Impacts of Food Vouchers on Local Markets - Reflections from CRS’ Experience in Niger

Food vouchers, as well as Local and Regional Procurement programs (LRPs), are assuming greater importance in Africa and elsewhere as viable alternatives to traditional food aid. LRPs are attractive from several perspectives – timeliness, cost, management, adaptability to local tastes and conditions, empowerment of beneficiaries, etc. But LRPs offer a suite of possibilities, not a one-size-fits-all solution and require choices for each setting according to the objectives and resources. This is apparent in the body of knowledge that has emerged from an array of innovative experiences in food assistance over the past decade.3