Food consumption in West Africa

Diets, while not the singular cause, are a significant contributor to malnutrition in all its forms. Poor quality diets are associated with a large and growing health burden and are a leading cause of disease. This burden is particularly high in West Africa, a region with persistently high rates of undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, as well as a rising prevalence of overweight. Beyond shaping nutrition outcomes and health, food consumption patterns and food demand create opportunities and challenges for agrifood systems. Realizing the full potential of this sector, estimated to be the largest source of employment in West Africa, hinges upon our understanding of the entire food system including food consumption. Improved knowledge of diets is therefore crucial to design appropriate food, agricultural, and nutrition policies.

This dashboard provides information on food consumption of households in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo. The data presented in this dashboard derives from the “Enquête Harmonisée sur les Conditions de Vie des Ménages” (Household Living Conditions Survey). This survey is simultaneously conducted in all eight countries as part of the “Programme d’Harmonisation et de Modernisation des Enquêtes sur les Conditions de Vie des ménages dans les Etats membres de l'UEMOA” (Program for the Harmonization and Modernization of Household Living Conditions Surveys in WAEMU Member States).