Undernourishment has decreased: The West Africa region leads the continent in progress toward reducing the number of people suffering from hunger and malnutrition. Despite rapid population growth across the region and recurrent droughts in the Sahel, West Africa has reduced the prevalence of undernourishment by 60% over the last two decades, from 24.2% in 1990-92 to 9.6% in 2014-16. Read on

The city is the engine of the food economy: Rural populations tend to concentrate in areas near cities. The growth of cities therefore stimulates the integration of rural and urban areas, and the vector of integration is trade. Markets provide at least two-thirds of household food consumption in West Africa. Read on

Food security in cities: Urban food insecurity is a real problem, the scale of which is likely to increase as urban populations expand. The problem is poorly documented, however, and its unique characteristics should be better taken into account in food and nutrition monitoring systems. Read on

West Africa has an advantage over other African regions. Created more than 30 years ago, the Food Crisis Prevention Network (RPCA) unites all stakeholders – national, regional and international – under the political leadership of ECOWAS and UEMOA. Co-ordinated jointly by CILSS and the SWAC/OECD Secretariat, it has adopted the Charter for Food Crisis Prevention and Management (PREGEC Charter) and uses common tools such as the Cadre harmonisé to assess food and nutrition situation. Read on