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Capacity building sector specific

Planning for the future: an assessment of food security early warning systems in sub-Saharan Africa (synthesis report)

Strengthening institutional mechanisms for early warning systems a priority for African food security

Authors: J. Tefft; M. McGuire; N. Maunder
Publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations , 2006

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Prepared for the African Union, this report evaluates national and regional early warning systems (EWS) across Africa. It reveals that these systems have generally been effective in alerting countries and donors to impending food crises in the context of seasonal droughts. However, exceptions suggest that inadequate early warning analysis, together with poor communication and coordination, have often contributed to acute food security emergencies that could have been prevented.

The report finds that effective EWS methods tend to be based on a livelihoods orientation and use multiple analytical tools. Innovative partnerships for conducting analyses can help overcome human resource constraints, improve the quality of analysis and strengthen capacity.

A core recommendation from the assessment is that countries and stakeholders focus collaborative efforts on creating or strengthening institutional mechanisms that enable EWS to evolve in a dynamic and sustainable manner, responsive to their principal users.

Another recommendation is that EWS should become part of an expanded food security information and analysis system in order to assist response to short-term emergencies, as well as contributing to longer-term development programming. An improved EWS strategy should include, among others:

  • national ownership and development partner commitment to a national process
  • partnerships for improved analysis
  • responsiveness to user needs
  • accountability
  • use of the most cost-effective methods
  • consensus-building in analysis of the food situation and appropriate response options
  • linkages to long-term development programming.

The document offers more specific recommendations for action by national governments, Regional Economic Communities, development partners and the African Union that can contribute to an improved EWS strategy.