Watch-keeping Newsletter Impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on food and nutrition security in the Sahel and West Africa

Issue No 5: August 2020

Food and nutrition situation still critical despite the measures taken to revive socio-economic activities

Background Contents For August 2020, the monitoring system covers 10 countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Gambia, , Nigeria, Background 1 Senegal, Sierra Leone, Chad and Togo). A general improvement of the pandemic situation was observed in all countries with the continued relaxation of restrictive measures and a slowdown Health and nutrition situation 2 in the progression of the pandemic especially in terms of new contaminations. Market situation 4

Income-generating activities of poor households are improving Pastoral situation 5 with a timid resumption of socio-economic activities and international and regional trade. Nevertheless, the situation remains tense in The Gambia and Senegal. Household living conditions in the Covid-19 6

There is significant Improvement of the pastoral situation marked with good availability of biomass and easier access to pastures and Desert Locust Monitoring in the Sahel and West 8 surface water points for watering herds in the countries. However, Africa cross-border transhumance is still difficult in the region because of borders closure due to the pandemic, which severely limits the mobility of transhumant livestock. In addition, there are structural constraints related to the agricultural campaign, with Table N°1: Alert thresholds, per area the occupation of arable land by crops and constraints related to Household livelihoodsconditions (IGAs access to agricultural the security crisis. Desert Locust control efforts in East Africa inputs) have allowed progressive control of infestations in the Horn of Africa which, for this moment, has contributed protect the Sahel Health- Markets Pastoral situa- Household Nutrition (Functio- tion (Access to livelihoos and West Africa countries from locust infestation. Alert level Closure ning and pasture) conditions ( rate of animation IGAs access healthcare and price to agricultural Methodological approach : The Cadre Harmonisé facilities level) inputs) Technical Committee (TC-CH), mandated by the RPCA, has set up a monitoring system covering the 17 countries of the region. Normal < 30% Price varia- =>50% normal Normal>=80% This monitoring exercise, focusing on the impacts of Covid-19 on tion food and nutrition security, is regularly conducted with the States through a grid of indicators (including predefined thresholds) >=30% Variation > Between 50 and Limited + V Alert 50% 75% difficult or limited > 50% summarised in table 1 below. inaccessible Five main areas are monitored: 1) health and nutrition; 2) ND Between 75 and V Limited + No market situations; 3) pastoral situation; 4) households livelihoods Alarm 90 % difficult or IGAs > 20% conditions; and 5) monitoring of the locust threat. Monitoring inaccessible indicators have been validated by consensus with the countries. ND N/A Between 75 Pas AGR>20% Monitoring alert thresholds allows countries to be alerted to and 90% difficult update their CH analyses as it was already the case in Burkina Emergency and inaccessible Faso, Nigeria and Togo. and transhu- . mance prohibited or restricted beyond 90% 1 Pandemic situation

Evolution of the epidemic Restrictive measures

The results of the COVID-19 pandemic at the end of Governments have gradually lifted the restrictive measures August 2020 in the 10 countries monitored showed a total imposed as part of the of the COVID-19 pandemic control of 89,899 people tested positive, among which 62,183 were in the region. The state of emergency has been suspended cured, giving an overall cure rate of 69.2%. This cure rate in the countries under review, except in Niger, Togo, Chad remained stable compared to the previous month. The and Sierra Leone. Moreover, lockdown measures have highest cure rates were recorded in Niger (93%), Benin been suspended except in Togo and Nigeria, where partial (81%), Sierra Leone (79%), Nigeria (77%), Cabo Verde lockdown is applied. Curfews have also been suspended (75%) and Togo (72%). The cure rate continues to increase except in Chad, Sierra Leone, and partially in Togo, significantly in Nigeria, rising from 45% in July to 77% particularly in the prefectures of Tchaoudjo, Tchamba and in August 2020. In terms of the number of confirmed Sotouboua. positive cases in the 10 countries under review, Nigeria still occupies first rank with 54,008 cases, followed by Senegal Functioning of health facilities with 13,611 cases and Chad with 7,322 cases. Health centres are operating at minimal to normal i, from 5% to 100% respectively wthin the 10 analysed countries. However, in some States of Nigeria, some localities still facing disruptions that vary from 5% and 30% of centres with minimal functioning and up to 25% of closed centres in Katsina State (Central, North and South). Compared to July, some countries have presented areas with health centres functioning at minimal levels of up to 30%, such as Senegal where seven (7) areas have 20% to 30% of health centres disrupted. In Burkina Faso, the functioning of health centres was disrupted in some areas and a few centres closed in other provinces. These rates have been increasing since March 2020, ranging from 2% to 45%. The closure of health centres is also observed in Niger in the Fig1: Status of COVID-19 at the end of August 2020 Source : https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19/ N’Guigmi and Ayerou areas, with respectively 33% and blob/master/csse_covid_19_data/csse_covid_19_daily_ 40% of closed centres for security reasons. reports/08-31-2020.csv The overall case-fatality rate for all 10 countries is estimated Preventive measures for COVID-19

at 1.9% at the end of August 2020. Lethality rates higher than The number of people trained in the care of children under this overall value were observed in some countries, notably 2 years of age and in early childhood nutrition in the context Niger (5.9%), Burkina Faso (4.0%), Sierra Leone (3.5%) of Covid-19 continues to increase, reaching 16,000 health and The Gambia (3.2%). As summarized in the table below, workers and health care providers in most countries. The the case-fatality rate in the countries monitored remained most important cases are observed in Nigeria and Togo. generally stable compared to the previous month, except in In contrast, no training was provided in Benin. In all the the Gambia, where an increase was observed, and in Chad, analysed countries, hand washing facilities have been set where a sharp decline was noted. up in the majority of health centres, but there is still a need for improvement in terms of coverage in some countries Table 2 : Case-fatality rate at the end of July and end of August 2020 (Nigeria, Niger and Burkina Faso). The number of health and community workers trained in nutrition in the context Country Deaths July 2020 case-fatality rate August 2020 case-fatality of COVID-19 is increasing, especially in most Nigerian rate States, varying from one district to another between 60 Benin 40 2,0% 1,9% and 2,740 trained workers in Kebbi and Niger States, Burkina Faso 55 4,8% 4,0% respectively. Cabo Verde 40 0,9% 1,0% Gambia 96 1,8% 3,2% Niger 69 6,1% 5,9% Nigeria 1013 2,0% 1,9% Sierra Leone 70 3,7% 3,5% Senegal 284 2,0% 2,1% Chad 56 8,0% 0,8% Togo 28 2,0% 2,0% 2 Status of acute malnutrition (AM) management Acute malnutrition management continues in all countries in respect with protocols but with a slight change of the admission criteria for the management programme by using the mid-upper arm circumference (measurements made by the mothers) in order to comply with the barrier measures and reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19. In The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Niger and Senegal, there was no change in the AM management protocol in all areas. Prevention and protection barrier measures continue to be applied during acute malnutrition management activities in most countries, sometimes with home visits to strengthen the referral system for children who have been detected or are at risk of acute malnutrition. In Nigeria, these practices are strengthened in some States through counselling sessions with the support of partners that transport children to health centres.

Morbidity and admissions of malnourished children

Recent available data on admissions of acutely malnourished children show 162,852 admissions with the severe form and 112,428 moderate cases reported for the period under review, from July 27 to August 25, 2020. These data come from the 10 countries (Table 2) that provided information on the situation of children admitted to health centres for acute malnutrition.

Country SAM admissions MAM admissions Cabo Verde NA NA Benin 1 187 2 282 Burkina Faso 7816 9 236 Gambia 178 1 973 Table 3 : SAM and MAM admission Niger 17 785 21 248 Nigeria 77 976 34 546 Senegal 1 606 513 Sierra Leone 1 924 NA Chad 51 216 42 640 Togo 3 164 NA Total 162 852 112 438 Source : Monitoring matrix completed by countries, August 2020

Morbidity

As reported by countries in table below, (major childhood diseases from27 July to 25 August 2020), 934,036 cases of children under 5 affected by one or more of these diseases have been recorded in 5 countries of the region, which indicates a complete onset of the rainy season making the youngest children more vulnerable. Table 4 : Notifiable disease morbidity Country Morbidity Cabo Verde NR Benin 87 291 Recommendations/General comments Burkina Faso ND Gambia NR Niger NR - Countries should provide Nigeria 345 412 background information on the minimum functioning and possible health centre closures Senegal 94 028 where applicable. Sierra Leone 42 079 Chad NR - Carry out deep reflections on the very high Togo 7 581 l morbidity cases in the region for this period of analysis. Total 934 036 Source : Monitoring matrix completed by countries, August 2020

3 Market situation

However, it is noted that the August 2020 was marked by heavy Market functioning and animation torrential rains causing disruptions in the supply chains of some areas in the countries affected by the floods. Some markets in The Gambia, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Chad, and Togo recorded Market situation in August 2020 low availability of basic foodstuffs.

The number of markets closed due to COVID-19 has decreased Price levels significantly in the countries compared to previous months. However, in some areas or regions of northern Nigeria, The Increase of food prices has accentuated compared to July 2020 Gambia, and Sierra Leone, markets are still closed with rates in the region, particularly in Benin, Niger, Chad, Togo, Nigeria, ranging from 2% to 5%. Some countries continue to experience and the Gambia. Price increases of more than 50% compared to market disruptions, these are: the last 5 years average are still observed in all markets in Liberia, - Nigeria (15%), Nigeria, The Gambia and in some departments of Niger (Bermo, - The Gambia (22%), and Mabaza), and municipalities in Benin. The general - Sierra Leone (5%). upward trend in prices is observed throughout northern Nigeria, In the other countries (Niger, Senegal, Chad, and Togo), although Benin, Chad, and in some localities in Senegal, Liberia and Sierra disruptions are observed in the animation of livestock and Leone. The table 4 illustrates the levels of variation in monthly agricultural markets, their rates remain lower than in previous prices of staple foods for August 2020 for each analysed zone months. There is therefore a certain gradual normalisation of compared to their five-year average value. market operations.

The level of functioning of agricultural and livestock markets in each country is presented in Figures 2 and 3 below.

Figure 4 : Price variation compared to the average of the last 5 years of the Figure 2 : functioning of agricultural markets same period

Trade of large ruminants in livestock markets remains below normal due to the slow operation of several consumer markets, disruptions in cross-border trade, and restrictions in pastoral areas affected by civil insecurity. However, trade in small ruminants remains significant and increases compared to July. Above-average prices for small ruminants and below-average prices for large ruminants were observed in several markets. The terms of trade (ToT) remained stable or rebounded slightly in several markets compared to previous months due to the Tabaski festivities. However, declines in the terms of trade continued in deficit areas and/or areas affected by disruptions in food flows with an increase in cereal prices, particularly in Niger. In general, the terms of trade in the region are lower than their levels for the same period last year and compared to the five-year Figure 3 : functioning of livestock markets average value. The table 4 summarises the average changes in the prices of the main foodstuffs, the major cash food products, and Availability changes in the terms of trade, per country. In general, markets in the region are relatively well supplied with basic food commodities.

4 Country Changes in staple Changes in cash crop and livestock Changes in TOT Table 5 : Country price variation food prices prices levels in August 2020. Benin 14% 14% 0% Burkina -3% 0% Cabo Verde -6% 0% 0% Ghana -1% 3% Guinea 6% 16% 11% Mali -4% 4% Niger 19% 4% Sierra Leone 14% 13% -1% Chad 5% 4% 4% Togo 17% 0% 0% Nigeria 75% -17% Senegal 4% 10% 10% Gambia 48% 5% Liberia 21%

Source : Monitoring matrix completed by countries, August 2020

Pastoral situation

Biomass availability, access to pastures, water points and transhumance

Pastoral situation in the era of the COVID-19 health crisis

There is more improvement in the pastoral situation during the month of August 2020, which heralds the end of the pastoral lean season: general satisfaction about biomass availability, good filling of surface water points, etc. However, restrictions of herder’s movement related to the health crisis have delayed the returning of transhumant herds back to Sahelian countries. Some herds are thus stranded in northern Togo and are unable to reach Sahelian pastures (Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger).

Biomass availability Figure 5 : Biomass production anomalies over West Africa as of September 1, 2020. Source: ACF Biomass availability is considered satisfactory in most countries of the region. It remains limited and very limited The situations remain contrasted as illustrated in Figures 6 in Cabo-Verde, Sierra Leone, and in some parts of The and 7 below: the cases of Brakna in Mauritania and in Gambia, Senegal (St. Louis) and Nigeria (Kaduna, Yobe Niger, in mid-August 2020. and East Sokoto in particular). This general satisfaction is related to the onset of the rainy season. While apparent availability is satisfactory, the Sahel biomass anomaly map of September 1, 2020 (see Figure 5) shows significant biomass deficits in Brakna and western Hodh el Chargui in Mauritania as well as several areas affected by deficits in Niger, in the regions of Tillabéry, Maradi and . Some areasaffected by biomass deficits also exist in central and southern Burkina Faso and northern Chad, particularly in the regions of Ennedi-East and Ennedi-West. However, Figure 6 and 7: Instantaneous biomass production profiles on August the biomass production in northern Mali is particularly 22, 2020, for Brakna and Diffa, compared to the average profile and its abundant. variation calculated between 1998 and 2020. Source: ACF 5 The onset of the rainy season and the apparent availability of fodder should not mask the impact of the difficult pastoral campaign of 2019 with a slow recovery of the animal body conditions. The next evolution of the rainy season will determine the availability of biomass stocks for the dry season.

Access to grazing Access to pasture improved significantly in August 2020, due to a good availability of biomass. However, because of civil insecurity, animal access to pastoral rangelands remains difficult in pastoral areas in Mali, Niger, Nigeria and many parts of Burkina Faso. In agricultural areas, movement is made difficult with intense agricultural activities which remain conflicts risk factors for herd movements. Available data indicate situations that remain «difficult» in some areas of Niger and Burkina Faso, with difficulties in accessing pasture due to civil insecurity (and consequently high concentrations of animals in areas of relocation).

Situation of cross-border transhumance cross-border transhumance is prohibited throughout Benin. It is also prohibited in Niger in the areas of Bosso, Diffa, Diffa commune, , Maïne Soroa, N’Gourti and N’Guimi. In the rest of the region, cross-border transhumance remains difficult mainly because of civil insecurity in the central Sahel (Mali/Niger, Niger/Burkina Faso and Burkina Faso/Mali), agricultural season, and the risks associated with crossing agricultural areas at this period of the year.

Conclusion/recommendations : The rainy season resulted in a marked improvement of the pastoral situation in terms of biomass availability, filling and access to surface water bodies. However, it is still necessary to create conditions for facilitating better pastoral mobility both within countries and across borders.

6 Household living conditions in the Covid-19 context

Income-generating activities, access to means of production (inputs and labour)

BENIN : The situation remains normal during the month Agricultural activities are carried out under normal of August, with income-generating activities going on conditions in about 88% of the zones. Nevertheless, in normally in 82 percent of the areas. However, there is a about 10% of the zones, the populations have limited deteriorating trend since IGAs are limited or very limited access to production inputs (land, inputs, and labour). in 18% of the zones in August compared to 15% in July. These zones are also located in insecure localities where Agricultural activities are normally carried out in 83% the populations face difficulties in conducting income- of the zones, while there is limited access to production generating activities. inputs in 14% of the zones and no access to agricultural production inputs in 3% of the zones. NIGERIA : there is no significant change in households livelihood conditions among the 16 States and the BURKINA FASO : At the national level, no region is in Federal Territorial Capital (FCT) that are monitored an emergency, but 69% are on alert and 15% (East and in Nigeria. As in July 2020, 3% of the areas continue to Sahel) reported an alarming situation about their income- experience an interruption in their IGAs. It is also revealed generating activities. Only 15% of the regions have a that IGAs remain limited and very limited in 26% of the normal practice of income-generating activities. In terms zones (28% in July 2020) even though they are carried out of agriculture, the situation is normal in most regions normally in 71% of zones. For the agricultural sector, there (54%), but more than 40% of the regions have limited was a slight improvement in August with activities going access to production inputs that require special attention on normally in 79% of the zones. However, there is limited during this agricultural campaign. or no access to production inputs in 21% of the zones.

CABO VERDE : In general, daily income-generating SENEGAL : For August, the household’s livelihoods activities are carried out successfully. This indicates a conditions monitoring covered 22 departments from gradual normalisation of the situation in the country. In the 45 expected ones. Income-generating activities are fact, among 22 (80%) municipalities in Cabo Verde, 17 generally normal in 80% of the 22 departments monitored are classified as normal. This situation can be explained in August 2020. However, limited and very limited partially by the resumption of economic activities as a income-generating activities of 40 and50% were observed result of gradual lifting of restrictive measures of the in 5 departments (Fatik, Foundiougne, Gossas, Tivaouane COVID-19 pandemic control. This situation is still the and Mbour). Agricultural activities are normally carried same for agricultural activities, which indicate a normal out throughout the country. situation since more than 80% of municipalities conduct their agricultural activities under usual conditions. SIERRA LEONE : Compared to July 2020, accessibility to income-generating activities has improved in the THE GAMBIE : The households livelihoods conditions t majority of districts in Sierra Leone. The agricultural are worrying, with limited and no-existing income- activities are carried out under usual conditions in 29% of generating activities in 35% of the zones. It remains the the districts with little or no access to production inputs in same for agricultural activities where 30% of the zones still more than 70% of the country’s districts. facing limited access and a lack of access to production inputs. However, agricultural activities are normally TCHAD : Compared to July, there is relative carried out in 70% of the zones. improvement of the income-generating activities situation. There is no single département in emergency situation. This marks a clear resumption of economic NIGER : Income-generating activities are normally activities. In addition, 22 départements (46%) are in a carried out in 85% of the zones, out of the 76 analysed situation of usual access to IGAs. However, 44 zones (%) zones. It is reported that 14% of the zones are in a are in alert situation which requires special attention situation where income-generating activities are limited despite the continued lifting of restrictive measures. or very limited. These zones are located in localities under emergency state, particularly in the regions of Tillabery In terms of agricultural activities, there are 13 zones that (Abala, Ayorou, , , ) and Diffa are in normal conditions about access to production (Bosso, Nguigmi). inputs and a slight increase in the number of zones in alarm situation, representing 82% of the monitored zones. This situation remains worrying, especially during the current agricultural campaign. 7 TOGO : As in July 2020, the situation remains difficult with income-generating activities that are limited, very limited or absent in 40% of the zones. IGAs are normally carried out in only 60% of the zones.

Table 6 : situation of household living conditions Daily income-generating activities (small business, sale of Agricultural activities (access to land, labour) inputs and labour,) Country Normal Limited Very limited No IGAs Usual Limited Little/no IGAs IGAs IGAs Conditions access access Benin 85% 16% 2% 0% 83% 14% 3% Burkina Faso 55% 40% 5% 0% 70% 25% 5% Cabo Verde 75% 25% 0% 0% 80% 20% 0% Gambia 65% 25% 5% 5% 70% 20% 10% Niger 85% 10% 5% 0% 90% 10% 0% Nigeria 70% 20% 5% 5% 80% 15% 5% Senegal 85% 15% 0% 0% 95% 5% 0% Sierra Leone 90% 5% 5% 0% 80% 10% 10% Chad 70% 20% 10% 0% 75% 20% 5% Togo 60% 25% 10% 5% 80% 20% 0 Cabo Verde 75% 20% 5% 0% 80% 20% 0% Liberia 95% 5% 0% Senegal 40% 60% 0% 0% 80% 15% 5% Burkina Faso 60% 35% 5% 0% 75% 25% 0%

8 Desert Locust monitoring

Forecasts

The locust situation remains calm in the sahelian frontline With the current very low locust numbers in the Sahel countries (Chad, Niger, Mali and Mauritania) despite good frontline countries , only small-scale breeding is expected rainfall recorded on July and August 2020 (Fig. 8), which in these areas. provides favourable conditions for locust development. In the Horn of Africa and around the Red Sea, infestations are expected to increase significantly in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Yemen and, to a lesser extent, coastal areas in Sudan and Saudi Arabia, where numerous hopper bands could form by September 2020. Undetected or untreated swarms in northwest Kenya could mature in September and lay eggs with the onset of poor rains.

Recommendations

- Maintain surveillance operations in Figure 8 – Estimated rainfall in first dekad of August, 2020 frontline countries ;

- Strengthen the monitoring and surveillance units capacities in the field. Monitoring operations by teams from the national locust control units continue in areas where ecological conditions are becoming increasingly favourable for locust development as a result of the heavy rainfall recorded.

Elsewhere in East Africa, ground and aerial control operations continue against spring breeding swarms that persist in the Horn of Africa (Fig. 9). Summer breeding is underway in northern Ethiopia, where increasing numbers of hopper bands are forming in some areas.

Figure 9 – Desert Locust occurrence and forecast (source FAO/ DLIS)

9 Contact: Dr Issoufou Baoua, Harmonized Framework Expert, [email protected] CILSS / AGRHYMET, [email protected]

Layout: Boubacar Mainassara Abdoul Aziz

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