Southern Africa is grappling with an unprecedented drought triggered by El Niño, a recurring climate phenomenon known for its capacity to exacerbate either dry or stormy weather patterns. 

Prolonged dry spells at critical moments of the 2023/2024 planting season resulted in widespread crop failure and livestock losses, in a region where 70 percent of the population relies on agriculture. 

While the current El Niño cycle has come to an end, the consequences will be felt for months to come, with the hunger crisis likely to worsen and persist until the next harvest season (April/May 2025). Five countries in the region have already declared national drought disasters: Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Mozambique and Angola are also severely affected.

The crisis is expected to lead to a significant regional food deficit. It is also likely to further deepen already high rates of chronic malnutrition and vitamin and mineral deficiencies – a factor associated with poor-quality diets and public-health conditions.

The World Food Programme (WFP) is coordinating its response with the Southern African Development Community, national governments and a wide range of partners, to reach the most affected communities with the limited resources available and help avert loss of life and livelihoods.

WFP needs US$147 million to provide food and cash assistance to over 7.2 million people across the region, up to March 2025. 

What the World Food Programme is doing to respond to the Southern Africa Drought

Food and cash assistance
WFP and partners are providing food and cash-based transfers, targeting districts that have maize shortfalls and high food prices.
Targeted supplementary feeding
WFP is also providing specialized nutritious food to children under 5, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and elderly and chronically ill people in Angola, Malawi, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
Emergency school meals
Daily nutritious meals ensure students affected by food shortages can continue their education, while reducing the burden on struggling families in Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia and Zambia.
Early recovery and livelihood restoration
WFP is working with partners towards innovative solutions that empower women and youth, build climate resilience and foster economic development. This includes insurance policies that help protect vulnerable people in the immediate aftermath of climate shocks. Also, WFP and communities have established over 70,000 gardens and built and rehabilitated more than 1 million climate-adaptation assets such as small irrigation schemes.
Supporting government response
WFP is providing services to national governments, particularly in the facilitation of food procurement, logistical support and technical assistance, to enable emergency food and cash transfers.

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