African CITYFOOD Month

#AfricanCITYFOODmonth 2024 is set to honour the hands that feed us!

This year’s campaign  spotlights the unsung heroes of our urban food systems and the hidden stories of how people shape their cities' food systems. We are sharing content that highlights the Unsung Heroes of food systems in our cities, showcases the voices of our partners and youth ambassadors, shares key research and outputs and enriches the global conversation about food.

Explore the Inspirational short video clips from the  #AfriFOODlinks partners, showcasing the ways in which they are contributing to urban food systems transformation. 

WATCH HERE

15 July- 26 August

#AfricanCITYFOODMonth 2024 Photo Competition: Unsung

This year, #AfricanCITYFOODMonth invites photographers across the continent to submit photographs and an accompanying short story of a hidden or unnoticed food systems hero or champion in their cities. This could be a grandparent keeping a traditional food culture alive, a researcher uncovering food system dynamics, a food vendor at the market, a small business selling vegetables in your neighbourhood, a city official championing food-related challenges, an entrepreneur in your area working with food waste and many more — each with a personality, story or outlook that will inspire!

SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY HERE

22 July- 4 August

Urban Recipes” Exhibition 

As part of Food Indaba 2024, AfriFOODlinks will be exhibiting the 12  shortlisted entries of the “Urban Recipes” photography competition that took place during #AfricanCITYFOODmonth 2023. Visit the exhibition at Makers Landing at the V&A Waterfront, in Cape Town or view virtual exhibition online.

25 July 2024

WEBINAR:

Exploring the role of local food policies and collaborative governance in driving urban food transitions: In conversation with city officials from Kisumu and Mbale.

Join the conversation and register today!

REGISTER HERE

4 - 30 July 2023

#AfricanCITYFOODMonth 2023 Photo Competition: Urban Recipes

In 2023, photographers across the continent  had the opportunity to share the ways in which inhabitants of their cities  prepare tasty, affordable, and nutritious meals using locally produced ingredients. Explore the competition winners and shortlisted candidates in this Photography Showcase 

10 July 2023

WEBINAR: Governing amidst crisis: how African local governments are taking action on food 

African cities are in the midst of a polycrisis, experiencing rapid urbanisation and population growth, facing challenges of rising social inequalities, infrastructural backlogs, land degradation, and increasing exposure to climatic risks. This  session focuses on understanding how African city officials are striving to make their cities’ food systems healthier, fairer and more resilient. Offering perspectives which span the breadth of the continent, panelists explore emerging interventions from within their cities, reflecting on what's worked, what hasn’t and their ideas for the future. 

WATCH HERE

Nourishing our Cities towards Recovery

2022’s theme reflected 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 exchanges reflected 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.

The campaign brought together key urban food systems actors such as policymakers, mayors, researchers, agrifood entrepreneurs, financiers and food system advocates to collectively chart a path forward. Beyond African cities, the campaign connected with other “South” cities in South America, such as Rio de Janeiro, to collectively share and explore the priorities of recovery for South cities and ways to mobilise resources to drive sustainable and resilient food systems.

Explore the 2022 photography competition exhibition here, or catch up on the webinars below:

12 July 2021

Investment Opportunities in Africa’s Urban Food Systems This session aimed to explore the different AgrInvest opportunities in African cities that can contribute to the sustainability and resilience of its urban food system.

WATCH HERE

14 July 2021

On the road to recovery: “Nourishing our Cities towards equitable recovery” This session unpacked the current and anticipated shocks to the food systems as well as what the recovery journey of cities actually entails in terms of the practical actions, cost, key partnerships and capacity.

WATCH HERE

21 July 2021

City-to-City City-to-City Exchange: Streamlining multi-level food systems governance between national and local level In this session unpacked some of the most pressing food related challenges faced by African cities and showcased innovative government-led initiatives for advancing sustainable food systems and innovative governance approaches.

WATCH HERE

28 July 2021

“South-South” Cities Exchange. African and Latin American Cities: Food System Priorities for Recovery This session will brought together identified African cities and Latin American cities to collectively share and explore the priorities of recovery for “South” cities as well as exchange on how to mobilise resources to drive sustainable and resilient recovery of their food systems.

WATCH HERE

READ THE STATEMENTS FROM OUR 2022 PARTNERS

Accelerating sustainable actions towards the transformation of Africa’s urban food systems.

Download the #AfricanCITYFOODmonth 2021 report

6 July 2021 | 2pm CAT

African City Food Exchange Part 1: What have we learnt from the UNFSS independent food dialogues process in 16 cities? This webinar will bring together food dialogue curators and food system champions to reflect on the dialogue processes and unpack transformative messages coming out of the conversations with African cities.

WATCH HERE

13 July 2021 | 12pm CAT

African City Food Exchange Part 2: A city-to-city workshop on achieving sustainable urban food systems. This city-to-city learning exchange will bring together cities on a journey of sharing and co-learning by thinking through and workshopping on the common food system challenges as well as sharing some of the systemic approaches in achieving sustainable food systems.

WATCH HERE

6 July 2021 | 2pm CAT

African City Food Exchange Part 1: What have we learnt from the UNFSS independent food dialogues process in 16 cities? This webinar will bring together food dialogue curators and food system champions to reflect on the dialogue processes and unpack transformative messages coming out of the conversations with African cities.

WATCH HERE

20 July 2021 | 2pm CAT

Sustainable Food Cultures: How our appetites can transform our cities. We are what we eat, and our urban areas are shaped by the decisions and actions around the food system. How we grow, make, share and consume our food has the potential to positively transform our cities.

WATCH HERE

27 July 2021 | 2pm CAT

Where Chemistry, Storytelling and Policy Collide: Lessons from the Inclusive Metabolism Project. This webinar reflects on the outcomes of the 3-year Leading Integrated Research in Africa (LIRA) 2030 project on informality and urban metabolism in African urban food systems.

WATCH HERE

29 July 2021 | 2pm CAT

Multiplicities (Menu) of entry points into urban food governance through the lenses of “Food Sensitive Urban Planning” and the “City Region Food System. Food system experts from RUAF, FAO, ICLEI, the African Centre for Cities as well as city practitioners will share some of the key processes, approaches and resources, with case studies, on how cities can identify their priorities and embark on the journey of urban food systems transformation.

WATCH HERE

CLICK HERE TO READ WHAT OUR 2021 PARTNERS HAD TO SAY ABOUT #AFRICANCITYFOODMONTH

28 May 2020: World Hunger Day

Launch of the #AfricanCITYFOODMonth campaign on Twitter and Instagram.
Read our Director’s message here.

23 June 2020: Systems approaches to food and nutrition security and urban resilience: Lessons from Cape Town and Kumasi

As part of the Inclusive Metabolism project, researchers and city officials from Cape Town, South Africa, and Kumasi, Ghana, share their perspectives on how improving food systems can have wider socio-economic benefits for society, building resilience to shocks.

1 July 2020 – 3 July 2020: Food in our Cities

We map the components of Africa’s city region food systems: who are the stakeholders, what are the processes, policies, and actors influencing the behaviour and responsiveness of the food system? We further highlight some of the work done by key actors through a webinar, thought pieces and photography.

Webinar: 
1 July 2020 | 2:00pm – 3:30pm CAT
Welcome to #AfricanCITYFOODmonth: How should we understand food in our cities?
WATCH HERE

6 July 2020 – 10 July 2020: Covid and Food Security

The theme reflects on the work done by FAO and city food stakeholders in defining food security and the factors affecting levels of food insecurity in Africa. It calls us to envision what a resilient and nutritious city-region food system could look like to ensure food security in African cities.

Webinar:
7 July 2020 | 2:00pm – 3:30pm CAT
Food, climate and COVID-19: Stories from our cities
WATCH HERE

13 July 2020 – 17 July 2020: Nourishing our Cities

About 58.6 million children experience stunting in Africa due to poor nutrition. We explore what nutrition and malnutrition are, the extent and impacts of both in African cities and how local African foods and cuisine can contribute to nutritious diets.

Webinar:
15 July 2020 | 2:00pm – 3:30pm CAT
Nourishing our cities
WATCH HERE

20 July 2020 – 24 July 2020: Sustainable Food Value Chains

We showcase how both formal and informal supply chains are ensuring safe and undisrupted supply of food, during and post COVID- 19, through photography, thought pieces and highlighting case studies in African cities.

Webinar:
21 July 2020 | 2:00pm – 3:30pm CAT
Food and the circular economy
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27 July 2020 – 31 July 2020: Youth, Women, Business & Innovation in Urban Food Systems

Africa’ s agri-food sector has significant potential to meet the region’s growing demand for nutritious food. The theme unpacks FAO’s AgriInvest concept, investment opportunities in Africa’s food systems and the role of youth and women in agri-food business.

Webinars:
29 July 2020 | 2:00pm – 3:30pm CAT
How youth- and women-led small businesses can improve our local food systems
WATCH HERE
31 July 2020 | 2:00pm – 3:30pm CAT
Our future food systems
WATCH HERE