Food aid in sub-Saharan Africa: policy lessons for the future
Shaw, D.J.
Canadian Journal of Development Studies 23(3): 571-599
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0225-5189 DOI: 10.1080/02255189.2002.9668886Document Number: 379000
At the beginning of the 21st century, the countries of subsaharan Africa (SSA) face severe economic, social and political problems. At the centre of many of these problems is widespread food insecurity. The prospects are that more food aid or aid for food will be required if food security is to be achieved in the short term. However, these forms of assistance continue to be provided in unreliable, disparate and often conflictive ways. The first part of this paper outlines the dimensions of food aid to SSA in the past. The second part discusses some of the major policy issues for future food aid to SSA. The third part examines the prospects for addressing these policy issues. It is concluded that an international conference should be held to arrive at common policies and coordinated programmes for future food aid to SSA.