Climate & Food Security Funding Gap: The UN says it has received only about $40m of a $202m request to prepare for El Niño impacts in 22 high-risk countries, with more than half of those nations in Africa and hunger already worsening in places like Somalia. Regional Hunger Worsens: IGAD reports over 40.3m people across Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda face acute food insecurity in 2026, driven by conflict, drought and reduced aid. Cocoa Under Weather Pressure: Cocoa prices are rising again as heavy rain in Côte d’Ivoire keeps farmers out of fields and slows shipments, while dryness in Ghana and Nigeria damages crops and inventories tighten. Farmers Face Rainfall Volatility: In South Africa’s Limpopo, farmers near the Limpopo River say unreliable rainfall and rising temperatures are forcing some to abandon crops. Agribusiness & Finance Push: Agriculture Summit Africa targets a $300m investment pipeline to turn food-systems plans into deployable capital, while Ecobank commits $2.6bn for women-led agribusiness and SMEs. Infrastructure for Trade: Ethiopia and Djibouti back a new refined petroleum products pipeline to cut fuel logistics costs and speed deliveries along the corridor.