The World Food Programme's {WFP's) Research Assessment and Monitoring {RAM) Unit is proud to present the second issue of the Food Security Highlights, which provides an overview  of the food insecurity  trends, Including the latest findings  from the May 2011 Cadre Harmonise {CH)/ Integrated Food Security Phase Classification {JPC) covering  19 countries in West Africa.This document analyzes the patterns of food supply and access, which underpin and are driving rising food insecurity trends in the region.

Over 31 million people are projected  to be in acute need of food assistance this coming season {June to August 2021), a 28 percent increase from the same period last year. Of this, over 5.4 million are children suffering from acute malnutrition within the Sahel. This Is a 20 percent increase in a year, or since before the outbreak of the COVJ0-19 pandemic. Child malnutrition Is likely to increase as food insecurity rises in the upcoming lean season this year.

The key drivers of acute food insecurity are a complex mix of chronic poverty, worsening violence and conflict fuelling displacement and hikes in food prices, and an overall weakened regional macro-economic foundation due to the COVID-19 restrictions from last year. Within this context,a second wave ofCOVl0-1g has hit the region, further hindering recovery.Despite this seemingly dire picture, there are positive projections for 2021. Especially with the development of vaccines, many countries  are beginning  to ease restrictions, which will benefit  the region through the resumption of trade and tourism.Forecasts point towards an economic recovery, with the Gross Domestic Product {GOP) for West Africa expected to grow by 2.8 per cent in 2021and 3.9 per cent In 2022,as lockdowns cease and prices stabilise.In addition, West Africa had ample rain last year and normal to above-average  rainfall is projected for 2021. There are even projections for a surplus of food for the region this year.[4] Yet the availability of sufficient food doesn't always equate to food security;access is equally critical, both economically and physical.

As economies begin to recover, the most vulnerable - those who have been pushed further into poverty and food Insecurity due to the pandemic

- will need sustained and concentrated  support. WFP's RAM Unit  has developed new  tools and  analyses to inform  operational and policy decision-making within  this new context  where needs are Increasing,resources  are limited,and conflict  is making access more difficult. In conflict-affected areas,where physicalaccess is constrained,analysis of satellite Imagery helps WFP and partners to get a more accurate picture of the Impact of insecurity on agricultural production. These analyses help inform needs assessments done by governments and humanitarian partners In the region. Similarly,a hotspot analysis undertaken by WFP and UNICEF has identified priority areas for food security and nutrition interventions based on the CH/ IPC analysis, as well as other information such as nutrition surveys and numbers of food insecure populations (I.e. populations In CH Phase 3 or higher),as wen as the number of internally  displaced populations {lOPs) and conflict data.