Jean-Michel Grand, Executive Director at Action Against Hunger, said:
“The latest SOFI report’s figures reveal a worrying trend. Despite an overall global decline, it highlights a serious issue in Africa, where one in five people faced hunger in 2025. Over the past 15 years, these figures in the region have risen by an alarming 81%, rising from 171 to 309 million people.
“The slight decline in global hunger is driven by real progress in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Asia. But that good news masks a troubling shift: Africa has for the first time overtaken Asia in the number of people facing hunger. This is a wake-up call to renew our focus and investment where it’s needed most, however just last week, the UK government announced that much-needed investment has sharply declined.
“The recent FCDO announcement of further and significant cuts to aid allocations for countries already facing food insecurity on the African continent should be ringing alarm bells. This includes funding being cut in South Sudan by 46%, Somalia by 49%, Mozambique and Mali by 90%, Rwanda and Sierra Leone by over 80%,while the overall bilateral regional aid budget is projected to fall by 43%.
“The marginal improvement highlighted in the SOFI report should not be celebrated, especially when budgets and funding continue to be slashed. The 2030 “Zero Hunger” goal is dangerously out of reach. Ending hunger is possible, but it requires political choices to ensure sufficient food for all. We must change course now before it is too late for the millions of people who need our support the most.”