This year’s #AfricanCITYFOODmonth campaign looks to “nourish our cities toward equitable recovery”

The annual campaign, running throughout July, was created in 2020 to support cross-sector, multi-stakeholder engagements and knowledge sharing about urban food systems. This year’s theme, “Nourishing our Cities toward Equitable Recovery”, reflects on the journey of recovery that African cities are taking in the face of multiple shocks and stresses that are being  experienced in our cities’ food systems. The 2022 campaign is convened by ICLEI Africa in partnership with FAO, Rikolto and the African Center for Cities (ACC). The exchanges this month have also taken a step back to reflect on whether cities and local governments are putting in place the governance processes and mechanisms as well as mobilising the resources required to steer the  transformation of the food system to a more sustainable, resilient and inclusive path.

#AfricanCITYFOODmonth, as a platform, recognises that food can be a powerful lever for solving many problems in cities as it is connected to how we plan and run our cities as well as our daily lives. Using food as an entry point, we can support daily nutrition and wellbeing for millions of urban dwellers, regenerate ecosystems, and connect urban residents. Moreover, sustainable food system initiatives have the potential to support mitigation and adaptation to the rapidly intensifying climate crisis, end the injustice of malnutrition, celebrate local food cultures and improve economic participation.