2025 Reports

Food Systems Countdown Initiative: Africa Baseline Report

Fanzo, Jessica C.; Rose, Alison; Puma, Michael J.; Schneider Lecy, Kate

Food system transformation is central to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by their 2030 deadline as well as to meeting the targets and commitments established in the three Rio Conventions on climate change (UNFCCC), the Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD), and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Meeting these goals is possible, but decisive and deliberate decisions are required to set countries, companies, and consumers on a more sustainable, healthy, equitable, and resilient path. Choosing those right actions requires rigorous evidence. This policy brief provides the Africa region with a snapshot of the current state of their food system, establishing a baseline understanding of key challenges and strengths across different food system dimensions.