COVID-19, women and digitised food networks in Jakarta: Inequality and resilience

COVID-19 has disrupted market economies all around the world. As governments take unprecedented action to contain its spread, the pandemic is increasing global food insecurity due to disruptions of food systems and weakening economies.

In Indonesia, income decline associated with government-imposed restrictions on movement and travel have been accompanied by decreased purchasing power for households and food availability in cities. Though the government has instituted some social security measures, over half of respondents to a recent survey by Statistics Indonesia reported increases in food-related expenses due to reductions in food availability and shifts in dietary habits. In Greater Jakarta—one of Asia’s mega urban regions with over 30 million people—the critical importance of food provision during a pandemic is complicated by problems stemming from severe flooding earlier this year.