The economic shocks of COVID-19 on global markets have left the African continent, along with its producers and consumers, distinctly vulnerable. This seminar will examine how changes in global food trade since the pandemic have impacted African food systems, regional supply chains and food access. 

Presenters will discuss the potential long-term risks of trade disruptions for nutrition and economic growth, and identify recovery policies that governments can prioritize to strengthen food security, regional supply chains and livelihoods. The speakers will consider the social, political and logistical barriers to trade across the continent in the face of COVID-19, the challenges of equitably distributing the benefits of trade, and trade’s role in building back better.  

Opening Remarks

• Samuel Benin, Deputy Division Director, Africa, IFPRI
• Patterson Brown, Senior Trade Advisor, Bureau for Resilience and Food Security, United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Speakers

• David Laborde Debucquet, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI (Presentation)
• Joseph Glauber, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI (Presentation)
• Nalishebo Meebelo, Senior Program Coordinator, Regional Network of Agricultural Policy Research and Institutes (ReNAPRI)
• Jane Nalunga, Executive Director, Southern and Eastern Africa Trade Information and Negotiation Institute (SEATINI) – Uganda
• Poorva Pandya, Deputy Chief Executive Officer & Head International Relations, Research & Development, ETG Farmers Foundation (EFF) (Presentation)

Closing Remarks

• Johan Swinnen, Director General, IFPRI

Moderator

• Fousseini Traoré, Research Fellow, IFPRI