Southern Africa

Southern Africa
Latest analysis
Key Message Update September 2024 Crisis (IPC Phase 3) expected through early 2025 in drought and conflict-affected areas Download the report
  • Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes are expected to be widespread in the areas of Zimbabwe, southern Malawi, and southern Mozambique impacted by El-Niño induced drought, with an increasing number of people expected to face Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes through at least early 2025. Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes are also ongoing in conflict-affected areas of Mozambique and DRC. In the Cabo Delgado area of northern Mozambique, sporadic attacks continue, while clashes in DRC persist despite the signed ceasefire. This has continued to drive displacements and below-average access to typical livelihoods. However, Stressed! (IPC Phase 2!) outcomes are present in a few areas of Mozambique with access to food assistance. Meanwhile, Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes remain likely across the Grand South and Grand Southeast in Madagascar, where households still have access to recent root, tuber, and rice harvests.
  • Humanitarian food assistance has gradually kicked off in areas of the region. In Malawi, food assistance began in September in two districts, with plans to scale up to more southern and central districts in the coming months. In addition to the ongoing assistance in conflict-affected areas, Mozambique has set aside resources to cover about 350,000 drought-affected people and expects to start assistance in October and November. In southern Madagascar, food assistance is also expected to slowly ramp up in October following the start of the lean season. However, resource mobilization to cover the desired target is still in progress across the region.
  • Food price increases continued in most countries across the region due to depleted stocks and increasing demand. Following insufficient maize grain imports and increasing demand in Malawi, the Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) raised maize grain prices by about 30 percent in September. Maize, bean, and cassava prices in Malawi were more than 160 percent higher compared to the five-year average. In Zimbabwe, significant increases in parallel market exchange rates in September drove basic food price increases in both local and USD currencies, and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe devalued the ZWG by nearly 43 percent. In Mozambique, rice and maize meal prices remained stable from July to August, but both were 25 percent higher than the five-year average. In some parts of Madagascar, sweet potato prices increased by about 74 percent year-on-year due to depleted stocks from the recent harvests. In DRC, maize and rice prices recorded a marginal increase month-on-month, remaining stable but beyond the reach of most poor households.
  • Given the forecast of average to above-average rainfall and expected timely onset of rainfall across the region, most households have already started preparations for the upcoming planting period. Increased agricultural activities, particularly land preparation, are improving access to labor opportunities for poor households after a long dry season. In Zimbabwe, irrigated tobacco planting, which started in early September, is also contributing to improved labor opportunities. However, wage rates and incomes are expected to remain below average due to poor liquidity and limited in-kind payments from better-off households.
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More analysis View all Southern Africa analysis Food security
Key Message Update Southern Africa August 2024
Key Message Update Southern Africa July 2024
Food Security Outlook Southern Africa June 2024 - January 2025
Agroclimatology
Seasonal Monitor Southern Africa January 1, 2025
Seasonal Monitor Southern Africa November 1, 2024
Seasonal Monitor Southern Africa March 29, 2024
Markets & trade
Price Bulletin Southern Africa October 2024
Supply and Market Outlook Southern Africa September 30, 2024
Price Bulletin Southern Africa September 2024
Alerts / Special Reports
Alert Southern Africa August 13, 2024
Alert Southern Africa November 8, 2023
Special Report Southern Africa January 6, 2021
Food security
Key Message Update Southern Africa August 2024
Key Message Update Southern Africa July 2024
Food Security Outlook Southern Africa June 2024 - January 2025
Agroclimatology
Seasonal Monitor Southern Africa January 1, 2025
Seasonal Monitor Southern Africa November 1, 2024
Seasonal Monitor Southern Africa March 29, 2024
Markets & trade
Price Bulletin Southern Africa October 2024
Supply and Market Outlook Southern Africa September 30, 2024
Price Bulletin Southern Africa September 2024
Alerts / Special Reports
Alert Southern Africa August 13, 2024
Alert Southern Africa November 8, 2023
Special Report Southern Africa January 6, 2021
Food Security Outlook briefing View more Southern Africa videos

Southern Africa (June 2024 - January 2025)
Food Security Classification data View all Southern Africa Food Security Classification data
Southern Africa Acute Food Insecurity Classification (May 2024 - September 2024)

Forward-looking analysis representing the most likely food security outcomes for the near term (May 2024) and medium term (June 2024 - September 2024) periods.

 Southern Africa Acute Food Insecurity Classification Shapefile May 2024 (.zip) (ZIP) Southern Africa Acute Food Insecurity Classification May 2024 (.geojson) (GeoJSON) Near Term Projection: May 2024 (.png) (PNG) Medium Term Projection: June 2024 - September 2024 (.png) (PNG) Near Term Projection: May 2024 (.kml) (KML) Medium Term Projection: June 2024 - September 2024 (.kml) (KML) Southern Africa Acute Food Insecurity Classification (September 2023 - January 2024)

Forward-looking analysis representing the most likely food security outcomes for the near term (September 2023) and medium term (October 2023 - January 2024) periods.

 Southern Africa Acute Food Insecurity Classification Shapefile September 2023 (.zip) (ZIP) Southern Africa Acute Food Insecurity Classification September 2023 (.geojson) (GeoJSON) Near Term Projection: September 2023 (.png) (PNG) Medium Term Projection: October 2023 - January 2024 (.png) (PNG) Near Term Projection: September 2023 (.kml) (KML) Medium Term Projection: October 2023 - January 2024 (.kml) (KML) Southern Africa Acute Food Insecurity Classification (August 2023 - January 2024)

Forward-looking analysis representing the most likely food security outcomes for the near term (August 2023 - September 2023) and medium term (October 2023 - January 2024) periods.

 Southern Africa Acute Food Insecurity Classification Shapefile August 2023 (.zip) (ZIP) Southern Africa Acute Food Insecurity Classification August 2023 (.geojson) (GeoJSON) Near Term Projection: August 2023 - September 2023 (.png) (PNG) Medium Term Projection: October 2023 - January 2024 (.png) (PNG) Near Term Projection: August 2023 - September 2023 (.kml) (KML) Medium Term Projection: October 2023 - January 2024 (.kml) (KML)
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