Tackling Egypt’s rising food insecurity in a time of transition

Owing to a succession of crises and worsening poverty, food security in Egypt started to deteriorate as early as 2005. These crises included the avian influenza epidemic in 2006; the food, fuel, and financial crises of 2007–2009; a further rallying of global food prices starting in late 2010; and the challenging macroeconomic context that followed political instability in the wake of the 2011 revolution. Household food insecurity and child malnutrition have risen significantly, and food subsidies are an important part of the country’s safety net.