A critical report by the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) warns of a widening investment gap undermining Africa’s agrifood systems, despite rising public spending across the continent. Hunger has increased for eight consecutive years, leaving 306 million people undernourished, nearly half of the global total. The 2026 Africa Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition highlights a worsening affordability crisis, noting that a healthy diet now costs 4.41pc per day, pricing out 67pc of the population. More than one billion Africans cannot afford nutritious food, contributing to a persistent 30pc child stunting rate. The report identifies a structural lack of capital as the main constraint. Private investment in agriculture remains “alarmingly low,” with bank lending below four percent. Agribusinesses remain stuck in a “missing middle,” too large for microfinance but too risky for commercial banks. To bridge the gap, the report calls for blended finance and stronger mobilisation of climate funding. Africa receives about 44 billion dollars of the 250 billion dollars needed annually for climate resilience. Without major financing increases and policy reform under AfCFTA, the goal of ending hunger by 2030 is increasingly out of reach.

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