Taking action in Africa
Eleven of the 22 ‘hunger hotspots’ identified by the World Food Programme (WFP) in 2023 are in sub-Saharan Africa, where staple food prices increased by an average of 24% between 2020-2022, and more than 90% of the population cannot afford a healthy diet.
Climate crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to this phenomenon, but there was also a clear risk that inefficiencies and distortions in national markets were making good food less affordable.
In 2023, Consumers International brought together competition authorities, trade ministries, and consumer groups from across 21 African countries, to share experiences of unfair prices, and explore national and regional solutions. Participants highlighted the need for stronger data, public buy-in for change, and a greater role for competition and consumer policy.