Protocol Registration: The effects of pandemics on the vulnerability of food security in West Africa - A scoping review

The review is a component of the IDRC project with its primary objective to examine the existing evidence from the literature on the level of past and current vulnerability of the West African food system and the four pillars of food security. Food security of all countries can be considered vulnerable during times of crisis and pandemics. However, developing countries, such as those in West Africa, already struggle to meet the United Nations zero hunger goals prior to the onset of COVID-19. Many of these same countries had previously faced similar challenges during the recent Ebola virus outbreak, making it imperative for us to understand just how pandemics/epidemics affected, and continue affecting food security. The review will search for and include quantitative and qualitative research as well as opinion pieces and readily available grey literature (e.g. media reports). The review methodology follows PRISMA guidelines with the formal proposed protocol registered at doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/PKH98. A copy of the registered protocol is provided here.