African small cities of less than half a million residents are absorbing two-thirds of all urban population growth. These cities suffer from urbanisation challenges, lack of planning and services needed to cope with growth, which has resulted in spatial inequalities and inequitable access to basic necessities and amenities. With the current outbreak of COVID-19, various approaches are taken to prevent the spread of the virus, contain widespread transmission, and flatten the curves of infections. This commentary examines local markets infrastructure and the impact the COVID-19 preventive measures may bring on access to food in African small cities.

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