A.I.D. Food Policy Programming: Lessons Learned -- An Assessment of the "Consumption Effects of Agricultural Policies" Project, 1977-1988

Excerpts from the Executive Summary: This report assesses lessons learned from A.I.D. work in food policy under the Consumption Effects of Agricultural Policies (CEAP) project a systems perspective the between 1977-1988. Food policy integrates in relationships between macroeconomic and agricultural sector policies and micro level behavior at the household or firm level, including resultant changes in food consumption patterns, and nutritional effects. The CEAP project has been A.I.D.'s only major effort to address the issue of how improving nutrition and food consumption can be made an integral part of all other A.I.D. activities in nutrition the economic development process. All other A.I.D. activities in nutrition are direct interventions (for example, supplementary feeding programs and vitamin A distribution). The CEAP project pioneered policy-oriented intervention as a part of A.I.D. nutrition strategy. The CEAP project was oriented toward better understanding the interrelationships and effects of agricultural development and food subsidy policies on the food consumption and nutritional status of different socioeconomic groups. The effects of policy decisions on the food consumption patterns of the poor were emphasized. In addition to producing needed knowledge for researchers and policymakers, the project aimed at providing specific technical assistance to A.I.D. missions and host governments, and sponsoring training activities associated with food policy analysis and design. The CEAP project was directed by the A.I.D. Office of Nutrition (A.I.D./S&T/N) and managed by the Nutrition Economics Group (NEG) within the Office of International Cooperation and Development (OICD) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In this assessment, lessons are identified in five general areas: (1) the seventeen CEAP project studies; (2) the design of research and studies; (3) technical assistance; (4) training activities; (5) project administration and management. The lessons are detailed in the text. The report ends with recommendations for future A.I.D. work related to emerging food policy priorities.