Understanding the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Food Security in Africa

In addition to its global impact on human health, the COVID-19 pandemic is having a significant impact on economies, especially in Africa. Countries on the continent have tried to contain the spread of COVID-19 with lockdowns, curfews, border closures. Countries in Africa have also used other movement restrictions, such as quarantines, roadblocks, and market closures. Early indications suggest that the impact on agriculture and food security and levels of poverty and malnutrition will be significant unless urgent actions are taken.

This report, focused on African states, looks at the economic impacts of COVID-19 on food security. This pandemic will affect both supply and demand channels, but they will be noticed at different points in time. They will affect all elements of the food system, from primary supply to processing, to trade as well as national and international logistics systems, to intermediate and final demand. It also affects factor markets, namely labour and capital, and intermediate inputs of production.

Also, the important role that agri-food enterprises of all sizes play in ensuring the functioning of food systems has become more apparent during the current COVID-19 crisis. Farm enterprises, traders, food manufacturers, distributors and retailers across food chains are collectively essential for food security, value addition, transporting food to markets, and off-farm employment for women and men living in rural and urban areas.