Despite striking indicators depicting high per capita Gross Domestic Product together with poor s... more Despite striking indicators depicting high per capita Gross Domestic Product together with poor social indicators, changes in the incidence and severity of money-metric poverty in South Africa since 1993 have been a source of debate. Household surveys suggest that poverty appears to have persisted during the 1990s, with perhaps some improvement since 2000. Inequality remains high, and is probably widening, but there has been delivery in terms of social services such as water and electricity. Panel data that track the circumstances of the same people contribute
The Institute of Development Studies (IDS) delivers world-class research, learning and teaching t... more The Institute of Development Studies (IDS) delivers world-class research, learning and teaching that transforms the knowledge, action and leadership needed for more equitable and sustainable development globally. About the Food Equity Centre The Food Equity Centre brings together researchers, policy makers, practitioners and activists to collaborate in developing solutions to inequities in food systems. It addresses the urgent need for research and action towards fairness, justice, and inclusion, at a time when global crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have exposed the scale of food insecurity and structural issues that leave people in poor food environments vulnerable to disease and malnutrition. Food Equity Centre members and partners work on diverse aspects of food security and social justice, including food systems, nutrition, social protection, food sovereignty and the right to food. Through research, knowledge sharing and mutual learning between countries in the Global North and Global South, it aims to break down silos between researchers, activists and local communities. The Centre will generate contextualised knowledge and actionable solutions contributing to transformative change that leads to equitable and sustainable food systems globally.
The Oxford Handbook of the South African Economy, 2021
Although South Africa is considered to be food secure at the national level, it faces a double bu... more Although South Africa is considered to be food secure at the national level, it faces a double burden of malnutrition comprising under-nutrition and micro-nutrient deficiencies, and over-weight/obesity. Almost one quarter of the population live below the national food poverty line, and 27 per cent of children under five years are stunted. At the same time, 68 per cent of adult women and 31 per cent of men are overweight or obese. The high prevalence of overweight and obesity translates into diet-related non-communicable disease. As a result, South Africa bears a disproportionate burden of food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa given its wealth. The absence of progress is concerning since public investments in child and maternal nutritional programmes have increased significantly since 1993. High levels of unemployment, the enduring legacy of poor services, and unhealthy diets are among the reasons for this. Covid-19 is a further shock to food and nutrition security.
Despite important strides in the fight against poverty in the past two decades, child poverty rem... more Despite important strides in the fight against poverty in the past two decades, child poverty remains widespread and persistent, particularly in Africa. Poverty in all its dimensions is detrimental for early childhood development and often results in unreversed damage to the lives of girls and boys, locking children and families into intergenerational poverty. This edited volume contributes to the policy initiatives aiming to reduce child poverty and academic understanding of child poverty and its solutions by bringing together applied research from across the continent. With the Sustainable Development Goals having opened up an important space for the fight against child poverty, not least by broadening its conceptualization to be multidimensional, this collection aims to push the frontiers by challenging existing narratives and exploring alternative understandings of the complexities and dynamics underpinning child poverty. Furthermore, it examines policy options that work to address this critical challenge
Africa, with its growing urban population, faces the problem of increased demand for food in urba... more Africa, with its growing urban population, faces the problem of increased demand for food in urban areas and pressure on urban food systems. Lack of employment opportunities, rising levels of urban poverty and food costs further compounds the urban food problem resulting in high levels of urban hunger and consequently food insecurity. Using the General Household Surveys from 2015 to 2017, we examine the association between subsistence farming practices and hunger in urban South Africa. We estimate three models for hunger at the household level; child hunger, adult hunger and hunger in either adult or child. The findings reveal that female-headed households are more likely to engage in subsistence farming. Women, children and the unemployed are at risk of hunger. We find no association between subsistence farming and hunger in urban areas. Measures of economic welfare; incomes, employment and a household member receiving a social grant are significantly associated with the absence of hunger. The results point to the fact that new urban residents as a matter of necessity need the means to earn an income as this is critical in safeguarding them from hunger.
Agroecological food system transformation remains marginal in South Africa despite numerous polic... more Agroecological food system transformation remains marginal in South Africa despite numerous policies, plans and programmes favouring sustainable agriculture. Problems of weak budgets, fragmented interventions and lack of coordination reflect the power dynamics in the prevailing food system, dominated by large-scale conventional agriculture and agribusiness. The paper provides an in-depth case study of the importance of promoting agroecological transitions. Following a qualitative research methodology based on a literature review for context, preparatory discussions with local contact points, and semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with local actors in the field, the paper describes, analyses and characterises the agroecological transitions in the Overberg District in the Western Cape. It considers the broader policy, discursive and organisational landscape of agroecology followed by an in-depth analysis of the site drawing on key informant interviews and focus gro...
Due to rapid urbanisation, food systems in sub-Saharan African cities are increasingly under pres... more Due to rapid urbanisation, food systems in sub-Saharan African cities are increasingly under pressure. Through the lens of a foodshed, this paper quantitatively analyses the spatial extent of the food provisioning area for consumers of different socio-economic status in Kampala (Uganda). Based on a primary dataset of surveys with households and food vendors, we map the foodshed by registering where consumers obtain their food, and the origin of where it is grown. We show that 50% of the food consumed in the city originates from within a 120 km proximity to Kampala, including 10% from within the city itself. At present, urban agricultural activities are twice as important as international imports for the urban food provision. Established, high-income urban dwellers have a more local foodshed due to their broad participation in urban agriculture, while low-income newcomers rely heavily on retailers who source food from rural Uganda.
China and Africa constitute more than a third of the world’s population and China has become Afri... more China and Africa constitute more than a third of the world’s population and China has become Africa’s largest trading partner. This has led to other forms of engagement with African countries, shaping development policies and outcomes. This chapter focuses on one important set of outcomes: the implications of the China-Africa relationship for global food security and the transferability of the Chinese model of agriculture to African countries. As the world redirects attention to pursuing sustainable development goals (SDGs), such engagements with China in agricultural development will affect the attainment of SDG 1 on eliminating extreme poverty and SDG 2 on achieving zero hunger. China has embarked on an effort to improve African agricultural capacity and productivity partly by sharing experience, technology transfer and by encouraging Chinese agricultural investments in Africa. This has included setting up new exchange frameworks and programmes to both bring Chinese experts to Afr...
Interventions to reduce undernutrition and improve child growth have incorporated improved water,... more Interventions to reduce undernutrition and improve child growth have incorporated improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) as part of disease transmission prevention strategies. Knowledge gaps still exist, namely, when and which WASH factors are determinants for growth faltering, and when WASH interventions are most effective at improving growth. This study drew cross-sectional data from a longitudinal cohort study and used hierarchical regression analyses to assess associations between WASH factors: water index, sanitation, hygiene index, and growth: height-for-age (HAZ), weight-for-age (WAZ), weight-for-height (WHZ) at 1, 6, and 12 months postpartum among infants a priori born healthy in Soweto, Johannesburg. Household access to sanitation facilities that were not safely managed was associated with a decrease in HAZ scores at 1 month (β = −2.24) and 6 months (β = −0.96); a decrease in WAZ at 1 month (β = −1.21), 6 months (β = −1.57), and 12 months (β = −1.92); and finally, w...
Associations between different forms of malnutrition and environmental conditions, including wate... more Associations between different forms of malnutrition and environmental conditions, including water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), contribute to poor child health, nutritional status and physical growth. The primary responsibility for the provision of water and sanitation, as a basic service and human right, lies with the State, as such, a number of stakeholders are involved. Despite relatively high levels of WASH infrastructure coverage in South Africa, enteric infections and stunting remain high for a middle-income country. The aim of this study is to elucidate the landscape of WASH in South Africa in relation to nutritional status of children under the age of 5 years in the South African, Gauteng and City of Johannesburg contexts. The authors detailed the national and provincial public sector departments and through purposive sampling proceeded to map the various departments and associated policies that are responsible for the provision of WASH facilities, as well the nutritional...
Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, 2020
Associations between different forms of malnutrition and environmental conditions, including wate... more Associations between different forms of malnutrition and environmental conditions, including water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), may contribute towards persistently poor child health, growth and cognitive development. Experiencing poor nutrition in utero or during early childhood is furthermore associated with chronic diseases later in life. The primary responsibility for provision of water and sanitation, as a basic service and human right, lies with the State; however, a number of stakeholders are involved. The situation is most critical in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where, in 2015, 311 million people lacked a safe water source, and >70% of SSA populations were living without adequate sanitation. The aim of this paper was to conduct a systematic review to investigate the state of literature concerned with WASH and its association with nutritional status, and governance in children from birth to 5 years of age in SSA. Articles were sourced from PubMed Central, Science Direct an...
Introduction: In South Africa, high levels of chronic undernutrition, especially in children, coe... more Introduction: In South Africa, high levels of chronic undernutrition, especially in children, coexists with increasing rates of obesity and overweight. The quality of diets is often presented as a possible reason for these high levels of malnutrition. Together the increasing cost of food, high levels of poverty and inequality mean many households are unable to consume a diverse diet. Methods: We use cross-sectional data from the 2017 General Household Surveys and inequality analysis to study differences in dietary intake at the household level in South Africa. We measure socioeconomic status (SES) using income and a relative asset index. The dietary intake is based on the consumption of ten food groups. Results: We demonstrate the existence of a consistent pro-rich socioeconomic gradient in food consumption in South Africa, irrespective of the measure of SES used and for all population categories examined. Consumption of grains and sweets is generally high in the country for all...
Background: Despite increased economic growth and development, and existence of various policies ... more Background: Despite increased economic growth and development, and existence of various policies and interventions aimed at improving food security and nutrition, majority of countries in sub-Saharan Africa have very high levels of child malnutrition. The prevalence of stunting, an indicator of chronic malnutrition, is especially high. Methods: In this paper, we use Demographic and Health Survey datasets from three countries in the region that obtained middle-income status over the last decade (Ghana, Kenya and Zambia), to provide a comparative quantitative assessment of stunting levels, and examine patterns in stunting inequalities between 2007 and 2014. Results: Our analyses reveal that stunting rates decreased in all three countries over the study period, but are still high. In Zambia, 40% of under 5-year olds are stunted, compared to 26% in Kenya and 19% in Ghana. In all three countries, male children and those living in the poorest households have significantly higher levels of stunting. We also observe stark inequalities across socioeconomic status, and show that these inequalities have increased over time. Conclusions: Our results reveal that even with economic gains at the national level, there is need for continued focus on improving the socioeconomic levels of the poorest households, if child nutritional outcomes are to improve.
There is no doubt of the contributions made by mobile phones and mobile network operators in incr... more There is no doubt of the contributions made by mobile phones and mobile network operators in increasing access to communications in rural areas of developing countries. Yet how affordable is this ubiquitous access in such an ICT ecosystem? Using data from two stratified random surveys conducted in a South African rural community, this paper provides a unique in-depth picture of the expenditure and communication patterns of its dwellers. Results show a high access ratio of people using mobile phone services weekly and a high proportion of disposable income dedicated to a very constrained set of mobile phone services. Factors such as mobile phone charging and the extra charges added by airtime resellers contribute to increase the communication costs. This data and its analysis can be used by the following: regulators and government agencies to better design their policy implementations to provide universal service and access; competing industry players to understand the dynamics within rural communities to better target their products; civil society organizations to use it as a case in their efforts to make affordable communications a constitutional right.
of the United NationsThe Roles of Agriculture Project aims to extend current thinking about the s... more of the United NationsThe Roles of Agriculture Project aims to extend current thinking about the social, environmental and economic roles of agriculture in the development process. For more than three years, the project has worked to establish an analytical framework; to identify the social and economic roles for which the market prices of agricultural activities fail to convey sufficient signals to secure an optimal level of those activities; and to carry out eleven country case studies. The case studies
Despite striking indicators depicting high per capita Gross Domestic Product together with poor s... more Despite striking indicators depicting high per capita Gross Domestic Product together with poor social indicators, changes in the incidence and severity of money-metric poverty in South Africa since 1993 have been a source of debate. Household surveys suggest that poverty appears to have persisted during the 1990s, with perhaps some improvement since 2000. Inequality remains high, and is probably widening, but there has been delivery in terms of social services such as water and electricity. Panel data that track the circumstances of the same people contribute
The Institute of Development Studies (IDS) delivers world-class research, learning and teaching t... more The Institute of Development Studies (IDS) delivers world-class research, learning and teaching that transforms the knowledge, action and leadership needed for more equitable and sustainable development globally. About the Food Equity Centre The Food Equity Centre brings together researchers, policy makers, practitioners and activists to collaborate in developing solutions to inequities in food systems. It addresses the urgent need for research and action towards fairness, justice, and inclusion, at a time when global crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have exposed the scale of food insecurity and structural issues that leave people in poor food environments vulnerable to disease and malnutrition. Food Equity Centre members and partners work on diverse aspects of food security and social justice, including food systems, nutrition, social protection, food sovereignty and the right to food. Through research, knowledge sharing and mutual learning between countries in the Global North and Global South, it aims to break down silos between researchers, activists and local communities. The Centre will generate contextualised knowledge and actionable solutions contributing to transformative change that leads to equitable and sustainable food systems globally.
The Oxford Handbook of the South African Economy, 2021
Although South Africa is considered to be food secure at the national level, it faces a double bu... more Although South Africa is considered to be food secure at the national level, it faces a double burden of malnutrition comprising under-nutrition and micro-nutrient deficiencies, and over-weight/obesity. Almost one quarter of the population live below the national food poverty line, and 27 per cent of children under five years are stunted. At the same time, 68 per cent of adult women and 31 per cent of men are overweight or obese. The high prevalence of overweight and obesity translates into diet-related non-communicable disease. As a result, South Africa bears a disproportionate burden of food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa given its wealth. The absence of progress is concerning since public investments in child and maternal nutritional programmes have increased significantly since 1993. High levels of unemployment, the enduring legacy of poor services, and unhealthy diets are among the reasons for this. Covid-19 is a further shock to food and nutrition security.
Despite important strides in the fight against poverty in the past two decades, child poverty rem... more Despite important strides in the fight against poverty in the past two decades, child poverty remains widespread and persistent, particularly in Africa. Poverty in all its dimensions is detrimental for early childhood development and often results in unreversed damage to the lives of girls and boys, locking children and families into intergenerational poverty. This edited volume contributes to the policy initiatives aiming to reduce child poverty and academic understanding of child poverty and its solutions by bringing together applied research from across the continent. With the Sustainable Development Goals having opened up an important space for the fight against child poverty, not least by broadening its conceptualization to be multidimensional, this collection aims to push the frontiers by challenging existing narratives and exploring alternative understandings of the complexities and dynamics underpinning child poverty. Furthermore, it examines policy options that work to address this critical challenge
Africa, with its growing urban population, faces the problem of increased demand for food in urba... more Africa, with its growing urban population, faces the problem of increased demand for food in urban areas and pressure on urban food systems. Lack of employment opportunities, rising levels of urban poverty and food costs further compounds the urban food problem resulting in high levels of urban hunger and consequently food insecurity. Using the General Household Surveys from 2015 to 2017, we examine the association between subsistence farming practices and hunger in urban South Africa. We estimate three models for hunger at the household level; child hunger, adult hunger and hunger in either adult or child. The findings reveal that female-headed households are more likely to engage in subsistence farming. Women, children and the unemployed are at risk of hunger. We find no association between subsistence farming and hunger in urban areas. Measures of economic welfare; incomes, employment and a household member receiving a social grant are significantly associated with the absence of hunger. The results point to the fact that new urban residents as a matter of necessity need the means to earn an income as this is critical in safeguarding them from hunger.
Agroecological food system transformation remains marginal in South Africa despite numerous polic... more Agroecological food system transformation remains marginal in South Africa despite numerous policies, plans and programmes favouring sustainable agriculture. Problems of weak budgets, fragmented interventions and lack of coordination reflect the power dynamics in the prevailing food system, dominated by large-scale conventional agriculture and agribusiness. The paper provides an in-depth case study of the importance of promoting agroecological transitions. Following a qualitative research methodology based on a literature review for context, preparatory discussions with local contact points, and semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with local actors in the field, the paper describes, analyses and characterises the agroecological transitions in the Overberg District in the Western Cape. It considers the broader policy, discursive and organisational landscape of agroecology followed by an in-depth analysis of the site drawing on key informant interviews and focus gro...
Due to rapid urbanisation, food systems in sub-Saharan African cities are increasingly under pres... more Due to rapid urbanisation, food systems in sub-Saharan African cities are increasingly under pressure. Through the lens of a foodshed, this paper quantitatively analyses the spatial extent of the food provisioning area for consumers of different socio-economic status in Kampala (Uganda). Based on a primary dataset of surveys with households and food vendors, we map the foodshed by registering where consumers obtain their food, and the origin of where it is grown. We show that 50% of the food consumed in the city originates from within a 120 km proximity to Kampala, including 10% from within the city itself. At present, urban agricultural activities are twice as important as international imports for the urban food provision. Established, high-income urban dwellers have a more local foodshed due to their broad participation in urban agriculture, while low-income newcomers rely heavily on retailers who source food from rural Uganda.
China and Africa constitute more than a third of the world’s population and China has become Afri... more China and Africa constitute more than a third of the world’s population and China has become Africa’s largest trading partner. This has led to other forms of engagement with African countries, shaping development policies and outcomes. This chapter focuses on one important set of outcomes: the implications of the China-Africa relationship for global food security and the transferability of the Chinese model of agriculture to African countries. As the world redirects attention to pursuing sustainable development goals (SDGs), such engagements with China in agricultural development will affect the attainment of SDG 1 on eliminating extreme poverty and SDG 2 on achieving zero hunger. China has embarked on an effort to improve African agricultural capacity and productivity partly by sharing experience, technology transfer and by encouraging Chinese agricultural investments in Africa. This has included setting up new exchange frameworks and programmes to both bring Chinese experts to Afr...
Interventions to reduce undernutrition and improve child growth have incorporated improved water,... more Interventions to reduce undernutrition and improve child growth have incorporated improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) as part of disease transmission prevention strategies. Knowledge gaps still exist, namely, when and which WASH factors are determinants for growth faltering, and when WASH interventions are most effective at improving growth. This study drew cross-sectional data from a longitudinal cohort study and used hierarchical regression analyses to assess associations between WASH factors: water index, sanitation, hygiene index, and growth: height-for-age (HAZ), weight-for-age (WAZ), weight-for-height (WHZ) at 1, 6, and 12 months postpartum among infants a priori born healthy in Soweto, Johannesburg. Household access to sanitation facilities that were not safely managed was associated with a decrease in HAZ scores at 1 month (β = −2.24) and 6 months (β = −0.96); a decrease in WAZ at 1 month (β = −1.21), 6 months (β = −1.57), and 12 months (β = −1.92); and finally, w...
Associations between different forms of malnutrition and environmental conditions, including wate... more Associations between different forms of malnutrition and environmental conditions, including water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), contribute to poor child health, nutritional status and physical growth. The primary responsibility for the provision of water and sanitation, as a basic service and human right, lies with the State, as such, a number of stakeholders are involved. Despite relatively high levels of WASH infrastructure coverage in South Africa, enteric infections and stunting remain high for a middle-income country. The aim of this study is to elucidate the landscape of WASH in South Africa in relation to nutritional status of children under the age of 5 years in the South African, Gauteng and City of Johannesburg contexts. The authors detailed the national and provincial public sector departments and through purposive sampling proceeded to map the various departments and associated policies that are responsible for the provision of WASH facilities, as well the nutritional...
Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, 2020
Associations between different forms of malnutrition and environmental conditions, including wate... more Associations between different forms of malnutrition and environmental conditions, including water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), may contribute towards persistently poor child health, growth and cognitive development. Experiencing poor nutrition in utero or during early childhood is furthermore associated with chronic diseases later in life. The primary responsibility for provision of water and sanitation, as a basic service and human right, lies with the State; however, a number of stakeholders are involved. The situation is most critical in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where, in 2015, 311 million people lacked a safe water source, and >70% of SSA populations were living without adequate sanitation. The aim of this paper was to conduct a systematic review to investigate the state of literature concerned with WASH and its association with nutritional status, and governance in children from birth to 5 years of age in SSA. Articles were sourced from PubMed Central, Science Direct an...
Introduction: In South Africa, high levels of chronic undernutrition, especially in children, coe... more Introduction: In South Africa, high levels of chronic undernutrition, especially in children, coexists with increasing rates of obesity and overweight. The quality of diets is often presented as a possible reason for these high levels of malnutrition. Together the increasing cost of food, high levels of poverty and inequality mean many households are unable to consume a diverse diet. Methods: We use cross-sectional data from the 2017 General Household Surveys and inequality analysis to study differences in dietary intake at the household level in South Africa. We measure socioeconomic status (SES) using income and a relative asset index. The dietary intake is based on the consumption of ten food groups. Results: We demonstrate the existence of a consistent pro-rich socioeconomic gradient in food consumption in South Africa, irrespective of the measure of SES used and for all population categories examined. Consumption of grains and sweets is generally high in the country for all...
Background: Despite increased economic growth and development, and existence of various policies ... more Background: Despite increased economic growth and development, and existence of various policies and interventions aimed at improving food security and nutrition, majority of countries in sub-Saharan Africa have very high levels of child malnutrition. The prevalence of stunting, an indicator of chronic malnutrition, is especially high. Methods: In this paper, we use Demographic and Health Survey datasets from three countries in the region that obtained middle-income status over the last decade (Ghana, Kenya and Zambia), to provide a comparative quantitative assessment of stunting levels, and examine patterns in stunting inequalities between 2007 and 2014. Results: Our analyses reveal that stunting rates decreased in all three countries over the study period, but are still high. In Zambia, 40% of under 5-year olds are stunted, compared to 26% in Kenya and 19% in Ghana. In all three countries, male children and those living in the poorest households have significantly higher levels of stunting. We also observe stark inequalities across socioeconomic status, and show that these inequalities have increased over time. Conclusions: Our results reveal that even with economic gains at the national level, there is need for continued focus on improving the socioeconomic levels of the poorest households, if child nutritional outcomes are to improve.
There is no doubt of the contributions made by mobile phones and mobile network operators in incr... more There is no doubt of the contributions made by mobile phones and mobile network operators in increasing access to communications in rural areas of developing countries. Yet how affordable is this ubiquitous access in such an ICT ecosystem? Using data from two stratified random surveys conducted in a South African rural community, this paper provides a unique in-depth picture of the expenditure and communication patterns of its dwellers. Results show a high access ratio of people using mobile phone services weekly and a high proportion of disposable income dedicated to a very constrained set of mobile phone services. Factors such as mobile phone charging and the extra charges added by airtime resellers contribute to increase the communication costs. This data and its analysis can be used by the following: regulators and government agencies to better design their policy implementations to provide universal service and access; competing industry players to understand the dynamics within rural communities to better target their products; civil society organizations to use it as a case in their efforts to make affordable communications a constitutional right.
of the United NationsThe Roles of Agriculture Project aims to extend current thinking about the s... more of the United NationsThe Roles of Agriculture Project aims to extend current thinking about the social, environmental and economic roles of agriculture in the development process. For more than three years, the project has worked to establish an analytical framework; to identify the social and economic roles for which the market prices of agricultural activities fail to convey sufficient signals to secure an optimal level of those activities; and to carry out eleven country case studies. The case studies
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