Recent findings from the Cadre Harmonisé (CH) analysis for West Africa have revealed that approximately 1.6 million people in Sierra Leone are projected to experience food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above) during the lean season from June to August 2024. This assessment comes from the World Bank’s latest Food Security Update.

The CH tool, utilized across the Sahel and West Africa Region, provides a consensus-based analysis of acute food and nutrition insecurity. It serves as an early warning system aimed at preventing and managing food and nutrition crises.

According to the report, the overall food insecurity situation across the region is alarming, with 49.5 million people expected to face IPC Phase 3 or above during the same period. This includes significant numbers in countries such as Nigeria (31.7 million), Niger (3.4 million), Chad (3.3 million), Burkina Faso (2.7 million), Mali (1.4 million), and Ghana (1 million).

In Sierra Leone, macroeconomic challenges, compounded by high food prices and inflation rates, are major contributors to worsening food insecurity. The report highlights that annual food inflation reached a staggering 45 percent in February 2024, the highest in the region. This has resulted in substantial increases in the prices of staple foods like rice (up 33 percent for local and 38 percent for imported) and cassava (up to 122 percent year-on-year).

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The economic volatility in Sierra Leone, characterized by a headline inflation rate of 43 percent, continues to limit households’ access to essential food items despite adequate market supplies. The situation is exacerbated by high global fuel prices, which drive up transportation costs and subsequently push food prices higher.

Looking ahead, the report projects a slowdown in headline inflation for 2024 due to sustained monetary tightening and stabilized domestic utility costs. However, new taxes outlined in the 2024 budget, including a 5 percent import duty on rice and cooking gas, are expected to further escalate price pressures.

Approximately 1.6 million Sierra Leoneans, representing about 20 percent of the population, are anticipated to require urgent food assistance during the lean period from June to August 2024. This marks a 4-percentage point increase compared to the same period in 2023, with over 31,000 people classified in Emergency (CH Phase 4).

The findings underscore the critical need for targeted interventions and support to mitigate the impact of food insecurity in Sierra Leone, aligning with broader efforts across the region to address the root causes of hunger and vulnerability.