Impacts of COVID-19 on food security and nutrition: developing effective policy responses to address the hunger and malnutrition pandemic

The purpose of this issues paper (update #3), requested by the Chairperson of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) in 2020 and updated further in 2021, is to provide insights in addressing the food and nutrition security implications of the COVID-19 pandemic and to inform the CFS membership in their deliberations, including any follow up activities from the 2021 Food Systems Summit. [...] Dynamics unleashed by the pandemic are affecting food security and nutrition A number of overlapping and reinforcing dynamics have emerged that are affecting food systems and food security and nutrition over the course of the pandemic thus far, including: disruptions to food supply chains; loss of income and livelihoods; a widening of social inequalities; disruptions to social protection programme. [...] The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting, or has been affected by, each of these dimensions of food security, illustrating the importance of each of them in interpreting the food security and nutrition implications of the crisis, including the proposed addition of agency and sustainability. [...] Uncertainty over the evolution of the pandemic and of restrictive measures also influences the ability and willingness of people and firms to invest in the agrifood sector (UNCTAD, 2020b), although food price inflation over the course of 2021 may draw in new investment. [...] Strengthen and coordinate policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic impact on food systems and food security and nutrition, including at the international level The HLPE’s Report 15 stresses that the urgent and deteriorating conditions resulting from the COVID-19 crisis “demands measures to improve food systems to make them not only more resilient to crises, but also more equitable and inclusive,.