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Usefulness and misrepresentation of phone surveys on COVID-19 and food security in Africa

Author

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  • Tilman Brück

    (Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ)
    Humboldt-University of Berlin
    ISDC - International Security and Development Center)

  • Mekdim D. Regassa

    (Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ))

Abstract

We survey efforts that track food security in Africa using phone surveys during the COVID-19 pandemic. Phone surveys are concentrated in a few countries mostly focusing on a narrow theme. Only a few allow heterogeneous analyses across socioeconomic, spatial, and intertemporal dimensions across countries, leaving important issues inadequately enumerated. We recommend that the scientific community focuses on countries (and regions and groups within countries) where the evidence base is thin, and that policymakers in less researched areas attract more research by improving their statistical capacity, openness, and governance.

Suggested Citation

  • Tilman Brück & Mekdim D. Regassa, 2023. "Usefulness and misrepresentation of phone surveys on COVID-19 and food security in Africa," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 15(2), pages 423-453, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:15:y:2023:i:2:d:10.1007_s12571-022-01330-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s12571-022-01330-8
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