Available data suggests that in 2021, 126.3 million more women than men were food insecure (CARE, 2002 based on data from SOFI 2022 – for the over 15 population only) – a gap which is growing (SOFI 2022). 

This report presents new evidence on the gendered impacts of the current global hunger crisis from eight of the countries most affected: Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Haiti. It draws on, and synthesises, data from recent Rapid Gender Analyses (RGAs) conducted by Plan International and its partners.  

Together, the RGAs analysed for this report involved the participation of 7158 respondents across the eight countries. They provide a wealth of evidence and insights which shed new light on how the crisis is affecting every aspect of life for girls, boys, women and men caught up in it. 

Common themes emerged across all the countries included in this report: risks of gender-based violence are escalating; girls and women in particular face violence, abuse and exploitation in the course of their efforts to secure food and earn an income, but also in their own homes. Education is deprioritised as survival takes precedence and girls are married early to reduce the burden on families. Gender roles are shifting, and workloads are increasing, accompanied by levels of stress and anxiety. 

This report clearly demonstrates that responses to the hunger crisis must take account of individuals’ diverse experiences of food insecurity, and in particular the ways in which they are shaped by entrenched gender inequalities.  

Based on the findings of this report, Plan International makes some key recommendations for governments, donors and other humanitarian actors to address the specific needs of women and girls in the context of the hunger crisis.  

These recommendations include the need for: 1) gender responsive programmes; 2) girl’s participation and leadership in humanitarian programmes; 3) sex-disaggregated data and evidence on food security; 4) tackling the root causes of conflict and insecurity and allow humanitarian workers to safely reach those in needs.