A new report from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) reveals East Africa is regressing in its fight against hunger, putting millions at risk as the 2025 Malabo Declaration deadline approaches. The alarming findings show none of the region’s countries are on track to achieve food security goals, with climate shocks, funding gaps, and conflicts worsening the crisis.
The Fourth Biennial Review (BR4) indicates all IGAD member states – including Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia – have seen declining performance since the last assessment. Most concerning is that 85% of agriculture in the region remains rain-fed, leaving crops vulnerable to increasingly severe droughts and floods. Kenya, despite its technological potential through “Silicon Savannah,” faces challenges with outdated farming data systems and insufficient funding.
Rwanda emerges as a rare success story, achieving 8% annual agricultural growth through its tech-driven reforms that provide real-time weather alerts to 95% of farmers. However, elsewhere in the region, problems persist: Uganda takes 14 months to validate farm data, South Sudan has lost 60% of farming communities to conflict, and Ethiopia’s cereal production dropped 30% due to extreme weather.
With over 12 million food-insecure households, IGAD urges immediate action including allocating 10% of national budgets to agriculture, adopting climate-smart technologies, and improving infrastructure. As the 2025 deadline looms, the report serves as a stark warning that without urgent intervention, East Africa risks failing an entire generation in its promise to end hunger.
The clock is ticking for regional leaders to transform policies into action before time runs out for millions facing food insecurity.
