The COVID-19 pandemic is a global health and economic crisis that will have impacts for years to come, disrupting the lives and livelihoods of diverse communities around the world. As an evidence-based organization, the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) has conducted a rapid assessment of impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the responses to it, on smallholders and food systems in our region. The purpose of the report is to allow readers to better understand intervention opportunities and priorities.

This report presents Stage 1 of a three-stage assessment process. It is a rapid assessment that was undertaken during the period 20 April–8 May, 2020. During this time the team of authors consulted widely across the ACIAR network - with ACIAR staff in Australia and their 10 country offices across the Indo-Pacific, their project leaders and partner organizations in Australia and partner countries, eminent experts on the Policy Advisory Council and the Commission for International Agricultural Research, and reviews of reports and media for other agencies.

This rapid assessment provides the foundation for a more systematic, integrated assessment that will be conducted over the following months, which Grow Asia will share with our partners.