These document series summarise some rapid assessments undertaken by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) to understand early impacts of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic on food systems in a set of low- and middle-income countries where GAIN works (Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Nigeria).
A particular focus is placed on small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the food system.
The information presented comes from a rapid assessment drawing on several sources. First, GAIN country representatives (country directors or their designees, n=10) provided input based on their experience in country via a short, structured questionnaire. Second, information was provided by programme managers for the GAIN Marketplace for Nutritious Foods (a programme that provides grants and technical assistance to food system SMEs) and/or representatives of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Business Network (SBN), which is co-convened by GAIN and the World Food Programme (WFP). This included detailed information on the experiences of nine SMEs across different sectors. Second, a structured online survey was administered from April 29 – 10 May to SMEs in 18 countries where GAIN and the SBN work.
Finally, some secondary data and information were collected from Euromonitor’s ecommerce price and stock data FEWS NET; the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Big Data tool on food chains under the COVID-19 pandemic; FAO Food Price Monitoring and Analysis; over a dozen studies by FAO, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the World Bank, and others; and local and international news sources.