Insights for food systems transformation from southern Africa

The report outlines a framework for food systems transformation in southern Africa, emphasizing the need for a water-energy-food (WEF) nexus approach, the integration of indigenous knowledge, and the empowerment of women and youth. It identifies key leverage points for change, such as governance reform, sustainable rural livelihoods, and the adoption of climate-smart agriculture. The document recommends shifting from siloed sectoral approaches to systemic, multi-sectoral governance and suggests using 'futuring' methodologies to identify 'Seeds of Change'—small-scale innovative projects that can be upscaled to build regional resilience.

• Southern Africa faces significant food and water security challenges, with approximately 70% of the population relying on rain-fed agriculture and 43% of the region being arid or semi-arid.
• Transforming food systems requires a water-energy-food (WEF) nexus approach to address interconnections between sectors, as there are currently no political or institutional structures in the region conducive to this integrated approach.
• Key leverage points for systemic change include the strategic use of public and private finance, the institutionalization of land rights for women and Indigenous Peoples, and the ability of governments to convene across ministries and stakeholders.
• There is a critical need to reform information systems to be less supply-led and less dominated by large corporations, ensuring data is available in local languages and accessible from an early age.
• Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is identified as a pivotal tool for transformation, specifically through the use of weather and climate information services (WCIS) to de-risk livelihoods and the implementation of low-emission trajectories.
• The report identifies 'Seeds of Change'—small-scale, experimental projects such as the Umgibe organic vegetable box scheme in KwaZulu-Natal—that demonstrate the potential for sustainable food systems if mainstreamed.
• Gender inequality remains a systemic barrier, with women having fewer opportunities to own land or access food production assets; the report argues that gender must be mainstreamed across all policy designs rather than treated as a tokenistic addition.
• The report recommends a shift toward agroecology and circular economy models, such as linking small-scale milling and baking with poultry growers to utilize waste as feed.
• Regional implementation should be strengthened by providing technical support to the SADC secretariat, specifically the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (FANR) division.

APA

Chesterman, S., Hamann, M., & Norström, A. (2022). Insights for food systems transformation from southern Africa. Global Resilience Partnership. https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/insights-for-food-systems-transformation_sara-outcomes.pdf

Chicago

Chesterman, Sabrina, Maike Hamann, and Albert Norström. Insights for food systems transformation from southern Africa. Global Resilience Partnership, 2022. https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/insights-for-food-systems-transformation_sara-outcomes.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Chesterman |first1=Sabrina |last2=Hamann |first2=Maike |last3=Norström |first3=Albert |title=Insights for food systems transformation from southern Africa |publisher=Global Resilience Partnership |date=August 2022 |url=https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/insights-for-food-systems-transformation_sara-outcomes.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{chesterman2022insights, author = {Chesterman, Sabrina and Hamann, Maike and Norström, Albert}, title = {{Insights for food systems transformation from southern Africa}}, institution = {Global Resilience Partnership}, year = {2022}, month = aug, url = {https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/insights-for-food-systems-transformation_sara-outcomes.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }