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COVID-19 and food insecurity in Africa: A review of the emerging empirical evidence

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  • Martin Paul Jr. Tabe-Ojong
  • Emmanuel Nshakira-Rukundo
  • Bisrat Haile Gebrekidan

Abstract

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) risks rolling back many of the efforts and global successes recorded in reducing poverty and food insecurity. We undertake a systematic search and review of the growing microeconomic literature on the association between COVID-19 and food insecurity in Africa, discussing its implications for food policy and research. Furthermore, we review the various coping strategies households employ to build resilience to COVID-19. The evidence indicates that COVID-19 is associated with an increase in food insecurity both ex-ante and ex-durante. Given the covariate nature of COVID-19 and associated control mechanisms, current evidence is short of providing clear causal learning. We provide 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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  • Martin Paul Jr. Tabe-Ojong & Emmanuel Nshakira-Rukundo & Bisrat Haile Gebrekidan, 2023. "COVID-19 and food insecurity in Africa: A review of the emerging empirical evidence," European Review of Agricultural Economics, Oxford University Press and the European Agricultural and Applied Economics Publications Foundation, vol. 50(3), pages 853-878.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:erevae:v:50:y:2023:i:3:p:853-878.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/erae/jbad008
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    2. Tabe-Ojong, Martin Paul Jr. & Nana, Ibrahim & Zimmermann, Andrea & Jafari, Yaghoob, 2024. "Trends and evolution of global value chains in food and agriculture: Implications for food security and nutrition," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    3. Akim, Al-Mouksit & Ayivodji, Firmin & Kouton, Jeffrey, 2024. "Food security and the COVID-19 employment shock in Nigeria: Any ex-ante mitigating effects of past remittances?," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    4. Timiryanova, Venera & Krasnoselskaya, Dina, 2022. "Влияние пандемии Сovid-19 на пространственную динамику продовольственных цен [Covid-19 impact on spatial food prices dynamics]," MPRA Paper 114638, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Regassa, Mekdim D. & Esenaliev, Damir & Tzvetkova, Milena & Baliki, Ghassan & Schreiner, Monika & Stojetz, Wolfgang & Brück, Tilman, 2024. "The impacts of exposure to COVID-19 on food security and diet diversity in Africa," IAAE 2024 Conference, August 2-7, 2024, New Delhi, India 344321, International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE).
    6. Lotanna E. Emediegwu, 2024. "Assessing the Asymmetric Effect of Global Climate Anomalies on Food Prices: Evidence from Local Prices," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 87(10), pages 2743-2772, October.

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