Humanitarian needs continue to rise in Southern and East Africa as the region experiences the devastating effects of climate change, economic challenges and conflicts. Millions of people face acute drought-related food insecurity, leading to large-scale displacement and protection concerns. Recent heavy rains and localised floods have been impacting Eastern Africa (central and western Kenya, northern Uganda, southern Ethiopia, and central Somalia).
To continue saving lives and shore up resilience among affected communities, funding for humanitarian response plans for the Southern and Eastern Africa region must be supported at scale.
Coordinated appeal requirements for the region have increased over the years. Regional requirements were lowest in 2019 ($7.05 billion) and peaked in 2023 at nearly $14 billion. In 2024, requirements have decreased by 20 per cent ($2.75 billion), with the largest decrease registered in Somalia (39 per cent). Three plans have higher requirements in 2024 compared to 2023: the Sudan HRP (plus five per cent), Sudan RRP (plus 29 per cent) and the South Sudan RRP (plus three per cent). The Ethiopia HRP was the largest inter-agency response plan in the region in 2022, 2023 and 2024, closely followed by the Sudan, South Sudan, and the Somalia HRPs in volume of requirements.
Southern and East Africa - People in need and targeted (2019 - 2024)
Appeals Funding Gap end-February (2015-2024)
Total Humanitarian Funding in Southern and East Africa
Southern and East Africa Plans - 2024
Between 2022 and 2023, funding to the region decreased by 25 per cent, while requirements increased by 24 per cent. This decrease was observed globally as well. In absolute figures, Somalia saw the largest decrease in 2023 funding compared to 2022 (less $957.4 million). It was well covered in 2022 to respond to the famine (93 per cent) and dropped in 2023 (43 per cent coverage). The second largest decrease in HRP funding was for the Ethiopia HRP (less $393.7 million or minus 23 per cent). The Sudan HRP requirements increased by 32 per cent; however, funding decreased by one per cent between 2022 and 2023. The South Sudan HRP requirements increased by 21 per cent, while funding decreased by 17 per cent. In 2023, the Kenya and the Madagascar Flash Appeals were the best funded appeals with 80 per cent and 54 per cent coverage, respectively. The humanitarian pooled funds of Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan are playing a key role in enabling a timely response.
Total humanitarian funding for countries in the Southern and Eastern Africa region (including HRP funding and other) since 2019 accounts for 20 per cent of global humanitarian funding ($32.45 billion). Ethiopia, South Sudan, Somalia, and Sudan account for 78 per cent of the total reported humanitarian funding in the region. Fifty-six per cent of the funding to the region since 2019 came from one single donor, and 89 per cent of the funding from only ten donors.
Total Humanitarian Funding to the region peaked in 2022 with $8.50 billion. In 2023, reported funding totalled $6.24 billion or 27 per cent less than in 2022, This decrease is similar to the overall decrease in global humanitarian funding between 2022 and 2023 (minus 25 per cent globally).
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