Chen Q, Knickel K, Tesfai M, Sumelius J, Turinawe A, Isoto RE and Medyna G (2021). A Framework for Assessing Food System Governance in Six Urban and Peri-Urban Regions in Sub-Saharan Africa. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 5:763352. doi: 10.3389/fsufs.2021.763352

Summary:

• In this article, we elaborate a framework for assessing, monitoring, and improving the governance of food systems. Our focus is on food chains in six peri-urban and urban regions in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).
• A literature review on food chain governance and a mapping of current agri-food chains in the six regions provide the basis for the elaboration of an indicator-based assessment framework.
• The framework is adapted to the specific conditions of SSA and related goals. The assessment framework is then used to identify the challenges and opportunities in food chain governance in the six regions.
• The first testing of the framework indicates that the approach can help to identify disconnects, conflicting goals and tensions in food systems, and to formulate strategies for empowering agri-food chain actors in transitioning towards more efficient, equitable and sustainable agri-food systems.
• The article is concluded with a brief reflection on the strengths and weaknesses of the framework and suggests further testing and refinement.

A Framework for Assessing Food System Governance in Six Urban and Peri-Urban Regions in Sub-Saharan Africa. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, Published on: November 10th, 2022, Published in:Research articles