Food assistance programs in China: Evolution, challenges and potential for improvement

Food assistance, in its various forms, has played a significant role in tackling food insecurity and improving nutrition in many countries. Through an examination of the historical development and a comparison with other countries, the paper reviews the experiences and lessons of the evolution of Chinese food assistance programs and proposes pathways forward to further strengthen food assistance in China. Future efforts of food assistance should focus more on improving the effectiveness of programs through enhancing governance and public-private partnerships, conducting evidence-based evaluations of existing programs using data-driven methods, adopting innovative technologies and digital tools, and employing a targeted approach to address the issue of double burden of malnutrition.