Contracts, Supply Chain Relationships and Complexities: Essays on Dynamics of African food supply chains

In Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA), cases of ineffective and unreliable food supply chains are prevalent more than in any other region globally. In this region, food supply chains are considered poorly coordinated across time and space making areas of surplus coexist with areas of shortage. One reason for this finding has been attributed to barriers such as information asymmetry and inadequate market intelligence, which makes it difficult to take advantage of this arbitrage and thus enhance risks of transaction failure. An understanding of some critical elements of this supply chain such as how contracts are utilized by actors to align their respective objectives, how relationships among actors are formed and sustained and the complexities of numerous dynamic components therein as food security goals are being pursued is therefore essential. My research will aim to provide empirical evidence that shall guide strategic decision making on food systems among policy makers in the region and should ultimately play a role in achieving a more reliable and resilient food system for the existing and growing African population.
 

After graduating with honours in Agricultural Economics and a minor in Rural Development in 2015, Bensolomon Baraka embarked on a career with UNICEF Somalia, providing a practical evaluation of cash relief programmes. He later joined the CGIAR's gender program in Nairobi where he participated in ground-breaking research on African Female Scientist Empowerment, garnering funding from leading institutions like BMGF and USAID. Bensolomon completed his double Master of Science in Agricultural and Applied Economics from the University of Nairobi.