In recent years, a combination of armed conflict, climatic shocks and long-standing socioeconomic and governance deficits in north-east Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen have led to acute humanitarian emergencies and famine or near famine situations.

The objective of this study is to inform the further development of a comprehensive approach to famine prevention and response at global and country. It seeks to illustrate - based on data and evidence collected - how increased development investments in particular can assist countries in breaking chronic cycles of crisis and famine and put them on a sustainable path to resilient development, and the urgency of such investments in parallel to ongoing humanitarian operations and peacebuilding efforts.

The case for increased investment in development and peacebuilding to address famines articulated in this paper is derived from an analysis of the situation in north-east Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen.