Food security drive set for $300 million World Bank boost

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania will receive $300 million (about Sh690 billion) from the World Bank as part of the institution’s regional programme, which seeks to address food insecurity in Eastern and Southern Africa.

Last June, the World Bank approved $2.3 billion for the Food Systems Resilience Programme (FSRP), whose objective is to increase the region’s resilience of food systems and increase the ability to tackle food insecurity in the participating countries.

However, the World Bank said yesterday that the amount has been increased to $2.75 billion as more countries are expected to join.

Under the Multiphase Programmatic Approach (MPA), Tanzania is one of the beneficiary countries and institutions, alongside Comoros, which will get $40 million, Kenya ($150 million), Malawi ($250 million), Somalia ($150 million), and the African Union Commission ($13 million).

“These constitute the second and third phases of the MPA. The first phase provides support to Ethiopia and Madagascar, as well as two regional bodies,” said the World Bank in a statement yesterday.

Food system shocks brought on by extreme weather, pest and disease outbreaks, political and market instability, and conflict are becoming more frequent and severe, putting more people at risk of food insecurity.

The war in Ukraine is further exacerbating these effects by disrupting the global food, fuel, and fertiliser markets.

Launched in June 2022, the programme’s first phase provides support to Ethiopia and Madagascar, as well as two regional bodies. The FSRP is expected to reach five million direct beneficiaries through the first three phases, according to the World Bank.

“The addition of five countries responds to the ongoing demand for long-term solutions offered by the Food Systems Resilience Programme. Studies demonstrate that proactive investments in building resilience not only pay off but also minimise the costs of disaster relief and recovery,” said Victoria Kwakwa, World Bank vice president for Eastern and Southern Africa.

An estimated 73 million people in the region face acute food insecurity.

The FSRP supports participating countries in prioritising medium-term investments that can transform and strengthen the resilience of their food systems.

It helps countries re-build their productive capacity, improve the management of their natural resources, strengthen food value chains and access to markets, and improve national and regional policies to enhance the resilience of the sector.

The programme can also provide short-term support measures in the event of a deteriorating food security situation.