Angola: Food security as a development challenge

Food security is increasingly becoming a central concern in the formulation of Angolan public development policies, specifically targeting the fisheries, agro-livestock, health, water, and sanitation sectors. The challenge of food insecurity and the risk of famine presents a complex development issue that requires the forthcoming National Strategy of Food Security and Nutrition (ENSAN II 2022-2030) to be addressed with agility and long-term commitment. This needs the direct involvement of various actors from multiple sectors and the inclusion of civil society. Without active and sustained investment by national authorities, development stakeholders and the private sector, many people are likely to remain trapped in cycles of increasingly severe food insecurity (Santos, 2022). The new policy is aligned with international guidelines for a sustainable food system and contributes to the achievement of sustainable development goals, especially to SDG 2, aiming to eradicate hunger by 2030. Although a previous strategy, ENSAN 2009-2013, was approved, the lack of investments and endorsement of the proposed institutional framework hindered progress in addressing food security in the country. Consequently, Angola has adopted a fragile and fragmented approach to public finance investment in this sector since 2009. However, in 2013, the adoption of the Livelihood Lines methodology provided Angola with valuable insights into the various survival strategies employed at the family level to address food security. This grassroots perspective has the potential to inform policy effectively. Despite internationally recognition that Angola decreased the rate of undernourished population in 45% from 2000 to 2022, the country still faces serious food security challenges (GHI Angola 2022). Approximately 21% of the population is undernourished and 30% of children under 5 years old suffer from stunting. Food insecurity is closely associated with poverty and in Angola 50% of the population experiences multidimensional poverty and 32.5% is classified under severe multidimensional poverty (INE, 2020). In the southern Angola provinces such as Namibe, Huila and Cunene, recurrent drought have severely impacted millions of people. A UN report from 2017 estimated that over 1.4 million people, including many children, were affected by a "chronic drought" that increased the risk of disease and acute malnutrition. The regiońs vulnerability to climate change impacts is exacerbated by current climate variability and stressors such as water scarcity, land degradation, desertification, loss of biodiversity and gender inequality, all of which converge to create a persistent food insecurity context. Consequently, the southern region of Angola is considered one of the most vulnerable areas in Sub-Saharan Africa (Serrão C., 2019 a). This chapter examines the governance model of food security in Angola and identifies the key drivers contributing to the current food insecurity context. Additionally, it explores potential measures, including taking advantage of Angolás large coastline, to promote national long-term commitment towards a sustainable food system.