The cost of hunger

The social and economic costs of undernutrition are revealed in a new study released in Kinshasa in July.

The Cost of Hunger in Africa (COHA) study was undertaken by the government of the DRC in collaboration with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the African Union Commission (AUC), the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), and the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

The study shows that the losses are incurred each year through increased healthcare costs, additional burdens to the education system and reduced workforce productivity. “I welcome this important joint initiative which will contribute significantly to the government's efforts to minimise the loss of human and economic potential to malnutrition,” said DRC Prime Minister Bruno Tshibala Nzenzhe, at the launch ceremony in Kinshasa. “Malnutrition is a silent emergency, accounting for nearly half of all infant deaths. For the country to develop, we need to address this situation urgently.”

According to the report, DRC could save up to CDF355 billion (around US$383 million) by 2025 if the prevalence of underweight children is reduced from 11 to 5% and if stunting (low growth for age) is reduced from 43 to 10%.

“These results call on all of us to act now to avoid future losses caused by hunger,” said WFP country director in DRC, Claude Jibidar. “I'm convinced that with the understanding we now have of the terrible economic and social impact of malnutrition on children, we and our partners can work with the government to make a real difference to this alarming situation.”

“In line with Agenda 2063 - 'The Africa we want' - we seek to completely eliminate hunger and food insecurity on this continent during coming decades,” said Kefilwe Moalosi, speaking on behalf of the African Union Commission and NEPAD. “Africa has the potential to reap a demographic dividend from a young, educated and skilled workforce. But this potential can only be harnessed if we continue to invest in the health and nutrition of its people, particularly its women and children, and secure the necessary economic growth”.

The Cost of Hunger in Africa study has so far been conducted in 11 countries. The economies of these countries suffer an estimated annual loss associated with child undernutrition that is equivalent to between 1.9% and 16.5% of GDP. Results of recently undertaken COHA studies are due to be released soon in Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Similar studies are being planned for Mali and Mauritania.

Did you know the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of the poorest countries in the world?

· Most of the country's 6.7 million hungry people live in five conflict-affected provinces in the eastern part of the country.

· Almost half of the country's children under five are stunted (short for their age).

· Twenty-three percent of children under the age of five and 14% of women are underweight.

· Due to on-going conflict in the DRC and the nearby region, there are 2.7 million internally displaced people and 120 000 refugees in the country.

· Between 2013 and 2014, 1.8 million displaced people have returned to their areas of origin, finding that their houses, schools and possessions had been looted or destroyed.

· Three million children under five years of age suffer from acute malnutrition.

· Forty-seven percent of children under the age of five and 38% of women suffer from anaemia.

· More than half a million pregnant or breastfeeding women suffer from acute malnutrition.

· The highest percentage of food insecure people (64%) can be found in the agricultural sector, which accounts for three-quarters of the country's total workforce.

· In 2014, the World Food Programme assisted nearly 1.8 million vulnerable people in the DRC.



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