African Journal of Agriculture and Food Security

African Journal of Agriculture and Food Security ISSN 2375-1177 Vol. 4 (2), pp. 153-156, February, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Perspective

The global agriculture and food security program: An evaluation of the Public Private Partnership in Malawi

Madhavi Venkatesan, PhD

Department of Economics, Hunt Hall, Room 206Bridgewater, Massachusetts, 02325, USA. [email protected]

917-496-0440 (cell); 508-531-1716 (office).

Accepted 20 December, 2015

Abstract 

Chronic food security issues in Africa have recently spurred an increase in public–private partnerships (PPPs), as governments across the continent look to stimulate agricultural productivity. Through multiple international channels, PPPs are implementing various programs within the agricultural sector as a means to promote both nutrition and food security. However, there are some constraints that may impede the success of PPP in the near-term such as inadequate legal and regulatory framework for PPPs; lack of technical skills to manage PPP programs and projects; unfavorable investor perception of country risk, small market size, limited infrastructure and limited financial markets. Additionally, the success of agricultural public–private partnerships are yet to be proven and concerns exist among global philanthropic organizations, who are wary of the potential for investments to meet their objective in lieu of returns to investors. This paper will explore one initiative, the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP), specific to its objective “to improve incomes and food and nutrition security in low-income countries by boosting agricultural productivity” (“About GASFP,” n.d.). Following an overview of the organization, the paper will discuss the short-comings and issues related to the implementation of GAFSP’s directive using a single country example, Malawi and will then conclude with a summary recommendation related to the GAFSP program execution. The paper will provide a basis for a reevaluation of GAFSP’s alignment between objectives and implementation.

Key words: Food security, Private-public funding, global hunger, Malawi.