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The report identifies a high prevalence of extreme poverty (69%) and undernourishment (19%) in Malawi, driven by the vulnerability of smallholder farmers to crop failure and climate shocks. Projections to 2030 suggest that while chronic hunger may decrease, poverty will remain extremely high, and agricultural GHG emissions—particularly from livestock—are expected to rise by 4.4% annually. The Malawian diet is heavily reliant on maize, leading to significant micronutrient deficiencies and a lack of dietary diversity, especially in low-income households. The document notes the absence of a national definition for a 'healthy diet' and highlights the critical role of Official Development Assistance (ODA), with USD 360 million disbursed annually (2014–2018) to food system projects. Climate change impacts, including increased floods and droughts, are exacerbating food insecurity, prompting the government to implement adaptation strategies such as crop diversification and climate-smart agriculture.

The report assesses Ethiopia's progress toward healthy and sustainable food systems, highlighting a projected decrease in extreme poverty and undernourishment by 2030 alongside a significant increase in livestock-driven GHG emissions. It examines the country's vulnerability to drought, the role of climate-smart agriculture in improving dietary diversity, and the influence of Official Development Assistance (ODA), with the United States as the primary donor. The document also details the development of national dietary guidelines and analyzes household consumption patterns, noting that wealthier households have higher dietary diversity and meat consumption.

The report diagnoses the stalemate of the WTO's Doha Round, attributing it to a leadership vacuum, fundamental disagreements on agriculture and development, and the 'straightjacket' of the single undertaking. It examines the shift toward a 'new architecture' of trade, specifically mega-regional preferential trade agreements (MPTAs) like the TPP and TTIP, and plurilaterals like TISA, which focus on 'behind the border' rules relevant to global value chains (GVCs). The authors argue that while MPTAs risk balkanising trade and diverting investment from non-members, the WTO could regain relevance by adopting plurilateral 'critical mass' approaches for agriculture and GVC-related policies, while strengthening special and differential treatment (S&DT) for least developed countries.