Strengthening Fresh Food Markets for Healthier Food Environments within Planetary Boundaries

We take an applied governance approach to strengthening food markets, combining infrastructure upgrades with targeted capacity building initiatives.

Years active:

2024 - 2025

Related ICLEI Pathway(s)

Locations

Lilongwe, Malawi | Lusaka, Zambia

Funded by

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

About

Project summary

The Strengthening Fresh Food Markets for Healthier Food Environments within Planetary Boundaries project recognises urban fresh food markets as critical leverage points for urban resilience, livelihood provision, and food security.

Phase one (2024) of the project entailed an in-depth analysis of the fresh food markets in Lilongwe City, Malawi and Lusaka City, Zambia. The study included a comprehensive market market activity, testing a market investment readiness index, assessing market economics, examining historical market investments, and investigating consumer nutrition patterns.

Phase two (2025) will see the implementation of two market upgrade projects, in Chilenje Market (Lusaka) and Lizulu Horticulture Market (Lilongwe). These upgrades will focus on improving access to clean water, better drainage systems, weather-resistant pathways and food-safe trading stalls. The project will activate a task force and steering committee, made up of local stakeholders, to guide market upgrades and develop a long term strategy for improved market management.

Project aims

This project enhances access to healthy, diverse diets by upgrading fresh food market infrastructure and strengthening associated governance processes

“Our assessment of fresh food markets reveals a complex and dynamic landscape, characterised by varying levels of infrastructure, governance and economic performance. While some markets demonstrate the potential for high economic returns, efficient management and resilience, others struggle with poor infrastructure, inadequate governance and vulnerability to climate and health risks.”
- HYEL, Lusaka Report (2024)

Project partners

team manager

Main project contact

Amy Murgatroyd

Professional Officer: Urban Systems

The project team

Strengthening Fresh Food Markets for Healthier Food Environments within Planetary Boundaries team

view all team staff

Amy Murgatroyd

Professional Officer: Urban Systems

Amy Murgatroyd

Professional Officer: Urban Systems

Amy is driven by work that has an impact on both people and the environment, and is especially interested in how these interact in urban food systems. She has a Master’s degree in Sustainable Development, specialising in transformative Afro-centric monitoring and evaluation approaches, and she has seven years of experience working in sustainable procurement, urban farming and food security initiatives. Amy has a keen interest in project management, and enjoys designing and facilitating participatory workshops.

Meembo Changula

Senior Professional Officer: Urban Planning

Meembo Changula

Senior Professional Officer: Urban Planning

Meembo joined ICLEI-Africa in August 2021, bringing with her more than 18 years’ varied experience in sustainable urban development. With her BSc. and MSc. in Urban and Regional planning, and prior work in Zambia’s central government in various capacities, Meembo has gained leading expertise in urbanisation policy, urban planning legislation, integrated development planning, informal settlement upgrading, and improving national and subnational urban governance capacities. Meembo currently serves as Team Leader and Training Coordinator for the Urban Planning and Development Control Strengthening Program in Tanzania.

Dr Luke Metelerkamp

Senior Professional Officer: Urban Systems

Dr Luke Metelerkamp

Senior Professional Officer: Urban Systems

Luke spent the past 14 years actively immersed in civil society organisations and fledgling research institutes, working at the forefront of transdisciplinary research and transformative learning, and specialising in urban food security programmes, food systems governance and social-learning processes. He has worked extensively with global leaders across the spectrum of system change – from grant-makers and policy think-tanks, to universities and social movements. Luke holds a BA in Applied Design, a Masters in Sustainable Development Planning, and a PhD that focussed on the role of informal learning networks and youth in food system transformation. Luke also has a small flock of chickens and some young fruit trees that are teaching him a lot about patience and collaboration!

Mulesa Lumina

Communications Officer

Mulesa Lumina

Communications Officer

Mulesa has five years of experience in communications, digital marketing and social media management. She holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Cape Town and an LLM in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa from the University of Pretoria. With a background in human rights law, she is passionate about social justice and strategic communications that drive positive social change. Prior to joining ICLEI Africa, she worked as a legal and communications officer for the International Commission of Jurists, a social media strategist for Pomegranite Consulting Ltd, and a blog and media editor for the Business and
Human Rights Journal.

Strengthening Fresh Food Markets for Healthier Food Environments within Planetary Boundaries