of 2001, a pivotal commitment made by African Union (AU) member states, aimed to reverse this trend by pledging to allocate at least 15% of national budgets to the health sector. However, more than two decades later, only three countries—Rwanda, Botswana, and Cabo Verde—have consistently met or exceeded this target (WHO, 2023). In contrast, over 30 AU member states remain well below the 10% benchmark, with some allocating as little as 5–7% of their national budgets to health. In addition, only 16 (29%) of African countries currently have updated versions of National Health Development Plan (NHDP) supported by a National Health Financing Plan (NHFP). These two documents play a critical role in driving internal resource mobilisation. At the same time, public health emergencies are surging, rising 41%—from 152 in 2022 to 213 in 2024—exposing severe under-resourcing of health infrastructure and workforce. Recurring outbreaks (Mpox, Ebola, cholera, measles, Marburg…) alongside effects of climate change and humanitarian crises in Eastern DRC, the Sahel, and Sudan, are overwhelming systems stretched by chronic underfunding. The situation is worsened by Africa’s heavy dependency with over 90% of vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics being externally sourced—leaving countries vulnerable to global supply chain shocks. Health worker shortages persist, with only 2.3 professionals per 1,000 people (below the WHO’s recommended 4.45), and fewer than 30% of systems are digitized, undermining disease surveillance and early warning. Without decisive action, Africa CDC projects the continent could reverse two decades of health progress, face 2 to 4 million additional preventable deaths annually, and a heightened risk of a pandemic emerging from within. Furthermore, 39 million more Africans could be pushed into poverty by 2030 due to intertwined health and economic shocks. This is not just a sectoral crisis—it is an existential threat to Africa’s political, social, and economic resilience, and global stability. In response, African leaders, under Africa CDC’s stewardship, are advancing a comprehensive three-pillar strategy centered on domestic resource mobilization, innovative financing, and blended finance. more

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Pastoral care as a resource for development in the global healthcare context: Implications for Africa’s healthcare delivery system

Agbiji E., Agbiji O.M. AOSIS (2016) C1

HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies ISSN: (Online) 2072-8050, (Print) 0259-9422

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Return of the Rebel: Legacies of War and Reconstruction in West Africa’s Ebola Epidemic

Lind, J. and Ndebe, J. IDS (2015)

Practice Paper in Brief 19

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Nursing Education and Training Standards

South African Nursing Council (2020) CC

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Competencies for critical care nurse specialist (Adult)

South African Nursing Council (2020) CC

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The relationship between the scopes of practice, practice standards and competencies

South African Nursing Council (2020) CC

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Let our Actions Count. Reflections on NSP 2012-2016 and moving forward to NSP 2017-2022

South African National AIDS Council (2017) C1

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Statement on the Efficacy of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19) against the SARS-CoV-2 Variants
recommended

African Union; Africa CDC Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (2021) C1

On the 9 February 2021, Africa CDC convened a special session of the Africa Task Force for COVID-19 to review existing data and evidence and recommend

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Children and adolescents treated for post-traumatic stress disorder at the Free State Psychiatric Complex

Calitz, F.J., de Jongh, N.J., Horn, A., Nel, M.L. & Joubert, G. South African Journal of Psychology (2014) CC

Background. Children and adolescents can develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after exposure to a range of traumatic events, including domestic, political or community violence, violent crime, physical and sexual abuse, hijacking, witnessing a violent crime and motor vehicle accidents. This... more

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Country Disease Outlook - Namibia

World Health Organization WHO, Regional Office of Africa (2023) C_WHO

Infographics and data

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Certified African Regional professionals: Level 1 Biological Waste Management

Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2023) CC

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Biosafety and Biosecurity Initiative was launched by the Africa CDC in April 2019 with the aim of strengthening the African Union (AU) Member States’ biosafety and biosecurity systems and enabling them to comply with national and i... more

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African Union Member States COVID-19 Emergency Numbers (Hotlines)

African Union; Africa CDC Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (2020) C2

Accessed: 31.03.2020 French: ÉTATS MEMBRES DE L’UNION AFRICAINE NUMÉROS D’URGENCE DE LA COVID-19 (HOTLINES) - Centres africains de prévention et de contrôle des maladies Arabic: أرقام الطوارئ المخصصة للكوفيد-١٩ في الدول... more

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Interim guidance on COVID-19 Rapid Antigen self-testing to African Union Member States

African Union; Africa CDC Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (2022) C1

This guidance addresses rationale, risk-based scenarios, practical considerations prior to adoption of the self-testing products, quality assurance, safety and ethical considerations, and data management considerations for COVID-19 self-testing. The Africa CDC recommends the use of rapid antigen sel... more

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Statement on the use of Dexamethasone for severely ill COVID-19 Patients

African Union; Africa CDC Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (2020) C1

Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is aware of the media releases of the preliminary results of a large randomized clinical trial conducted in the United Kingdom, which included dexamethasone, a corticosteroid, as one of the drugs used for the treatment of COVID-19 patien... more

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COVID-19 IMST* Monthly Bulletin

World Health Organization WHO, Regional Office of Africa (2022) C_WHO

May 2022

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ADVOCACY TOOLKIT FOR DISABILITY MAINSTREAMING

Africa Disability Alliance (ADA) (2015) C2

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Frequently Asked Questions on Chikungunya Fever

World Health Organization - Regional Office for South-East Asia WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia (2013) CC

Information on Chikungunya Fever

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Avoid air pollution - Avoid Asthma

Achieving control of asthma in children in africa - acacia (2022) CC2

Pollution (dirty air) is a big trigger for asthma as it makes it difficult to breathe and affects the health of humans, animals, and plants. Avoiding pollution helps prevent asthma symptoms!

Statement on the Efficacy of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19) against the SARS-CoV-2 Variants recommended

Statement on the Efficacy of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19) against the SARS-CoV-2 Variants
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