Food Aid and Structural Adjustment in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

The role of food aid in structural and sectoral adjustment support (SAL) for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) will be a matter of greatly increased importance over the last decade of this century. This is the result of a convergence of three factors: (i) A consensus that the problems of Sub-Saharan Africa are of such exceptional severity and of such unique nature as to require and justify new approaches and to impose an obligation to leave no potentially useful resources unused. This consensus includes agreement on special treatment for SSA in respect of debt reduction and special facilities for SSA have been readily accepted. (ii) A consensus that adjustment and sectoral support, in the case of SSA must be more ‘growth-oriented’, have a more ‘human face’ and require both a longer term horizon and increased resources. (iii) A consensus that there is both need and potential absorptive as well as financing capacity for additional food aid, subject to assurance that food aid helps to provide incentives for increased local food production and physical and human investment in recipient countries. KeywordsForeign ExchangeStructural AdjustmentRecipient CountryFood PolicyFood SubsidyThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.