Rising food prices in the Sahel : The urgency of long-term action

This briefing note is based on a survey by Save the Children and Oxfam on the impact of rising prices on household food security in five countries in the Sahel: Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Mali. It summarises the impacts of rising prices, examines the local factors that have led to this situation and proposes short, medium and long term solutions. Coordinated action is needed from all actors (Governments, donors, civil society and the private sector) to find effective solutions to high prices. Good harvests in 2008 in the majority of Sahel countries present an opportunity to improve the resilience of vulnerable households and allow small producers to benefit from the opportunities that higher prices could potentially bring.

 Oxfam, Save the Children - November 2008