Impact assessment of the Russia-Ukraine Crisis on food systems in Nepal

In collaboration with USAID and IFPRI under the Feed the Future initiative, IIDS conducted multiple rounds of market and household surveys from March 1st, 2023, to July 31st, 2024. These efforts aimed to assess the impact of the Russia-Ukraine Crisis on food systems and bolster their resilience. Additionally, IIDS performed a Public Expenditure Analysis to scrutinize government spending related to Inclusive Agricultural Transformation (IAT) in Nepal. 

The household panel survey was conducted in three rounds with 812 households, focusing on agriculture production, food consumption, and value chains. The first round used face-to-face interviews, while the remaining two rounds were conducted via phone surveys. In the first round, 150 vegetable vendors were also surveyed and subsequently interviewed bimonthly by phone for price updates, totaling 28 times. District-level policymakers were interviewed using a Key Informant Interview (KII) checklist as a qualitative survey method in the first round. 

The study also assessed the impact of social safety nets on the poorest households and the implications of food price inflation on consumption patterns. Additionally, it analyzed formal and informal agricultural trade and its impact on the national economy. The value chains of staple foods and vegetables, including cooking oil, were examined in the study districts. Price monitoring of agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, petroleum fuel, and agricultural machinery was also conducted. 

For data collection, survey tools were digitized in the Kobo Collect application for real-time data collection. IIDS mobilized 15 enumerators for each survey round and engaged 5 full-time staff members for this assignment. These comprehensive efforts aimed to provide valuable insights into the resilience of food systems in Nepal amidst global supply chain and climate shocks.