Global Food Price Increases and Repercussions on Africa: Which Public Policy Interventions are really appropriate?

In this contribution the impacts of the global food price increases of 2010/2011 on
Africa are assessed. The impacts are severe, but there are differences with regard of
country groupings, social groups and sub-regions. The various impacts have to be
studied carefully as these do not affect only the macro-economy and the poor people,
but also the development options and the long-term development perspectives of Af-
rica. However, definitions and classifications have to be clarified first to understand
the transmission effects and the poverty impacts of the global food price increases. It
has to be made clear which food items, which African countries and which country
groupings are affected by the price increases on the world market. Fragile and conflict
countries, food insecure countries and oil exporting countries are affected most by the
global price increases of food products and especially of staple crops. But also the
poor in net food exporting countries may suffer.