Food sovereignty amidst global catastrophes: a call to action for sustainable food systems

Résumé

The world is experiencing a global food crisis driven by the convergence of climate change, armed conflict, global economic recession, surging food, energy, and fertilizer prices, and the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. These overlapping shocks are placing unprecedented strain on food systems, particularly in the Global South, where structural vulnerabilities limit the capacity to absorb and recover from recurring crises. This policy and practice review examines how compounding global crises undermine food sovereignty and identifies context-specific, actionable levers to build resilient and sustainable food systems in the Global South, with particular attention to sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Using a structured narrative review approach, the review synthesizes evidence through five interconnected food system pathways: access to productive resources; food production capacity and agroecological resilience; trade, markets, and economic access; food consumption and nutrition; and governance and institutional capacity. The review adds to the growing body of work identifying actions through which countries in the Global South, particularly SSA, can strengthen governance capacity, agency, and resilience within food systems and advancing food sovereignty. These actions contribute to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and WellBeing), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). The findings inform policy and practice priorities for all—rich nations, governments in the Global South, multilateral donors, humanitarian organizations, investors, and private companies—to take greater responsibility within their jurisdictions, as pledged at various climate summits and high-level fora (e.g., COP29, the G20 Summit, and the UN Food Systems Summit +4), and to invest in sustainable agriculture and food systems to prevent recurring food crises and hunger.

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