IFPRI is participating in BIFAD’s 181st public meeting on June 4, 2020. 

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and measures put in place to stop its spread will have impacts on all intermediate results of the U.S. Government Global Food Security Strategy, including agricultural productivity, livelihoods, markets, trade and policy actions, food consumption and nutrition, hygiene and resilience.

The Board for International Food and Agricultural Development (BIFAD), an advisory committee to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), will convene a virtual public meeting to share the thinking of leading experts in food security and nutrition that relates to COVID-19 impacts. This will include consideration of the most promising short-, medium-, and long-term responses across several key areas: farm-level productivity, markets and trade, access to finance, nutrition, safe and hygienic food systems, gender, and national and local policy.

• The minutes of the meeting can be accessed here.
• The findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the meeting on food security, nutrition, and COVID-19 can be accessed here.

Overview of Food Systems and Food Security Impacts

• Johan Swinnen, Director General, IFPRI

Interventions to support nutrition, social protection, emergency response, and access to nutrition and health services

• Marie Ruel, Director, Poverty, Health, and Nutrition Division, IFPRI

Promising Interventions to Support Food Systems and Nutrition

• Rajul Pandya-Lorch, Director, Communications and Public Affairs & Chief of Staff, Director General’s Office, IFPRI (Moderator)