Variations in the subnational cost and affordability of a healthy diet for selected countries in Africa

Holleman, C.; Latino, L. ;

Variations in the subnational cost and affordability of a healthy diet for selected countries in Africa

Background paper for The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023

Year of publication 2023

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 80 p.

Author Holleman, C.; Latino, L. ;

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Book (series)

ISBN 978-92-5-138496-1

Series title FAO Agricultural Development Economics Working Paper

Series number No. 23-10

Full item page

Synopsis (short abstract) This background paper to The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023 presents an innovative analysis of within-country variability of the cost and affordability of a healthy diet (CoAHD). The study uses an innovative spatial perspective by analysing the changes along the urban–rural catchment areas (URCA) and using the Living Standards Measurement Studies (LSMS) of 11 African countries. The results show that the cost of a healthy diet in peri-urban areas is lower than it is in urban areas, but the percentage of the population unable to afford a healthy diet is always higher in the surroundings of urban centres. The gap is particularly large between small cities and their surrounding areas, and the share of population unable to secure a healthy diet is disproportionally high in the more remote rural areas. The paper also investigates three methodological issues that were encountered during the analysis to provide evidence on the validity of the FAO Healthy Diet Basket (HDB) methodology for the estimation of subnational cost and affordability of a healthy diet.

Background paper for The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023.

Cite this content as:

Holleman, C. & Latino, L. 2023. Variations in the subnational cost and affordability of a healthy diet for selected countries in Africa – Background paper for The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023. FAO Agricultural Development Economics Working Paper, No. 23-10. Rome, FAO.

https://doi.org/10.4060/cc9153en

Language English

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