Assessing the Prevalence and Severity of Global Hunger and Food Insecurity: Recent Dynamics and Sub-Saharan Africa’s Burden

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Here is a reference that might have been applicable to consider adding.

FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO. 2021. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021. Transforming food systems for food security, improved nutrition and affordable healthy diets for all. Rome, FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb4474en

Manuscript was very well written and it addresses a very important topic which receives too little attention world wide.

 

Author Response

The response to reviewer 1 is attached 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The study explores the prevalence and severity of global hunger and food insecurity with a special focus on sub-Saharan Africa’s burden. He employed many metrics in his study including GHI, GFSI, data from FAO, and many other relevant resources, in addition to the PoU and the FIES. The manuscript discusses an important topic and fails within the scope of the journal. I will approve it for publishing after some revisions:

1. Please include a chapter on the methodology you used to prepare the study.

2. The methods you used to extract data on tables should be explained.

3. In the footnote of each table, please include a keynote to make the table more understandable for readers.

These are my only comments. 

 

Author Response

My response to reviewer 2 is attached

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The article presents a thorough analysis of the situation related to the assessment of hunger and food insecurity globally with a special focus on sub-Saharan Africa. This is a very valuable report on the prevalence and severity of hunger and food insecurity based on two global indicators, the Global Food Security Index - GFSI and the Global Hunger Index - GHI. Despite the author's great commitment and professionalism in the development of this article, I have several comments that, in my opinion, should be taken into account to improve the quality of the content and are not comments that disqualify the article for publication. In the reviewer's opinion, they should be:

1/ Correct the title of the article. The author did not study the phenomenon but only evaluated it on the basis of source data based on a narrative review of the data. I would also correct the sentence formation and readability of the title in relation to the data analyzed and its importance. I feel that it is important to talk about food insecurity first and then hunger, not the other way around, since food insecurity leads to hunger. In this situation, I propose to change the title to: "Assessing the Prevalence and Severity of Global Food Insecurity and Hunger with a Special Focus on Sub-Saharan Africa," or more generally: "The prevalence and severity of global food insecurity and hunger with a particular focus on sub-Saharan Africa." - these title proposals should be considered, it is not a requirement. Also note that then not only in the text should the order of the phenomena discussed be changed, i.e. "food insecurity" first, then "hunger." But also the order of the data tables on the subject should be changed, i.e. first the GFSI data tables and then the GHI tables.

2/ The last paragraph in the "Introduction" chapter refers to the material and method of the study (narrative review of the data). If this type of article requires it (unless it does not), then the purpose of the paper should be stated at the end of the "Introduction" chapter and then the last paragraph from this chapter should be extracted as a new chapter: 2. Material and Methods. Then, this chapter should also include data (tables) about scales/keys/colors, i.e. "GFSI color key" and "GHI severity of hunger scale/color key."

3/ I would limit the keywords to 6 essential and relevant to this review, i.e. food insecurity, hunger, Global Food Security Index (GFSI), Global Hunger Index (GHI), World, Africa.

4/ The situation of food insecurity and hunger in all regions of the World was described in great detail, and at the same time the question of why this is happening in these regions was discussed in a rather poor way. Typically, reference was made to 6 reasons, i.e. rising food prices, COVID-19 pandemic, armed conflicts, poverty, growing inequality and climate change. I propose that the data on the situation of food insecurity and hunger in different regions of the world be written in a slightly more synthetic way (reduce the size of the data description) and at the same time try to give more reasons for these situations (food insecurity and hunger), i.e. discuss more the existing situation in different regions of the World.

 

Author Response

Please see the attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 4 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The authors review the prevalence and severity of hunger and food insecurity across the regions of the world. To do so, they rely on several indices and describe their development. Though interesting, the paper has some major flaws. Addressing them appropriately could improve it significantly. The major flaws are the following:

·       Even though the authors extensively explain the GHI in lines 110-121, no mention of the GFSI is made. I think both indicators need to be explained in detail as they are the core of the paper. I think the authors need to: (i) explain in detail what they measure and how they are calculated; (ii) explain which other indices they include and where the data come from; (iii) explain the food security dimensions each indicator refers to; (iv) state clearly the organizations that compute them; (v) justify why they have been chosen; and (vi) discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using one or the other index and their implications.

·       All the information relative to the scores needs to be included before the authors start to describe the results on hunger and food security in the different regions (before Section 3). For example, lines 150-154 and lines 155-164 should be included in a previous section. Alongside the (i) to (vi) points enumerated in the previous comment, I think the authors should also add the GHI and GFSI scales, just as done for the GHI in lines 150-154, and for the GFSI in lines 155-164.

·       If the authors review the development of any other indicators, I think they should also include it alongside the GHI and the GFSI.

·       I would also include the information on what the authors are doing, i.e., lines 129-134.

·       The aim needs to be much better outlined. What does the paper add to the literature? Why is it worthwhile to compare the results of these indices across the regions of the world?

·       The presentation of results needs to be improved. It needs to be more compelling and better structured.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

As stated above, minor editing of English language is required.

Author Response

Please see the attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 5 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The exciting review presents an accurate picture of the world situation with particular reference to the severity of Global Hunger and Food Insecurity.

I suggest in the Conclusions to deepen how states in difficulty can sustainably address the problem.

The author is too generic in the conclusions and he should indicate which are the most effective and sustainable strategies to limit the problem

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Minor Editing of the English language is required

Author Response

Please, see the attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 4 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

See uploaded file.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Moderate editing is needed. 

Author Response

Please, see the attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 5 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The paper is improved sufficiently so it can be accepted in its present form

Round 3

Reviewer 4 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

I do not have more comments. 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Minor editing of English language required.