Executive Summary
The world is currently in the midst of a global food crisis that began with the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and was further exacerbated by the outbreak of war between Russia and Ukraine in 2022.
In addition to the crisis, there are ongoing extreme weather events due to climate change, which are increasing in frequency and severity around the world. One of the consequences of this ‘multiple crises’ is that societies around the world have been facing increasing food insecurity for much of the last four years.
While the effects of the current polycrisis are felt all over the world, the effects have been particularly severe in the Asia-Pacific region. To better understand the food security impacts of ongoing multiple crises in the Asia-Pacific region, this report explores diets, nutrition, and food system resilience during the crisis in six selected countries (Bangladesh, Philippines, Pakistan, Lao People’s Democratic Party). Republic, Sri Lanka and Kyrgyz Republic.
Through this review, the report provides insight into the shocks each country faced during the crisis and assesses the resilience of food systems to these shocks. Moreover, it generates much-needed data on the effects of these shocks on diet and nutrition in each country.
First, the scoping review examines the available evidence on the impacts of the ongoing crisis in six selected countries.
Key findings include:
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Domestic food production in all six countries decreased compared to before the crisis.
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All six countries experienced serious food inflation during the crisis.
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During the crisis, consumers’ purchasing power fell in all six countries; This decline was felt disproportionately by women and youth, small-scale producers, and migrant and seasonal workers.
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During the crisis, both dietary diversity and quality fell in all six countries; It was mostly seen in women and children.
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The use of food and livelihood-based coping strategies increased in all six countries during the crisis.
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The effects of the crisis were seriously felt in both urban and rural areas.
A conceptual model depicting the relationship between the food environment and changes in food security and nutrition is then used to better understand the impact of the crisis on diets, nutrition and resilience. Key findings include:
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While the volume of food imports decreased between 2019 and 2021, the value of food imports increased.
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In addition to the sales volume of ‘risky’ foods, the value and proportion of food imports with “NCD risk” also increased.
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Household income increased overall, but the share of income spent on food remained the same or increased.
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Where incomes decline, these declines are associated with the sale of foods “at risk of NCDs.”
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The cost of diets is increasing along with major increases in the cost of a nutritious diet.
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The increase in diet costs means fewer households can afford these diets.
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The increasing cost of a nutritious diet is associated with negative nutrition and food security outcomes at the household level.
Third, to better understand the challenges faced by urban food vendors during the ongoing crisis, a survey was conducted in six focus countries in 2023 and received 677 responses from food vendors in 11 cities. The findings showed that urban food vendors are facing disruptions during the crisis, including:
- Reduced access to customers or markets • Supply chain disruptions • Reduced revenue
Finally, resilience snapshots were created assessing shocks, vulnerabilities, capabilities and resilience strategies across all six selected countries. Key highlights provided by these snapshots include:
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Dependence on rice production in Bangladesh has left the country highly vulnerable to rice supply disruptions during the crisis.
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In the Kyrgyz Republic, dependence on imports has significantly affected the resilience of the food system and led to food inflation and price fluctuations.
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The overlapping shocks during the crisis in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic were mutually reinforcing and highlighted the need for multifaceted approaches to enhance the resilience of the food system in the current era of crisis.
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Pakistan offered a sobering example of the Asia-Pacific region’s documented vulnerability to climate change; Unprecedented flooding has damaged much of domestic food production in 2022.
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In the Philippines, rapid urbanization has negatively impacted urban food security; Children and women in particular faced negative nutritional consequences.
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Sri Lanka’s devastating inorganic fertilizer ban, which halved local food production in 2021, has highlighted the risks of rolling out initiatives without stakeholder collaboration or relevant supporting education and training.
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Interestingly, while the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Sri Lanka faced significant shocks during the crisis, both saw improvements in infrastructure as evidenced by mobile cellular subscriptions and a stable or increasing social capital index.
Based on the findings, the report concludes with recommendations to both mitigate the effects of the current polycrisis and build resilience to future shocks. These recommendations will assist policymakers and partners in critical areas such as:
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Promoting local supply chain flexibility
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Building climate resilience
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Expanding the social safety net for vulnerable groups
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Promoting healthy nutrition in food systems
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Supporting urban food vendors to reduce disruptions to market access, supply chains and income during the crisis