CLIMATE SECURITY MAPPING FOR TARGETED WFP HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTIONS IN THE LIPTAKO-GOURMA REGION Climate Security Hotspots and Food Security Insights FACTSHEET 1. Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT - CGIAR Climate Security 2. UN World Food Programme Carolina Sarzana, Yacouba Ouedraogo, Theresa Renkamp, Federico Doehnert, Amadou M. Cisse, Ollo Sib, Benson Kenduiywo, Victor Korir, and Peter Läderach 1 1 2 1 2 2 11 1 P h o t o b y D a n i e l T i v e a u / C I F O R - I C R A F Resilient Food Systems in a Climate Crisis HIGHLIGHTS The Liptako Gourma region, encompassing Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, faces a crisis where climate change, conflict, and food insecurity intersect. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and prolonged droughts are disrupting agriculture and intensifying resource competition, fueling local conflicts. In these transboudary provinces, non-state armed groups exploit resource- related grievances to expand their influence, worsening food insecurity, especially in agricultural and livestock-dependent communities. The climate security hotspot analysis in the Liptako-Gourma region from 2019 to 2023, combined with yearly food insecurity rates data from the Cadre Harmonisé reveals a strong link between conflict, climate stress, and food insecurity. Conflict and drought in one year typically lead to worsening food insecurity the next. While the overall number of climate security hotspots has decreased, those that remain become more severe and concentrated, particularly in the bordering regions of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. In some areas, such as northern Burkina Faso, up to 83% of the population faces food insecurity, driven by a combination of conflict and severe drought. Looking ahead, the situation remains dire. While some regions have seen modest improvements, the severity of climate stress and conflict in key hotspots suggests that food insecurity will continue to rise in the most climate security hotspots areas. Addressing these intertwined crises requires integrated interventions that tackle both immediate humanitarian needs and the deeper drivers of conflict and climate change. WFP should prioritize resilience-building through multi-sectoral programs that integrate food assistance, climate adaptation, and conflict resolution in areas that are prone to developing conflicts. Strengthening local governance, improving resource access, and promoting community-based peacebuilding efforts will be critical to reducing the vulnerability of populations and breaking the cycle of food insecurity. An integrated approach to assessing food security in the Liptako-Gourma - encompassing climate and conflict indicators - will be crucial to avert crises. Exisiting food security assessment tools, such as the Cadre Harmonisé, will be more effective at averting crises by introducing a conflict lens. Sahelian countries, particularly Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, are grappling with a deeply interconnected set of challenges at the nexus of climate change, security, environmental concerns, resource management, and human mobility. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, and frequent floods are undermining the traditional agricultural and pastoral livelihoods that sustain most rural communities (Tomalka et al., 2021). Unpredictable rainfall and prolonged droughts disrupt rainfed agriculture, leading to reduced crop yields, food shortages, and intensified competition over scarce resources (von Uexküll, 2014). This competition has inflamed communal conflicts, including land‑ and water‑disputes and farmer‑herder clashes (Brottem, 2021). Diminishing pastureland forces pastoralists into farmlands or protected areas, often sparking clashes with farming communities (Jobbins, et al., 2021). In Burkina Faso’s Centre‑Nord region, roughly 30 % of agriculture dependent households have migrated because of unproductive farming; resource scarcity has further driven migration and heightened tensions over land and water access (NUPI, 2021). The overlap between resource extraction and land use conflicts creates fertile ground for exploitation by non-state armed groups (NSAGs), which finance their operations through illicit activities such as illegal mining and logging (Jobbins, McDonnell, & Brottem, 2021). Since 2015, both Burkina Faso and Mali have experienced a rapid expansion of violent insurgencies, particularly in Burkina Faso’s Sahel and Centre-Nord regions and northern Mali. In these areas, NSAGs exploit local grievances and resource disputes to broaden their influence; they often hide in poorly governed forested zones, using them as operational bases and funding their activities through illegal means (Brottem, 2021). Consequently, internal displacement has reached unprecedented levels, placing additional strain on already limited local resources (IDMC & NRC, 2023). This co-occurrence of climate induced migration and conflict‑driven displacement has worsened food insecurity, with displaced populations among the most vulnerable (IDMC & NRC, 2023). The Liptako‑Gourma region, where Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger converge, is especially sensitive to these dynamics. It has become a hotspot for conflict, driven in part by a rapid rise in violent extremism that coincides with significant climate stressors. Severe droughts and erratic weather C L I M A T E , C O N F L I C T A N D F O O D S E C U R I T Y C O N T E X T I N T H E L I P T A K O - G O U R M A R E G I O N Resilient Food Systems in a Climate Crisis patterns have amplified local grievances, leading to increased recruitment by extremist groups that capitalize on livelihood disruption and resource scarcity (Gaston et al., 2023; Brottem, 2021). These groups frequently target communities most affected by climate shocks, intensifying insecurity and food crises (Jobbins et al., 2021). In areas where livelihoods depend heavily on agriculture and livestock, climate change impacts such as lower crop yields and reduced pasture availability further heighten local vulnerability to exploitation by armed groups (Gaston et al., 2023; Tomalka et al., 2021). The convergence of these climate and security challenges has led to a severe food security crisis. Recent reports indicate a drastic rise in food insecurity within conflict-affected areas, especially where climate impacts are most severe (Gaston et al., 2023; Teppe & André, 2023). Displacement of populations fleeing conflict zones compounds the problem, placing immense pressure on already fragile food systems and intensifying competition over dwindling resources (IDMC & NRC, 2023; Gaston et al., 2023). Displaced people, often lacking access to traditional livelihoods, are among the most vulnerable to food insecurity, underscoring the need for targeted humanitarian assistance (Gaston et al., 2023; Teppe & André, 2023). Addressing climate and environmental issues in the Sahel therefore requires comprehensive strategies that integrate climate adaptation, conflict resolution, sustainable resource management, and improved governance. Building a robust evidence base on actions that enhance resilience to environmental stressors and promote long‑term community cohesion is essential, a perspective that aligns with the emerging field of environmental peacebuilding (NUPI, 2021). H O T S P O T S I N S I G H T S Resilient Food Systems in a Climate Crisis This analysis assesses climate, conflict and food insecurity dynamics in the Liptako Gourma region, at the intersection of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, which is particularly vulnerable in this context. The maps analyzed depict conflict and climate data for a given year (n), alongside the percentage of the population experiencing food insecurity in the following year (n+1). The primary aim of this analysis is to examine the interaction between these factors and assess trends to better anticipate the progression of the food crisis in this region and provide WFP with insights on targeting priorities on the basis of such trends. Food insecurity at the admin level 2 is illustrated by background colors ranging from white to dark blue, with darker shades representing a higher percentage of the population facing food insecurity. Regions where at least 20% of the population is food insecure are highlighted, reflecting areas Resilient Food Systems in a Climate Crisis where WFP focuses its humanitarian interventions – targeted for emergency operations based on this threshold. The conflict-climate intersection hotspots, represented by colored squares overlaid on the map, indicate the interaction between conflict and climatic stress (drought). The colors distinguish different combinations of conflict and drought stress, ranging from "high conflict + high drought stress" to "moderate conflict + low drought stress." The most at-risk areas are marked by the darkest shades (red). Figure 1 shows that in 2019, several regions in the north of Burkina Faso (the Sahel, Centre-Nord, Est and Nord regions), Mali (Mopti and Gao regions) and Niger (Tillabéri and Diffa regions) were confronted with a high intensity of armed conflict and very unfavorable climatic conditions. This intersection is particularly pronounced in the Liptako-Gourma transboundary region, as shown by the red and orange hotspots on the map. This area is characterized by intense conflict, combined with moderate to severe drought. Figure 1. Food insecure population in 2020 and climate security hotspots in 2019 Resilient Food Systems in a Climate Crisis The food insecurity observed in 2020 seems to be a direct result of the conflict and climatic situation in 2019, as the overlay of climate security cluster with food insecure regions shows. The areas in dark blue in northern Burkina Faso, particularly around Soum, Oudalan, Seno, and Sanmantenga, show food insecurity affecting up to 63% of the population. Similarly, central Mali is severely affected, with food insecurity reaching up to 41% (Menaka). Niger seems to be less affected by both climate-conflict interactions and food insecurity, concerning up to 30% of population in western transboundary provinces and south-eastern ones. Figure 2. Food insecure population in 2021 and climate security hotspots in 2020 Regions with a very low number of conflict events in 2020 also presented a very low number of food insecure people in 2021 (Figure 2). This map shows an almost obvious correlation between the severity of conflict and climate in 2020 and the rise in food insecurity in 2021. The hardest-hit areas are those where the interaction between conflict and drought is strongest, notably in the Liptako-Gourma transboundary provinces. Conflict, by disrupting food Resilient Food Systems in a Climate Crisis supply chains and reducing access to farmland, coupled with droughts, pushed entire populations into a food crisis the following year. Overall, food insecurity levels as well as conflicts and drought stress have decreased in intensity and occurrence compared to the ones presented in Figure 1. In particular, the north-eastern regions of Burkina Faso seem to have substantially recovered. Figure 3. Food insecure population in 2022 and climate security hotspots in 2021 Figure 3 shows that in 2021, conflicts intensified in already unstable regions, notably in northern Burkina Faso and central Mali. In several regions like for instance Soum (Burkina Faso), it can be observed that the climate security hotspots are less spatially spread, but more severe in specific hotspot areas. Climate data show that drought conditions persist, with red and orange areas indicating significant interactions between climatic stress and armed violence in the year preceding food security data. The increased presence of these intersections in Burkina Faso’s Sahel region, particularly on the border between Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, is alarming. The impact of conflict and drought in 2021 becomes clear in 2022, with the stark increase of food insecurity rates, reaching up to 62% in some areas of Burkina Faso (Sahel region), Niger (53% in Abala) and Mali (50% in Douentza). Populations in the Sahel, East, Centre-North and North regions of Burkina Faso, as well as the Gao and Mopti regions of Mali, and the Tillabéri and Diffa regions of Niger, saw a rapid worsening of their access to food due to the combination of violence and climatic disruptions observed in 2021, and probably also because of the instability accumulated over previous years. The one-year time lag between the events of 2021 and the food crisis of 2022 underlines the delayed but cumulative effect of conflict and climate on food security. Moreover, the collapse of agricultural and economic systems in conflict zones exacerbates the vulnerability of populations. Resilient Food Systems in a Climate Crisis Figure 4. Food insecure population in 2023 and climate security hotspots in 2022 Resilient Food Systems in a Climate Crisis Figure 4, shows that the food and security situation evolved to become very critical in some areas, particularly in the transboundary provinces in Burkina Faso, where climate security hotspots have decreased in surface area but intensified in severity, leading to a steep increase in food insecurity levels. Worst affected provinces include Soum (83%), Oudalan (62%) and Loroum (59%) in northern Burkina Faso and Menaka (59%) in Mali. However, the overall occurrence of climate security hotspots has decreased. For instance, Douentza (Mali) developed from widely spread moderate and high climate security hotspots to very few moderate climate security hotspots, which entailed a decrease in food insecure population from 50% the previous year (Figure 3) to a food insecurity level of only 24%. Compared to the previous year (Figure 3), Mali displays less severe food insecurity. In Niger, the same can be observed as food insecurity is generally less prevalent through the country and since the northeastern provinces are not classified as in need for humanitarian assistance (N’Gourti, Bilma, Iferouane, Arlit, Goure). Figure 5. Food insecure population in 2024 and climate security hotspots in 2023 Resilient Food Systems in a Climate Crisis Figure 5 illustrates a general decline in the number of climate security hotspots throughout 2023 compared to the previous year. However, areas that were previously classified as moderate climate security hotspots have intensified in severity. Notably, the hotspots in Mali and Niger have worsened, reflecting an escalation in conflict levels within these regions. In contrast, both the severity of climate security hotspots and food insecurity rates have decreased in Burkina Faso compared to 2022, which remains nonetheless heavily affected by food insecurity. In Mali ’s northeastern regions, particularly Tessalit and Kidal, both conflict intensity and food insecurity have sharply increased. Food insecurity rates, previously negligible, have surged to 32% and 35% respectively within just one year. A similar trend is observed in Niger’s southeastern regions – Bosso, Diffa, Goudoumaria, and Maine-Soroa – as well as in transboundary areas like Abala. Overall, while the number of regions affected by food insecurity has declined, the severity of food insecurity in 2024 has intensified in areas where conflict worsened in 2023, particularly in regions where moderate conflict has escalated. The present analysis of climate security mapping reveals a clear relationship between conflict intensity, climatic stress – particularly drought – and escalating food insecurity across the Sahel region. The maps examined indicate a time-lagged correlation, where food insecurity in year n+1 is heavily influenced by both conflict and climate conditions in year n. Notably, areas affected by armed conflict tend to experience heightened food insecurity, with climatic factors like drought exacerbating the situation. Moreover, this cycle appears self-reinforcing, as provinces experiencing food insecurity in one year tend to see increased conflict the following year. Further statistical analysis is necessary to better understand this potential feedback loop. The vulnerable border regions of Liptako-Gourma, encompassing parts of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, have emerged as the most affected. Both national boundaries and regional boundaries within these countries more frequently show CS hotspots, where the interplay of armed conflict and climatic shocks creates heightened risks. From 2019 to 2023, the number of these hotspots has declined, but those that remain have become more spatially distributed and less concentrated along borders. In Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, climate security hotspots initially appeared OUTLOOK as moderate and widespread across entire regions, but over time they became more concentrated in fewer areas, where they intensified. This pattern of conflict concentration often coincided with rising food insecurity in the following year. For instance, this intensification was observed between 2021 and 2022 in all three countries, as well as in certain areas of Burkina Faso from 2022 to 2023 and Mali from 2023 to 2024. In regions where moderate climate security hotspots (e.g., yellow pixels on the map) were initially associated with low food insecurity (less than 20%), an increase in both conflict intensity and food insecurity was observed in subsequent years. This pattern is evident in North-Eastern Mali (Tessalit, Abeibara, Kidal, Tin-Essako) and Eastern Niger (Arlit, Iferouane, Bilma, N’Gourti, N’Guigmi, Bosso, Maine Soroa, Goure). However, exceptions were found in 2023-2024, particularly in Central-Western Mali and parts of Niger (Bilma and Iferouane), where intensified climate security hotspots emerged despite no concurrent food insecurity. This analysis highlights the urgent need for humanitarian and development efforts to not only address the symptoms of food insecurity but also to tackle its root causes – armed conflict and climate-induced environmental degradation. As climate security hotspots intensify, peacebuilding interventions must proactively anticipate and address the intertwined dynamics of climate stress and conflict to prevent worsening food insecurity in vulnerable regions. Resilient Food Systems in a Climate Crisis Moving towards a constructive path, the following recommendations appear as relevant on the basis of this analysis. 1. Integrated conflict and climate response Integrate conflict threasholds considerations in food insecurity assessment tools, such as the Cadre Harmonisé Response hubs in key transboundary areas to coordinate efforts addressing both conflict and climate risks. Conflict-sensitive aid to ensure food interventions are equitable and do not worsen local tensions. Cross-border initiatives to target shared conflict-climate hotspots across Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. 2. Prevention in Early-Stage Hotspots Early action food assistance in moderate hotspots areas before conditions worsen. Resilience-building interventions in moderate climate security hotspots to reduce dependency on vulnerable farming. Build on conflict rates data to provide food assistance 3. Monitoring and Early Warning Systems Leverage advanced tools - such as AIMS and Cadre Harmonisé data - alongside conflict reports to identify emerging hotspots for early intervention. Adaptive targeting with early warning data to adapt interventions, shifting from food aid to cash transfers where appropriate. Adapt exisiting food security monitorig tools to integrate conflict concerns 4. Peacebuilding and Social Cohesion Community peace dialogues to facilitate local forums addressing conflicts over resources and promoting cooperation. Mediation trainings in conflict resolution to manage resource disputes. 5. Livelihood Restoration in Post-Hotspot Areas Rehabilitate agriculture through providing farmers with tools, seeds, and training to rebuild food production in post climate security hostopot areas. Rehabilitate markets and trade routes to stabilize incomes and food access. Resilient Food Systems in a Climate Crisis METHODOLOGY Spatial-temporal analysis enables rapid detection and description of places and communities at risk due to climate, security, and socioeconomic impacts. The hotspots results presented here follow the approach developed by the CGIAR Climate Security Focus based on regular grid (megapixels) of ~20 km2 (Achicanoy et al., 2023). These megapixels are overlaid with Cadre Harmonisé food security indicators at admin 2 level, to evaluate the overlap of climate-conflict hotspots and food insecurity. Cadre Harmonisé data is adopted by WFP to inform targeting sites for humanitarian interventions. Cadre Harmonisé food insecurity data is averaged for each year assessed (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024). The determination of the % of people in IPC Phase 3 and above is achieved by summing the percentages corresponding to Phases 3, 4, and 5 and computing averages over the designated period (2017-2022). Food insecurity population lower than 20% is omitted in the maps (white provinces), to only represent WFP-targeted regions. This overlay process facilitates the creation of thematic maps that depict various climate-conflict clusters. Resilient Food Systems in a Climate Crisis Achicanoy, H. A., Mendez Alzate, A. C., Ramirez-Villegas, J., & Kenduiywo, B. K. (2023). Spatial Analysis: CGIAR Climate security observatory. Methods Papers Series. Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT Brottem, L. (2021). The Growing Complexity of Farmer-Herder Conflict in West and Central Africa. Africa Center for Strategic Studies Gaston, E., Brown, O., Al-Dawsari, N., Downing, C., Day, A., & Bodewig, R. (2023). Climate-Security and Peacebuilding Thematic Review. United Nations University Centre for Policy Research (UNU-CPR). IDMC, & NRC. (2023). Global Report on Internal Displacement 2023 - Internal Displacement and Food Security. Internal Displacement Monitoring Center (IDMC), Norwegian Refugee council (NRC) Jobbins, M., McDonnell, A., & Brottem, L. (2021). Pastoralism and Conflict: Tools for Prevention and Response in the Sudano-Sahel. Search for Common Ground NUPI. (2021). Climate Peace and Security Fact Sheet Mali. Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) Teppe, F., & André, C. (2023). Surviving in crisis: Unpacking the link between conflict, displacement and food security in Burkina Faso. Internal Displacement Monitoring Center (IDMC), Norwegian Refugee council (NRC) Tomalka, J., Birner, J., Mar Dieye, A., Gleixner, S., Harper, A., Hauf, Y., Hippe, F., Jansen, L., Lange, S., Laudien, R., Rheinbay, J., Vinke, K., von Loeben, S., Wesch, S., Zvolsky, A., & Gornott, C. (2021). Climate Risk Profile: Sahel. Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel (UNISS) Von Uexkull, N. (2014). Sustained drought, vulnerability and civil conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa. Political Geography, 43, 16–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polgeo.2014.10.003 REFERENCES Resilient Food Systems in a Climate Crisis S U G G E S T E D C I T A T I O N Sarzana, C. (1), Ouedraogo, Y. (1), Renkamp, TM (1), Doehnert, F. (2), Cisse, A.M. (2), Sib, O. (2), Kenduiywo, B. (1), Korir, V. (1), and Läderach, P (1). (2024). Climate Security Mapping for targeted WFP Humanitarian Interventions in the Liptako-Gourma Region. Climate Security Hotspots and Food Security Insights. Dakar, Senegal. The Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT, CGIAR FOCUS Climate Security. (1) The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT (2) The United Nations World Food Program This work was supported by the Norwegian Government under the project titled ‘Learning Support for a Sub-Saharan Africa Multi-Country Climate Resilience Program for Food Security, ’ and by the donors who fund the CGIAR Research Initiative on Fragility, Conflict, and Migration (FCM), through their contributions to the CGIAR Trust Fund: https://www.cgiar.org/funders https://www.cgiar.org/funders/ CLIMATE SECURITY MAPPING FOR TARGETED WFP HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTIONS IN THE LIPTAKO-GOURMA REGION Climate Security Hotspots and Food Security Insights Carolina Sarzana, Yacouba Ouedraogo, Theresa Renkamp, Federico Doehnert, Amadou M. Cisse, Ollo Sib, Benson Kenduiywo, Victor Korir, and Peter Läderach Photo by Daniel Tiveau/CIFOR-ICRAF FACTSHEET HIGHLIGHTS Resilient Food Systems in a Climate Crisis CLIMATE, CONFLICT AND FOOD SECURITY CONTEXT IN THE LIPTAKO-GOURMA REGION Resilient Food Systems in a Climate Crisis HOTSPOTS INSIGHTS Resilient Food Systems in a Climate Crisis where WFP focuses its humanitarian interventions – targeted for emergency operations based on this threshold. The conflict-climate intersection hotspots, represented by colored squares overlaid on the map, indicate the interaction between conflict and climatic stress (drought). The colors distinguish different combinations of conflict and drought stress, ranging from "high conflict + high drought stress" to "moderate conflict + low drought stress." The most at-risk areas are marked by the darkest shades (red). Figure 1 shows that in 2019, several regions in the north of Burkina Faso (the Sahel, Centre-Nord, Est and Nord regions), Mali (Mopti and Gao regions) and Niger (Tillabéri and Diffa regions) were confronted with a high intensity of armed conflict and very unfavorable climatic conditions. This intersection is particularly pronounced in the Liptako-Gourma transboundary region, as shown by the red and orange hotspots on the map. This area is characterized by intense conflict, combined with moderate to severe drought. Resilient Food Systems in a Climate Crisis The food insecurity observed in 2020 seems to be a direct result of the conflict and climatic situation in 2019, as the overlay of climate security cluster with food insecure regions shows. The areas in dark blue in northern Burkina Faso, particularly around Soum, Oudalan, Seno, and Sanmantenga, show food insecurity affecting up to 63% of the population. Similarly, central Mali is severely affected, with food insecurity reaching up to 41% (Menaka). Niger seems to be less affected by both climate-conflict interactions and food insecurity, concerning up to 30% of population in western transboundary provinces and south-eastern ones. Regions with a very low number of conflict events in 2020 also presented a very low number of food insecure people in 2021 (Figure 2). This map shows an almost obvious correlation between the severity of conflict and climate in 2020 and the rise in food insecurity in 2021. The hardest-hit areas are those where the interaction between conflict and drought is strongest, notably in the Liptako-Gourma transboundary provinces. Conflict, by disrupting food Resilient Food Systems in a Climate Crisis supply chains and reducing access to farmland, coupled with droughts, pushed entire populations into a food crisis the following year. Overall, food insecurity levels as well as conflicts and drought stress have decreased in intensity and occurrence compared to the ones presented in Figure 1. In particular, the north-eastern regions of Burkina Faso seem to have substantially recovered. Figure 3 shows that in 2021, conflicts intensified in already unstable regions, notably in northern Burkina Faso and central Mali. In several regions like for instance Soum (Burkina Faso), it can be observed that the climate security hotspots are less spatially spread, but more severe in specific hotspot areas. Climate data show that drought conditions persist, with red and orange areas indicating significant interactions between climatic stress and armed violence in the year preceding food security data. The increased presence of Resilient Food Systems in a Climate Crisis these intersections in Burkina Faso’s Sahel region, particularly on the border between Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, is alarming. The impact of conflict and drought in 2021 becomes clear in 2022, with the stark increase of food insecurity rates, reaching up to 62% in some areas of Burkina Faso (Sahel region), Niger (53% in Abala) and Mali (50% in Douentza). Populations in the Sahel, East, Centre-North and North regions of Burkina Faso, as well as the Gao and Mopti regions of Mali, and the Tillabéri and Diffa regions of Niger, saw a rapid worsening of their access to food due to the combination of violence and climatic disruptions observed in 2021, and probably also because of the instability accumulated over previous years. The one-year time lag between the events of 2021 and the food crisis of 2022 underlines the delayed but cumulative effect of conflict and climate on food security. Moreover, the collapse of agricultural and economic systems in conflict zones exacerbates the vulnerability of populations. Resilient Food Systems in a Climate Crisis Figure 4, shows that the food and security situation evolved to become very critical in some areas, particularly in the transboundary provinces in Burkina Faso, where climate security hotspots have decreased in surface area but intensified in severity, leading to a steep increase in food insecurity levels. Worst affected provinces include Soum (83%), Oudalan (62%) and Loroum (59%) in northern Burkina Faso and Menaka (59%) in Mali. However, the overall occurrence of climate security hotspots has decreased. For instance, Douentza (Mali) developed from widely spread moderate and high climate security hotspots to very few moderate climate security hotspots, which entailed a decrease in food insecure population from 50% the previous year (Figure 3) to a food insecurity level of only 24%. Compared to the previous year (Figure 3), Mali displays less severe food insecurity. In Niger, the same can be observed as food insecurity is generally less prevalent through the country and since the northeastern provinces are not classified as in need for humanitarian assistance (N’Gourti, Bilma, Iferouane, Arlit, Goure). Resilient Food Systems in a Climate Crisis OUTLOOK Resilient Food Systems in a Climate Crisis Resilient Food Systems in a Climate Crisis METHODOLOGY Resilient Food Systems in a Climate Crisis NUPI. (2021). Climate Peace and Security Fact Sheet Mali. Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) SUGGESTED CITATION Resilient Food Systems in a Climate Crisis