Southern Africa hosts countries with high levels of HIV, malnutrition and gender inequalities. Swaziland has the highest HIV prevalence at 25.9% among adults aged 15-45 and high chronic malnutrition levels at 40% among children under five years of age. Although the HIV prevalence levels in Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are very low 0.2% and 1.2% among adults respectively; the two countries malnutrition hot spots in the region. Madagascar has 15% wasting, 36% underweight and 53% stunting; while DRC has 10% wasting, 28% underweight and 46% stunting in children less than five years of age. These factors coupled with the negative effects of natural hazards - drought, unpredictable erratic rainfall, floods and cyclones - affect socio-economic development compounding the acute and chronic vulnerability of poor households. 

FAO globally, is committed to addressing these issues as is stipulated the global FAO vision, which is “a world free of hunger and malnutrition where food and agriculture contributes to improving the living standards of all, especially the poorest, in an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable manner”; and the  FAO strategic framework, particularly, Strategic Objective I “Improved preparedness for, and effective response to, food and agricultural threats and emergencies”;  Strategic Objective K “Gender equity in access to resources, goods, services and decision making in the rural areas”; and  Strategic Objective H “Improved food security and better nutrition”.

 FAO in southern Africa is contributing to the achievement of the global vision and strategic objectives by coordinating project activities implemented at country office level, providing technical support and developing the capacity of FAO and partner staff to ensure that HIV, gender and nutrition are effectively integrated and mainstreamed in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Food Security (FS) projects.

Mainstreaming gender in the DRR food security projects: What does it take?

26 September 2011, 00.00

Women play a vital role in ensuring household food security as food and income used by women is more likely to have a positive impact on family nutrition and child

Read More

Latest Publications . Latest Publications... Go To Publications

Partners ...Read More

Useful Links ...Read More