Chapter 2 – Opportunities in Africa’s Growing Urban Food Markets

Summary

Rapid urbanization has transformed Africa over the past few decades. Paired with rapid growth in per capita incomes since 2000, it generated dramatic change in the foods that African consumers demand and drove big improvements in the opportunities available to farmers, micro-enterprises, and consumers. Yet the continent now finds itself at a point of profound uncertainty, in the midst of a five-year stagnation of growth, accentuated by the Covid and severe regional crisis in the Sahel and East Africa.

Still, urbanization and economy will grow through improved policy and investment. Prioritizing sectors effectively, and delivering on AfCFTA’s promises could help Africa regain its footing and resume the level of growth and transformation.