As Africa continues to confront the dual challenges of food insecurity and climate change, the significance of reducing food loss and waste is more urgent than ever. On September 29, 2024, the UN International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW) highlight the critical role of climate finance in addressing these issues, under the theme: “Climate Finance for Food Loss and Waste Reduction.” This theme emphasises the need for targeted investments to reduce food loss and waste while combating climate change’s effects. Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, aptly stated: “Africa cannot afford to lose its harvests. We must ensure that what is grown is eaten and not wasted, especially as climate change compounds the challenges facing our food systems.”
In Africa, a continent where hunger persists despite being home to fertile agricultural lands, partnerships between local stakeholders and global actors are pivotal in creating sustainable food systems.
The Magnitude of Food Loss and Waste in Africa
Food loss and waste are major issues in sub-Saharan Africa, with 37% of food produced being lost before reaching consumers. This loss, valued at around $4 billion annually, affects nearly 15% of the region’s agricultural GDP. Despite the continent’s agricultural potential, one in five people in sub-Saharan Africa faces hunger or malnutrition. In 2023, over 282 million Africans are undernourished, exacerbated by inefficiencies in food production and distribution systems. Food waste also has a significant environmental impact, contributing to 8% of global emissions and contributing to climate change. Reducing food loss is crucial for feeding the continent’s growing population and mitigating climate impacts.
The Role of Climate Finance in Reducing Food Loss and Waste
Africa needs significant investments in climate-smart agriculture and food supply chains to combat climate change challenges. Climate finance, which supports climate change mitigation and adaptation, can help reduce food loss and waste by enabling infrastructure improvements, technology adoption, and policy reform. Despite receiving less than 5% of global climate finance, Africa receives less than 5%. Redirecting more funding towards food loss and waste reduction could significantly improve food security and resilience. Climate finance can help in cold chain infrastructure, such as solar-powered cold storage systems, which could reduce post-harvest food losses by 25%. Additionally, climate finance can fund agroecology, crop rotation, and precision farming techniques, which can improve food security for an additional 200 million people by 2030.
Local and Global Partnerships: A Critical Component
While climate finance is essential, the fight against food loss and waste cannot be won through funding alone. Local and global partnerships play a central role in implementing sustainable solutions and ensuring that resources are used efficiently. These partnerships involve governments, private companies, civil society organizations, international institutions, and local communities working in tandem to reduce food loss and waste across the entire food system.
- Government Initiatives and Policy Support
African governments must develop policies supporting climate finance and sustainable food practices. Rwanda and Kenya have initiated strategies to reduce food loss and waste, focusing on better storage infrastructure and agricultural practices. However, these efforts need to be expanded across the continent. Governments should collaborate with regional bodies and international partners to ensure climate finance is accessible to smallholder farmers, who account for 70% of food production. Public-private partnerships can accelerate sustainable infrastructure construction and reduce food waste.
- Private Sector Involvement and Innovation
The private sector plays a crucial role in reducing food loss and waste. African agribusinesses, retailers, and food processors can improve supply chain efficiency and reduce food waste by investing in technologies like Twiga Foods, which connects farmers with urban vendors. Collaboration with governments and international donors can co-finance climate-smart projects, encouraging private entities to develop innovative solutions like biodegradable packaging and waste-to-energy technologies. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) offers an opportunity for businesses to scale up these innovations.
- Civil Society and Community Engagement
At the local level, civil society organizations (CSOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) play a vital role in educating farmers, traders, and consumers about the importance of reducing food loss and waste. In countries like Uganda and Ghana, grassroots initiatives have been successful in promoting post-harvest management techniques that reduce waste and improve food security. These organizations often work directly with smallholder farmers, who are most vulnerable to losses due to inadequate storage and poor market access.
Climate finance can support the scaling up of these initiatives by providing the funds needed to train farmers, introduce climate-smart technologies, and build community storage facilities. By working with local governments and international partners, CSOs can also help advocate for stronger policies and more significant financial commitments to food loss and waste reduction.
- Global Advocacy and Knowledge Sharing
Global partnerships, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3, enable African countries to collaborate with international stakeholders to reduce food waste. The Champions 12.3 coalition, a global group of executives, has been instrumental in driving global efforts. Africa’s participation in these coalitions ensures specific challenges are addressed within global food systems. International organizations like the FAO, World Bank, and GCF provide financial and technical assistance to African countries, supporting climate finance initiatives to tackle food loss and waste.
Building a Sustainable Future
The UN International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste highlights Africa’s potential to reduce food loss and waste. By leveraging climate finance and fostering partnerships, Africa can build a sustainable and resilient food system. Coordination across sectors is crucial, with governments strengthening policy frameworks, businesses innovating, and communities empowered. Climate finance provides capital for scaling efforts, but success depends on collaboration at every level. Combining climate finance and strategic partnerships will help Africa achieve food security for all.
The time for action is now, and Africa is ready to lead.