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Investing in Urban African Food Systems
We facilitate the engagement of local governments, partners, investors, financiers and food system stakeholders for investment in urban food systems.
Years active:
2020 - 2022
Related ICLEI Pathway(s)
Locations
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About
Project summary
The COVID-19 pandemic and the related lockdown restrictions have emphasized the importance of a food systems perspective especially in addressing the issue of urban food insecurity. In the context of growing global attention on food systems perspectives, the pandemic and associated government responses, demonstrated to local governments and many urban food system actors, how entangled food is with other urban systems, and how many urban development objectives can be supported through a lens of food systems. Local governments are also attempting to understand their role in supporting sustainable food systems and have articulated the need for inter- and intra-city learning, as well as the identification of investment opportunities for system-wide food security outcomes. ICLEI has been engaging local governments around food and has been on a learning journey around urban food systems governance approaches. To continue supporting local governments on this learning journey, ICLEI Africa implemented Investing in Urban African Food Systems, supported by FAO.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the related lockdown restrictions have emphasized the importance of a food systems perspective especially in addressing the issue of urban food insecurity. In the context of growing global attention on food systems perspectives, the pandemic and associated government responses, demonstrated to local governments and many urban food system actors, how entangled food is with other urban systems, and how many urban development objectives can be supported through a lens of food systems. Local governments are also attempting to understand their role in supporting sustainable food systems and have articulated the need for inter- and intra-city learning, as well as the identification of investment opportunities for system-wide food security outcomes. ICLEI has been engaging local governments around food and has been on a learning journey around urban food systems governance approaches. To continue supporting local governments on this learning journey, ICLEI Africa implemented Investing in Urban African Food Systems, supported by FAO.
Project aims
Investing in Urban African Food Systems (FS-Invest) Phase 2: The second phase of FS-Invest builds upon the work of the “Opportunities for investment in African urban food systems” project, undertaken by ICLEI Africa and FAO in 2020 to facilitate the engagement of local governments, local partners, investors, financiers and food system stakeholders for investment in urban food systems programmes in the five project cities.
Investing in Urban African Food Systems (FS-Invest) Phase 2: The second phase of FS-Invest builds upon the work of the “Opportunities for investment in African urban food systems” project, undertaken by ICLEI Africa and FAO in 2020 to facilitate the engagement of local governments, local partners, investors, financiers and food system stakeholders for investment in urban food systems programmes in the five project cities.
Project highlights
Project outcomes
Project activities
Project partners
Project resources
African CITYFOOD Month 2021 Event Report
African CITYFOOD Month 2021 Event Report
African CITYFOOD Month 2020 Event Report
5 strategic areas for urban food systems transformation
Project news updates
12 October 2022
Food at the center of human life and livelihoods
12 October 2022
Food at the center of human life and livelihoods
6 August 2020
How three urban food gardens are contributing towards social cohesion in South Africa
