Africa’s struggle for food security April 11, 2003 - The second Pan-African Congress on Food Security, Trade and Sustainable Development , opened at UN-HABITAT in Nairobi this week with delegates expressing deep concern at Africa’s food security situation. “Africa remains the most food deficient continent and the predictions are so grim, that unless radical measures are undertaken, starvation in the continent will be much worse into the next decade than it is today,” said Anna Tabaijuka, Executive Director of UN-HABITAT in her opening remarks. She said food security in Africa is not only pivotal, but also basic to the realization of poverty eradication and better living conditions in both rural and urban areas. She decried the alarming national and international levels of starvation, hunger and deprivation. She also urged Africa to look deeper into the causes of food insecurity as priority. This would encourage sustainable short and long-term solutions to the problems currently encountered, especially in managing the water crisis, natural hazards, the urbanization phenomenon, technology, government policies, armed conflicts and HIV/AIDS. The congress was organised by the Coalition of African Organisations on Food Security and Sustainable Development (COASAD). Food insecurity in Africa derives from a number of causes - natural hazards such as drought, floods and pests; sociological trends such as the rapidly increasing urbanization resulting in reduced agricultural production, and human-created socio-political and military conflictual causes. The food crisis is particularly exacerbated by armed conflict in many countries and regions with more than 20 African countries being directly or indirectly affected by armed conflicts since 1990. The crises in these countries has not only led to destruction of food production and trade, but also created huge refugee populations - about 30 per cent of the global refugee population. Acute food shortages have been caused in many regions, with a decline of 12 per cent in Sub-Saharan Africa alone. The congress has made useful proposals of far-reaching importance for food security in Africa and the world. It seeks to stimulate and sensitize African governments and policy makers, the private sector and other stakeholders to the crucial importance of ensuring food security in the African continent. This meeting, the fourth in two years, was chaired by Professor Robert Mabele, Chairperson, COASAD. It also discussed: Globalization and food trade liberalization under the World Trade Organization (WTO) and Bretton Wood s institutions with specific focus on African food security – theory and evidence. Implications of global conferences on African food security – rhetoric or genuine progress for Africa’s afflicted populations. Is the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) the instrument to finally rid Africa of its chronic hunger? Farmers’ organizations as the basis for the eradication of Hunger on the African continent: Packaging effective agricultural support services in an urbanizing and globalizing continent. See full speech of the Executive Director