Southern Africa

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Southern Africa
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Key Message Update September 2024 Crisis (IPC Phase 3) expected through early 2025 in drought and conflict-affected areas Download the report
  • Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes are expected to be widespread in the areas of Zimbabwe, southern Malawi, and southern Mozambique impacted by El-Niño induced drought, with an increasing number of people expected to face Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes through at least early 2025. Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes are also ongoing in conflict-affected areas of Mozambique and DRC. In the Cabo Delgado area of northern Mozambique, sporadic attacks continue, while clashes in DRC persist despite the signed ceasefire. This has continued to drive displacements and below-average access to typical livelihoods. However, Stressed! (IPC Phase 2!) outcomes are present in a few areas of Mozambique with access to food assistance. Meanwhile, Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes remain likely across the Grand South and Grand Southeast in Madagascar, where households still have access to recent root, tuber, and rice harvests.
  • Humanitarian food assistance has gradually kicked off in areas of the region. In Malawi, food assistance began in September in two districts, with plans to scale up to more southern and central districts in the coming months. In addition to the ongoing assistance in conflict-affected areas, Mozambique has set aside resources to cover about 350,000 drought-affected people and expects to start assistance in October and November. In southern Madagascar, food assistance is also expected to slowly ramp up in October following the start of the lean season. However, resource mobilization to cover the desired target is still in progress across the region.
  • Food price increases continued in most countries across the region due to depleted stocks and increasing demand. Following insufficient maize grain imports and increasing demand in Malawi, the Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) raised maize grain prices by about 30 percent in September. Maize, bean, and cassava prices in Malawi were more than 160 percent higher compared to the five-year average. In Zimbabwe, significant increases in parallel market exchange rates in September drove basic food price increases in both local and USD currencies, and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe devalued the ZWG by nearly 43 percent. In Mozambique, rice and maize meal prices remained stable from July to August, but both were 25 percent higher than the five-year average. In some parts of Madagascar, sweet potato prices increased by about 74 percent year-on-year due to depleted stocks from the recent harvests. In DRC, maize and rice prices recorded a marginal increase month-on-month, remaining stable but beyond the reach of most poor households.
  • Given the forecast of average to above-average rainfall and expected timely onset of rainfall across the region, most households have already started preparations for the upcoming planting period. Increased agricultural activities, particularly land preparation, are improving access to labor opportunities for poor households after a long dry season. In Zimbabwe, irrigated tobacco planting, which started in early September, is also contributing to improved labor opportunities. However, wage rates and incomes are expected to remain below average due to poor liquidity and limited in-kind payments from better-off households.
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More analysis View all Southern Africa analysis Food security
Key Message Update Southern Africa August 2024 - January 2025
Key Message Update Southern Africa July - October 2024
Food Security Outlook Southern Africa June 2024 - January 2025
Agroclimatology
Global Weather Hazards Global February 5, 2026 - February 11, 2026
Global Weather Hazards Global January 29, 2026 - February 4, 2026
Global Weather Hazards Global January 22, 2026 - January 28, 2026
Markets & trade
Price Watch Global December 30, 2025
Price Watch Global November 30, 2025
Price Watch Global October 31, 2025
Alerts / Special Reports
Special Report Global June 23, 2025
Special Report Global May 1, 2025
Alert Southern Africa August 13, 2024
Food security
Key Message Update Southern Africa August 2024 - January 2025
Key Message Update Southern Africa July - October 2024
Food Security Outlook Southern Africa June 2024 - January 2025
Agroclimatology
Global Weather Hazards Global February 5, 2026 - February 11, 2026
Global Weather Hazards Global January 29, 2026 - February 4, 2026
Global Weather Hazards Global January 22, 2026 - January 28, 2026
Markets & trade
Price Watch Global December 30, 2025
Price Watch Global November 30, 2025
Price Watch Global October 31, 2025
Alerts / Special Reports
Special Report Global June 23, 2025
Special Report Global May 1, 2025
Alert Southern Africa August 13, 2024
Food Security Classification data View all Southern Africa Food Security Classification data
Southern Africa Acute Food Insecurity Classification

Forward-looking analysis representing the most likely food security outcomes for the near term (July 2024 - September 2024) and medium term (October 2024 - January 2025) periods.

 Southern Africa Acute Food Insecurity Classification Shapefile July 2024 (.zip) Southern Africa Acute Food Insecurity Classification July 2024 (.geojson) Near Term Projection: July 2024 - September 2024 (.png) Medium Term Projection: October 2024 - January 2025 (.png) Near Term Projection: July 2024 - September 2024 (.kml) Medium Term Projection: October 2024 - January 2025 (.kml) Southern Africa Acute Food Insecurity Classification

Forward-looking analysis representing the most likely food security outcomes for the near term (June 2024 - September 2024) and medium term (October 2024 - January 2025) periods.

 Southern Africa Acute Food Insecurity Classification Shapefile June 2024 (.zip) Southern Africa Acute Food Insecurity Classification June 2024 (.geojson) Current Situation: June 2024 (.png) Near Term Projection: June 2024 - September 2024 (.png) Medium Term Projection: October 2024 - January 2025 (.png) Current Situation: June 2024 (.kml) Near Term Projection: June 2024 - September 2024 (.kml) Medium Term Projection: October 2024 - January 2025 (.kml) Southern Africa Acute Food Insecurity Classification

Forward-looking analysis representing the most likely food security outcomes for the near term (May 2024) and medium term (June 2024 - September 2024) periods.

 Southern Africa Acute Food Insecurity Classification Shapefile May 2024 (.zip) Southern Africa Acute Food Insecurity Classification May 2024 (.geojson) Near Term Projection: May 2024 (.png) Medium Term Projection: June 2024 - September 2024 (.png) Near Term Projection: May 2024 (.kml) Medium Term Projection: June 2024 - September 2024 (.kml)
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FEWS NET captures the market networks for a product in a given country or region, including their catchments and trade flow patterns.
Maize, Normal Year
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USGS-provided data and imagery supports FEWS NET's monitoring efforts of weather and climate throughout the world.

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