2026-07-09http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/557124The purpose of this paper is to identify factors that can improve the ability of future local purchase activities to achieve a range of national food policy objectives including price stabilization for farmers, promoting the development of a competitive and low-cost food marketing system, and procuring food aid resources in a cost-effective manner. The analysis of the 1996 Ethiopia experience provides potentially valuable lessons for the design of future local purchase programs throughout Africa.Text