Overview

Between June and September 2020, over 330,000 people (29% of the population) is expected to experience high acute food insecurity. This includes nearly 30,000 people in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) and 301,000 in Crisis (IPC Phase 3).

Compared with 2019, the country’s food insecurity situation has deteriorated with a notable increase in the proportion of the populations in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) and higher. In the projected period, the number of people facing high acute food insecurity will likely increase to over 366,000 people (32% of the total population).

This is mainly due to low food stocks from the harvest and the negative economic impacts of COVID-19 on incomes and employment opportunities for rural and urban households.

The IPC analysis was undertaken for rural and urban areas in Eswatini; comprising of four rural districts: (Manzini, Shiselweni,Lubombo and Hhohho); and two urban districts: (Hhohho urban and Manzini urban). In the current period, 32% of the rural population (292,794 people) and 17% of the urban population (37,424 people) are in Crisis or worse (IPC Phase 3 or above), representing 89% and 11% of the total population in Crisis or worse nationwide, respectively.

Key Drivers

COVID-19 pandemic mitigation measures to prevent the spread of the virus has negative impacts on some households’ livelihoods.

Dry spells in November and December led to a delayed start of the farming season, which negatively impacted food production.

Unusually high commodity prices further restricted food access and exacerbated the already compromised food availability for poorest households. 

• Provision of complimentary food assistance approaches to protect livelihoods by reducing food consumption gaps of the populations estimated to be in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) and above; include, but are not limited to:

• Promoting the restoration and recovery of livelihoods through the provision of agricultural inputs (seeds, plant material, tools, and irrigation systems) and livestock, with a particular focus on areas affected by natural hazards (Fall Army Worm and drought/ long dry spells).

• Developing short-to-medium-term interventions to support people with vulnerable urban livelihoods and who have experienced loss of income opportunities due to COVID-19 mitigation measures.

• Building and strengthening community resilience by providing safety nets: scale-up programmes for improved self-reliance, and provide social protection to vulnerable communities classified as Stressed (IPC Phase 2) and higher.

• Implementing a range of activities that promote the prevention of post-harvest losses.

• Documenting and/or promoting good nutritional practices at the household level through nutrition sensitive activities, such as: educational programmes on food management, water purification methods and household backyard gardening.

• Strengthening early warning and food security monitoring systems to mitigate the negative impact of shocks.

• Investing in interventions to prevent Fall Army Worm infestations and other crop diseases.

• Protecting essential productive assets such as livestock as a high priority.