COVID-19 and food (in)security in Africa: Review of the emerging empirical evidence

COVID-19 risks rolling back many of the efforts and global successes recorded in reducing poverty and food insecurity. We undertake a systematic review of the growing microeconomic literature on the association between COVID-19 and food (in)security in Africa, discussing its implications for food po...

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Main Authors: Tabe-Ojong, Martin Paul Jr., Nshakira-Rukundo, Emmanuel, Gebrekidan, Bisrat Haile
Format: Artículo preliminar
Language:Inglés
Published: International Food Policy Research Institute 2022
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/140832
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author Tabe-Ojong, Martin Paul Jr.
Nshakira-Rukundo, Emmanuel
Gebrekidan, Bisrat Haile
author_browse Gebrekidan, Bisrat Haile
Nshakira-Rukundo, Emmanuel
Tabe-Ojong, Martin Paul Jr.
author_facet Tabe-Ojong, Martin Paul Jr.
Nshakira-Rukundo, Emmanuel
Gebrekidan, Bisrat Haile
author_sort Tabe-Ojong, Martin Paul Jr.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description COVID-19 risks rolling back many of the efforts and global successes recorded in reducing poverty and food insecurity. We undertake a systematic review of the growing microeconomic literature on the association between COVID-19 and food (in)security in Africa, discussing its implications for food policy and research. In doing so, we highlight some of the methodological weaknesses in answering policy-relevant questions on the causal link between COVID-19 and food insecurity. We also review the various coping strategies households are using to build resilience to COVID-19 and explore the role of social protection and other tools in mitigating some of the negative effects of COVID-19. This review provides evidence that COVID-19 is associated with food insecurity both ex-ante and ex-durante. There are many attempts to suggest this relationship may be causal with some robust methods in some contexts, but data limitations prevail which constrains causal learning. We also find evidence that income losses, loss of employment, and heightened food prices may be mediating the relationship between COVID-19 and food insecurity. Going further, we additionally review the mitigating role of social protection and remittances in reducing the negative effects of COVID-19 on food insecurity. Relatedly, we also show evidence that households are using various coping strategies such as food rationing and dietary change to cushion themselves against the COVID-19 shock but most of these measures remain adversely correlated with food insecurity. We end with a discussion on some potential interesting areas where future efforts can be geared to improve learning on the relationship between COVID-19, food insecurity, and building resilience to shocks.
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spelling CGSpace1408322025-12-02T21:02:40Z COVID-19 and food (in)security in Africa: Review of the emerging empirical evidence Tabe-Ojong, Martin Paul Jr. Nshakira-Rukundo, Emmanuel Gebrekidan, Bisrat Haile income shock covid-19 food security food prices resilience COVID-19 risks rolling back many of the efforts and global successes recorded in reducing poverty and food insecurity. We undertake a systematic review of the growing microeconomic literature on the association between COVID-19 and food (in)security in Africa, discussing its implications for food policy and research. In doing so, we highlight some of the methodological weaknesses in answering policy-relevant questions on the causal link between COVID-19 and food insecurity. We also review the various coping strategies households are using to build resilience to COVID-19 and explore the role of social protection and other tools in mitigating some of the negative effects of COVID-19. This review provides evidence that COVID-19 is associated with food insecurity both ex-ante and ex-durante. There are many attempts to suggest this relationship may be causal with some robust methods in some contexts, but data limitations prevail which constrains causal learning. We also find evidence that income losses, loss of employment, and heightened food prices may be mediating the relationship between COVID-19 and food insecurity. Going further, we additionally review the mitigating role of social protection and remittances in reducing the negative effects of COVID-19 on food insecurity. Relatedly, we also show evidence that households are using various coping strategies such as food rationing and dietary change to cushion themselves against the COVID-19 shock but most of these measures remain adversely correlated with food insecurity. We end with a discussion on some potential interesting areas where future efforts can be geared to improve learning on the relationship between COVID-19, food insecurity, and building resilience to shocks. 2022-05-10 2024-04-12T13:36:43Z 2024-04-12T13:36:43Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/140832 en Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Tabe-Ojong, Martin Paul Jr.; Nshakira-Rukundo, Emmanuel; and Gebrekidan, Bisrat. 2022. COVID-19 and food (in)security in Africa: Review of the emerging empirical evidence. IFPRI Discussion Paper 2121. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.135904.
spellingShingle income
shock
covid-19
food security
food prices
resilience
Tabe-Ojong, Martin Paul Jr.
Nshakira-Rukundo, Emmanuel
Gebrekidan, Bisrat Haile
COVID-19 and food (in)security in Africa: Review of the emerging empirical evidence
title COVID-19 and food (in)security in Africa: Review of the emerging empirical evidence
title_full COVID-19 and food (in)security in Africa: Review of the emerging empirical evidence
title_fullStr COVID-19 and food (in)security in Africa: Review of the emerging empirical evidence
title_full_unstemmed COVID-19 and food (in)security in Africa: Review of the emerging empirical evidence
title_short COVID-19 and food (in)security in Africa: Review of the emerging empirical evidence
title_sort covid 19 and food in security in africa review of the emerging empirical evidence
topic income
shock
covid-19
food security
food prices
resilience
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/140832
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AT gebrekidanbisrathaile covid19andfoodinsecurityinafricareviewoftheemergingempiricalevidence