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10 recommendations for African governments to ensure food security for poor and vulnerable populations during COVID-19

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  • Laté Lawson-Lartego

    (Oxfam America, Inclusive and Resilient Food Systems Theme)

  • Marc J. Cohen

    (Oxfam America, Inclusive and Resilient Food Systems Theme)

Abstract

In addressing COVID-19, African governments should not forget the livelihoods as well as the food and nutrition security of their citizens. With over 70% of the workforce in the informal sector without any social protection and health insurance, the pandemic could have a devastating impact on income and livelihoods as well as food and nutrition security for workers up and down the food chain. There are ten steps African governments can take to ensure that their response to the disease takes food and nutrition security into account: 1. Protect food supply chains and consider them essential services; 2. Consider fiscal and monetary incentives; 3. Prioritize healthy diets; 4. Use food reserves wisely; 5. Keep food markets open while ensuring safety; 6. Use mobile cash transfers for social protection; 7. Protect farmers and food workers; 8. Prioritize gender equality; 9. Instill a sense of solidarity; and 10. Avoid export bans.

Suggested Citation

  • Laté Lawson-Lartego & Marc J. Cohen, 2020. "10 recommendations for African governments to ensure food security for poor and vulnerable populations during COVID-19," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 12(4), pages 899-902, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:12:y:2020:i:4:d:10.1007_s12571-020-01062-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s12571-020-01062-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Resnick, Danielle, 2020. "COVID-19 lockdowns threaten Africa’s vital informal urban food trade," IFPRI book chapters, in: COVID-19 and global food security, chapter 16, pages 73-74, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
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    Cited by:

    1. Bekhzod EGAMBERDIEV, 2021. "Household Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic From A Development Economics Perspective - A Review," Regional Science Inquiry, Hellenic Association of Regional Scientists, vol. 0(1), pages 15-30, June.
    2. Brenda Cardoso & Luiza Cunha & Adriana Leiras & Paulo Gonçalves & Hugo Yoshizaki & Irineu de Brito Junior & Frederico Pedroso, 2021. "Causal Impacts of Epidemics and Pandemics on Food Supply Chains: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-28, August.
    3. Martin Paul Jr. Tabe‐Ojong & Bisrat Haile Gebrekidan & Emmanuel Nshakira‐Rukundo & Jan Börner & Thomas Heckelei, 2022. "COVID‐19 in rural Africa: Food access disruptions, food insecurity and coping strategies in Kenya, Namibia, and Tanzania," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 53(5), pages 719-738, September.
    4. Heather VanVolkenburg & Isabelle Vandeplas & Katim Touré & Safiétou Sanfo & Fatoumata Lamarana Baldé & Liette Vasseur, 2022. "Do COVID-19 and Food Insecurity Influence Existing Inequalities between Women and Men in Africa?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-10, February.
    5. Samuel Kwaku Agyei & Zangina Isshaq & Siaw Frimpong & Anokye Mohammed Adam & Ahmed Bossman & Oliver Asiamah, 2021. "COVID‐19 and food prices in sub‐Saharan Africa," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 33(S1), pages 102-113, April.

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