The evolvement of (successful) country pandemic crisis management: how differences in governance shape Food Systems outcomes: Paper commissioned by CGIAR

This study builds a deeper understanding of how food system risks were governed in emergency responses during the COVID-19 outbreak, in particular by looking at government capacities and institutional characteristics. Using an analytical framework based on the different phases of risk governance from the IRGC, this study investigates responses in five low and middle income countries, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Mexico, Nigeria, and Vietnam, relying on document analysis and expert interviews. Based on these reports it is concluded that relevant governance capacities – with regard to coordination, analytical, and operational – can improve when lower levels of governance, and non-state actors related to the food system, are more involved in both the appraisal and evaluation of risks, and the management and monitoring measures of measures taken to mitigate risks. Additional research should focus on assessing the effectiveness of national as well as ad-hoc bottom up responses in reaching vulnerable groups, by including observational studies of vulnerable and food insecure societal groups, and their perceptions and actions related to food system risks.