As the African Development Bank meets in southern Africa, one of the strongest and most sustained El Nino events on record - turbocharged by climate change - is causing severe drought, failed harvests and a hunger crisis across the region. This is being made worse by record high temperatures as a result of global warming. Women farmers are on the front line of climate change, yet are also the region's first line of defence against food insecurity. With smallholder agriculture being critical to both food security and inclusive growth, governments - supported by donors and international organizations - must urgently implement plans to better support smallholder farmers and increase resilience. This paper outlines the current situation in the region and presents recommendations to help work towards this.