Strengthening Food Systems in Response to Coronavirus (COVID-19)

This project aims to increase the food security and resilience of farmers and rural communities impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19) especially women. The project works to address the COVID-related disruptions in the food system that restrict the functioning of markets interrupt production and processing and negatively impact the livelihoods and food security of rural communities. Project activities include: (1) providing gender-equitable and timely agricultural inputs and basic assets for crops livestock and fisheries production to small-scale producers; (2) providing logistics transport and storage support to smallholder farmers particularly women to avoid produce losses and facilitate access to markets; (3) delivering targeted funds through existing financial institutions working with small-scale producers and small and medium sized enterprises prioritizing women’s access to appropriate financial services; and (4) utilizing radio mobile and digital communication technologies tailored to small-scale women and men farmers which provide timely information on agricultural markets weather production techniques remote training and COVID-19 updates.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) reduced COVID-19 related impact on farmers’ productivity by ensuring equitable access to agricultural inputs especially for women; (2) stabilized availability of nutritious foods and prices for farmers and rural communities through facilitated access to markets; (3) maintained rural financial services to protect employment on family farms and in rural small and medium sized enterprises allowing farmers to avoid negative coping strategies such as selling productive assets; and (4) producers have timely information on prices and markets for inputs and outputs weather production techniques COVID-19 updates and other social issues that increase during pandemics (e.g. gender-based violence).