Food supply chains are extremely important for food access and livelihoods across Africa, but their role is often overlooked and underappreciated. Under normal conditions, the gap between myth and reality can result in the design of policies and programs with limited or negative impacts on food security and welfare. The shock of COVID‐19 has heightened this disconnect, with potentially dire consequences for food security. This paper demonstrates the importance of recognizing and accounting for the essential role of food supply chains when designing policy and interventions, particularly in response to COVID‐19, and provides recommendations for action based on current realities.

中文翻译：

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“基本非必需品”：尼日利亚的COVID-19政策失误源于关于非洲食品供应链的长期神话

粮食供应链对于整个非洲的粮食获取和生计极为重要，但其作用常常被忽视和重视。在正常情况下，神话与现实之间的鸿沟可能导致设计对粮食安全和福利产生有限或负面影响的政策和计划。COVID-19的震撼加剧了这种脱节，对粮食安全可能造成可怕的后果。本文展示了在设计政策和干预措施时，尤其是对COVID-19的响应时，认识和考虑食品供应链的重要作用的重要性，并根据当前的现实情况提出了行动建议。