Impacts of COVID-19 on the Economic and Humanitarian Situation of Food Security in West Africa

There has been a noticeable spike in food insecurity during the aftermath of the COVID-19 which has been on the increase in both Nigeria and Burkina Faso. This study made use of mixed methods research design to explore how COVID-19 affected the economic and humanitarian aspects of food security in West Africa. The purpose of this document is to provide clear highlight on the actions and responses of Nigeria and Burkina Faso to the emergence of COVID-19 concerning its implications on the food sector. Findings revealed that agriculture has made a significant contribution to the GDP of both Nigeria and Burkina Faso but witnessed a change during the outburst of COVID-19. We concluded that the government rolled out a series of policies both cash-based and food-based through subsidies and palliatives that ensure prices of food are monitored and that the vulnerable are provided with food. This paper therefore recommended that more work be done on how to integrate the use of technology to improve food security in both Nigeria and Burkina Faso and the rest of West Africa.