Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

This member contributed to:

    • Dear editorial team, 

      Thank you for the opportunity to engage in this process. The below reflections and inputs are provided on behalf of the Nutrition in City Ecosystems (NICE) project that is supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and implemented in 2 secondary cities in each of the countries Bangladesh, Kenya and Rwanda, with support of a Swiss public private partnership. 

      Do you find the proposed framework effective to highlight and discuss the key issues concerning urban and peri-urban food systems?

      We appreciate the well-structured, effective framework proposed in the V0 draft, but wonder about the possibility to further introduce the value chain dimensions such as production, processing, transportation, consumption, but also governance into the framework. While they are deeply discussed in the V0 draft, they are, as to our understanding, not sufficiently reflected in the framework per se.

      We particularly appreciate the strong (and visual) importance given to urban contexts and listing of factors influencing the urban context as we understand the sub-national (city) level as a key driver and potential entry point for sustainable food system transformation and tackling of malnutrition. This potential as an entry point could be further emphasized even though already strongly mentioned in the current V0 draft.

      Is this a useful conceptual framework to provide practical guidance for policymakers?

      See above, a more stringent expression of the different activity fields where the different variables of the framework have to be reflected in within the value chain, might make the framework better understandable for policymakers.

      Can you offer suggestions for examples to illustrate and facilitate the operationalization of the conceptual framework to address issues relevant for FSN?

      While literature remains scarce, we are convinced that (emerging) literature discussing the successes of food policy councils as for example in Bambilor, Senegal, could further illustrate and facilitation of the operationalization of the conceptual framework.

      A report by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) and the city of Zurich assessing the food flows in Zurich, Switzerland, is a step to better understand Urban- Peri-Urban food systems in line with the proposed framework, but without fully implementing derived activities: Landert, J.; Vukotic, F.; Halter, L.; Wolfgramm, B.; Schleiffer, M.; Haupt, C.; Moschitz, H, 2021: Was isst Zürich? Handlungsspielräume auf lokaler Ebene zur Förderung einer nachhaltigen Ernährung, Schlussbericht (in German).

      The report adopts the broader definition of food security (proposed by the HLPE-FSN in 2020), which includes six dimensions of food security: availability, access, utilization, stability, agency and sustainability.

      Does the V0 draft cover sufficiently the implications of this broader definition in U-PU food systems?

      The V0 draft prominently relays on the six dimensions of food security and strongly connects them to the Urban-Peri-Urban (U-PU) food system principles, including, within the conceptual framework. Further elaboration of the empowering à agency match and principle / dimension in the context of U-PU might be helpful.

      Are the trends/variables/elements identified in the draft report the key ones to strengthen urban and peri-urban food systems? If not, which other elements should be considered?

      Are there any other issues concerning urban and peri-urban food systems that have not been sufficiently covered in the draft report?

      We acknowledge the broad inclusiveness of the V0 draft, discussing principles from a) productive and prosperous, b) generative, c) equitable, d) healthy & nutritious, e) diverse & resilient, and f) empowering in detail and without leaving out any of the steps in the value chains. We would appreciate further discussion and guidance on how to deal with imports into the U-PU food system that make up an important share in several contexts. Digitalization and its potential could be another important topic to quickly mention in this context.

      Furthermore, we do feel (policies that address) poverty and inequality, build resilience and social inclusion and foster sustainable livelihoods, including through nutrition supported social assistance programs are not sufficiently addressed in the current V0 draft. Furthermore, for us the fact that in many secondary cities in LMIC, most citizens are still having access to farmland (even if only a few acres) and are still partly self-sustaining might be further highlighted in the report.

      Are topics under- or over-represented in relation to their importance?

      See above, we acknowledge the distribution of the topics in the V0 draft, particularly the high importance given to food systems governance incl. food policy councils and city networks. The concept of food system champions and respective discussion could further supplement these sections.

      While the different trading channels such as market, street vendors, supermarkets are adequately discussed we would recommend to also include a big picture on food produce trade in U-PU areas per se, including broader discussion of import / export and related fields.

      Is there additional quantitative or qualitative data that should be included?

      Are there other references, publications, or traditional or different kind of knowledges, which should be considered?

      We recommend to expand the section on territorial markets and their societal importance and produce flows (incl. how often produce changes hands to reach city markets and how they are competing with the fresh produce) by further discussing market mechanisms and interactions that could be key, incl. as for example per the following literature:

      Nordhagen S., Lee J., Monterrosa E., Onuigbo-Chatta N., Okoruva A., Lambertini E., and Pelto GH (2023). Where supply and demand meet: how consumer and vendor interactions create a market, a Nigerian example. Food Security https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-023-01397-x

      FAO. 2023. Mapping of territorial markets - Methodology and guidelines for participatory data collection. 3rd ed., Rome: https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/cb9484en AND respective country reports

      Furthermore, we recommend to introduce a short section on the potential of digitalization into the report, e.g. as per:

      Speich C., Pannatier M., Berlin R., Freymond M., Monroy-Gomez J., Chigemezu Nwokoro C. et al. (2023). The potential of digital tools to foster production, and thus availability, of healthy diets for city dwellers in secondary cities. E3S Web of Conferences 418; https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202341805001

      Are there any redundant facts or statements that could be eliminated from the V0 draft?

      We would like to highlight that several sections in chapter 6 are repetitions of chapter 5 – a combination of chapters 5 and 6 into one single chapter might better combine topics of policy development and respective institutions and stakeholders involved in these developments and discussions. A re-ordering of chapter 5 and 6 to be placed before the large chapter 4 discussing the key components of value chains and food system principles in detail might be considered.

      Could you suggest case studies and success stories from countries that were able to strengthen urban and peri-urban food systems? In particular, the HLPE-FSN would seek contributions on:

      evidence-based examples of successful interventions in urban and peri-urban food systems with the principles behind what made the process work;

      Vegetables go to School initiative: https://avrdc.org/download/publications/policy-briefs/REV1_VGTS-Policy-Paper_6pagesA4_in-sequence.pdf

      Wasike et al., 2018 Linking Farmers, Indigenous Vegetables and Schools to Improve Diets and Nutrition in Busia County, Kenya

      efforts made to enhance agency in urban and peri-urban food systems;

      Bryan E. and Mekonnen D. (2023). Does small-scale irrigation provide a pathway to women’s empowerment? Lessons from Northern Ghana. Journal of Rural Studies 97 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2022.12.035

       

      See the attachments:

    • As members of the SDC supported Nutrition in City Ecosystems (NICE) project that works in secondary cities in Bangladesh, Kenya and Rwanda, we have prepared our inputs to the this consultation. We acknowledge the need for a report on strengthening urban and peri-urban food systems to achieve food security and nutrition. We agree on the importance of policies that address poverty and inequality, build resilience and social inclusion and foster sustainable livelihoods. Thorough discussion of the different types of urban areas (e.g. megacities, towns in largely rural areas) and the linkages between them are key, as is the role of secondary cities, where the majority of urbanization is taking place. Many thanks for the chance to contribute and best of luck for developing the report!

      Share your comments on the objectives and proposed content of this report:

      Do you find the proposed scope comprehensive to analyze and discuss the key issues concerning the role of urban and peri-urban food systems in achieving food security and nutrition? Are there any major gaps or omissions?

      We acknowledge the need for a report on strengthening urban and peri-urban food systems to achieve food security and nutrition. We agree on the importance of policies that address poverty and inequality, build resilience and social inclusion and foster sustainable livelihoods. Thorough discussion of the different types of urban areas (e.g. megacities, towns in largely rural areas) and the linkages between them are key, as is the role of secondary cities, where the majority of urbanization is taking place. We do ask that secondary cities, characterized by rural as well as urban components, should be given attention in this report. See also this publication: Secondary Cities as Catalysts for Nutritious Diets in Low- and Middle-Income Countries | SpringerLink

      Additionally to the outline presented, we would like to emphasize on the importance to also take the following topics into consideration:

      1. To address not only the production/distribution side of food security and nutrition, but also the consumer perspective. Moving out of a farming household and into an urban area often results in a pronounced shift away from traditional staples such as rice, millet or pulses towards more convenient and often high-processed foods such as pasta, bread, or high-sugar foods. This is the result of a combination of factors including changes in lifestyles (see Cockx L, Colen L, De Weerdt J. From corn to popcorn? Urbanization and dietary change: Evidence from rural-urban migrants in Tanzania. World Development. 2018; 110:140-59), and changing perceptions of typical, and locally grown food.

      The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has had much success with the Nutrition for All project, and the concept of “triggering”. Indeed, Social Behavior Change Communications that are prepared with city leadership and pay attention to gender and age differentials, are a profane means to raise awareness on the nutritional and environmental benefits of many different foods typical for rural areas as well as for food typically seen as upper-class food e.g. eggs. Food and nutrition literacy emphasizing the ability of individuals to learn adequate food use, still seem to be insufficient to overcome these socio-economic obstacles.

      1. In many secondary cities, most citizens are still having access to farmland (even if only a few acres) and are still partly self-sustaining. There is scope to further reflect on the links between nutrition and agroecology. See the following Commentary: Nutrition as a driver and outcome of agroecology | Nature Food
      2. A One-Health component would enhance the report emphasizing the interconnectedness of production, consumption, health, environment etc.
      3. Attention is needed to actively strengthen the multisectoral organizational, managerial, technical, and networking capacities of all food system stakeholders, and make the transition of food systems more inclusive. The prioritization of women and youth as important actors in the transformation of food systems is essential e.g. as mostly responsible for child nutrition although often not actively involved in cultivation decisions, while also facing challenges in current power imbalances and inequities in access to resources and decision-making. There is also a body of evidence on how women’s participation in agroecological networks (especially in short supply chains) helped them to lift themselves out of violent situations of isolation and to affirm their own identity and knowledge (e.g. Galvão Freire A. Women in Brazil build Autonomy with Agroecology. Farming Matters. 2018;34 (1):22-5 or Van der Ploeg J. The New Peasantries: Rural Development in Times of Globalization. Earthscan Food and Agriculture. 2018.

      Share good practices and successful experiences on strengthening urban and peri-urban food systems in the context of urbanization and rural transformation, including in the case of emergencies or conflicts

      We recommend considering recent policy developments as for example Nairobi’s County Food System Strategy and Policy into consideration. Multisectoral Nutrition or Food Systems Coordination committees or respective Policy Councils are in place in many cities. The Rikolto project has an insightful tool on how to set-up multisectoral nutrition or food systems platforms and the advocacy needs for such platforms (“Rikolto Multistakeholer Process Facilitation Toolkit”). Interesting work is also being done in the Nutrition in City Ecosystems (NICE) project: Frontiers | Nutrition in City Ecosystems (NICE): Protocol of a multi-sectoral development project to improve food and nutrition security of secondary city populations in Bangladesh, Kenya and Rwanda (frontiersin.org)

      Share recent literature, case studies and data that could help answer the following questions:

      1. What are the main bottlenecks hampering the contribution of urban and peri-urban food systems to food security and nutrition?

      The lack of overview about how produce flows and changes hands to reach city markets, including considerations of the food environment and what is competing with the fresh produce (with an understanding of prices), and considerations of the state as a consumer (public procurement etc.)

      1. How can urban and peri-urban food systems be transformed and made more equitable and accessible both for food system actors and in terms of food security and nutrition outcomes?

      City consumers with some means can be targeted by SBCC and a market systems approach, but attention also needs to be given to vulnerable city populations that lack the means to buy nutritious food and time for cooking and preparation.

      1. How can urban food supply chains, formal and informal, local and global, be made more resilient to ensure food security and nutrition within urban settings?

      Charles Chigemezu Nwokoro, Sophie van den Berg, Aleksandra Wybieralska, Elizabeth Imbo, Marnie Pannatier, Jimena Monroy, Cornelia Speich, Kesso Gabrielle van Zutphen, Tanja Barth-Jaeggi, Dominique Barjolle. (2023). Farm resilience assessment using FAO’s adapted SHARP+ tool in Busia County, Kenya. [under review].

      Valarezo D, Barjolle D, Habumugisha S, Agroecological inherence of coffee agro-systems and their impact on sustainable production [under review].

      1. What changes are needed in urban planning to better support all dimensions of food security – including support for human rights, agency and sustainability? Which are some of the measures that can strengthen the agency of local actors in urban and peri-urban food systems? 

      Important to raise awareness and increase capacity in foods systems, with, for example, local government health and agriculture officials familiar with the situation of local farmers, producers and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and vice versa

      1. How can national and municipal governments strengthen the potential for low-carbon, inclusive, relatively self-sufficient and resilient cities and towns to drive improved food security and nutrition in the wake of climate change and other crises?
      2. What are the most appropriate policies (and gaps in existing policies) along the rural-urban continuum to address issues of land tenure, urban expansion into farmland and the growing competition for natural resources?
      3. How can urban and peri-urban food systems ensure that food and nutrition needs of specific groups of people, such as migrants, the internally-displaced, children, adolescent, etc., are met?

      Targeted approaches are needed to work with city education, health and social welfare departments, as well as with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) that have the trust and unique access to the more vulnerable members of these groups. Channeling nutritious foods into the public procurement system including school feeding programmes, social protection initiatives, hospitals and prisons can make an important difference.

      1. What are the potential benefits and challenges of territorial markets for strengthening food security and nutrition for urban populations?
      2. In what ways can the incorporation of climate resilient agricultural and circular economy practices in urban and peri-urban agriculture provide climate co-benefits for all and enhance climate resilience?
      3. How can citizens be engaged and empowered to drive inclusive, transparent, participatory processes for urban transformations, ensuring synergies and complementarity with city councils?

      In the NICE project civil society organisations (women’s associations, youth groups), consumer associations as well as farmers and local businesses are engaging in multisectoral platforms as well as different government line ministries

      1. Which experiences of urban communities to increase access to fresh food and healthy diets can inspire broader public policies?

      We recommend to also consider kitchen garden initiatives promoting original, well adapted food, such as described by Wasike et al., 2018 Linking Farmers, Indigenous Vegetables and Schools to Improve Diets and Nutrition in Busia County, Kenya