The Effect of Governance and Corruption on Food Access in Sub-Saharan Africa

Despite global improvements in malnourishment and poverty, food insecurity remains a pressing threat to households in low-income and economically underdeveloped nations. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is home to many of these countries and as such, is regarded as one of the poorest, most food-insecure, and most corrupt regions throughout the world. Data trends from 2003 to 2020 indicate that corruption in SSA is consistently increasing over time. The outcomes of increased corruption impact a household’s welfare through various socioeconomic factors including market volatility, political instability, and weak institutions. All of which are known to influence moderate food insecurity. Through the use of SSA household perceptions and econometric analysis, this research determines a direct relationship between governance, corruption, and food security. Further, results of this study indicate that corruption and governance have both a statistically and economically significant impact on a household’s ability to access adequate amount of food in SSA.