The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has unveiled a $2.5 billion global appeal to support 100 million people facing food insecurity in 54 countries next year.

Launched during the FAO Council meeting in Rome, the new framework focuses on agriculture-based interventions rather than traditional food aid including seeds, livestock support, cash assistance and climate-resilient livelihood projects.

The appeal allocates $1.5 billion for urgent agricultural relief, $1 billion for resilience programmes, and $70 million for global early-warning and coordination systems.

FAO says acute food insecurity has tripled since 2016, yet only a small share of humanitarian funding goes to protecting rural livelihoods. The agency is urging donors to invest in long-term solutions that help vulnerable communities produce food and withstand shocks.

West and Central Africa is set to receive the largest share $593 million to assist 17.7 million people, making countries like Nigeria key beneficiaries. Visit www.jocomms.com for more news.