Opportunities amid COVID-19: Advancing intra-African food integration. (March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Morsy, Hanan; Salami, Adeleke; Mukasa, Adamon N.
• Is Part Of: World development. Volume 139(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-03
• Subjects: F13 -- F15 -- I18 -- Q13; COVID-19 -- Food integration -- Intra-Africa -- Opportunities; Economic history -- 1990- -- Periodicals; Economic assistance -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; 330.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105308
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0305-750X

Abstract

Highlights: COVID-19 could be a springboard to promote intra-African food trade. The current international trade landscape offers great opportunities for African integration. Structural bottlenecks to regional food integration must be addressed without delay. AfCFTA is a game-changer that could reduce Africa's overreliance on global food markets. Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic comes as Africa still struggles to ensure its population's food security and eradicate malnutrition, hunger, and starvation. Africa significantly lags other regions in turning its agri-food trade into a catalyst for economic growth and structural transformation. We argue that the COVID-19 pandemic and its ensuing economic disruptions offer opportunities that African countries could leverage by promoting a vibrant intra-African food trade and market integration. In particular, commitments to harmonizing food trade rules and policies and both tariff and non-tariff barriers by coordinating policies across Africa's Regional Economic Communities could prove to be game-changers. The recently ratified African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) offers an excellent opportunity to enhance food market integration and boost intra-African food trade.