1. Introduction and Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has doubled the
context, formal and informal social safety nets
number of individuals facing acute food
(SSNs) can play a key role in protecting against
insecurity worldwide in 2020, which stood at
falling into poverty and food insecurity while
about 135 million individuals pre COVID-19 (WFP,
trying to cope with the effect of different
2020). A total of 52 million individuals in the
shocks (Parker & Todd, 2017).
Middle East and North Africa (MENA) were
In this study, we estimate if and to what extent
chronically undernourished in 2019 (WHO,
SSNs affect the incidence of food insecurity in
2020). A total of eight million more individuals
MENA in the time of COVID-19. We endeavor to
are expected to fall into the poverty trap and
answer four research questions. First, what are
be food insecure in the Arab region by the end
the effects of SSN benefits on the food
of 2021 owing to COVID-19 (UN-ESCWA, 2020).
insecurity incidence during COVID-19 in MENA?
As many governments in MENA are able to
Second, what are the differential effects of
secure the adequate supply of food, it appears
support received from the government and
that this food insecurity situation is demand
that from other non-governmental sources on
rather than supply driven, at least in the short-
the food insecurity incidence during COVID-19
term (Erokhin & Gao, 2020). COVID-19 has made
in MENA? Third, have SSNs mitigated the
people vulnerable to food insecurity as they
vulnerability of some subpopulations to food
lost their jobs and income (Egger et al., 2021). As
insecurity as the COVID-19 situation continues?
indicated by the COVID-19 MENA Monitor
Fourth, have SSNs mitigated the effect of food
Household (CMMHH) surveys, about 49% of
insecurity on COVID-19 coping strategies in
Moroccans and 36% of Tunisians reported that
MENA through preventing individuals from
their household’s monthly income decreased
adopting
by more than 25% in November 2020 compared
depleting their assets?
to February 2020. About 20% of Egyptians and
that
and
sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets
more than 25% in February 2021 compared to a Households
strategies
times, have physical and economic access to
household’s monthly income decreased by earlier.
coping
Food security is fulfilled when “all people, at all
28% of Jordanians as well reported that their
year
adverse
their dietary needs and food preferences for an
encounter
active and healthy life” (World Food Summit,
income loss typically resort to adverse coping
1996). This definition is at the essence of Sen’s
strategies that can hinder their development
entitlement approach, which emphasizes that
and wipe out efforts made to alleviate poverty.
food security is not just a supply-side issue, but
About 9% of Moroccans, 15% of Tunisians, 18% of
rather a question of distribution of resources
Egyptians, and 9% of Jordanians reported in
and wealth (Sen, 2007). Eliminating food
2020 that they needed to resort to selling
insecurity thus depends on fulfilling four main
assets in the past month as a coping strategy,
pillars: availability, accessibility, utilization, and
according to the CMMHH surveys. In this
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