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Transforming Africa’s Urban Food Systems
We address the systemic underpinnings of food insecurity and environmental impact by strengthening linkages between stakeholders in Africa and Europe.
Years active:
2022 - 2026
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Project summary
Transforming Africa’s Urban Food Environments through Strengthening Linkages between Food Systems Stakeholders in Cities across the Continent and Europe
Launched in December 2022, AfriFOODlinks is an EU funded project. Coordinated by ICLEI Africa, the project gathers 26 partners across the globe to improve food security and urban sustainability in 65+ cities in Africa and Europe by:
- Applying an urban food systems lens to promote shifts to healthy, sustainable diets
- Transforming urban food environments through real-world socio-technical experiments
- Promoting inclusive multi-actor governance to empower public officials, small businesses and communities with ownership and agency to shape their food systems
- Accelerating innovative, women- and youth-led agri-food businesses to support local value addition and inclusive economic participation.
Transforming Africa’s Urban Food Environments through Strengthening Linkages between Food Systems Stakeholders in Cities across the Continent and Europe
Launched in December 2022, AfriFOODlinks is an EU funded project. Coordinated by ICLEI Africa, the project gathers 26 partners across the globe to improve food security and urban sustainability in 65+ cities in Africa and Europe by:
- Applying an urban food systems lens to promote shifts to healthy, sustainable diets
- Transforming urban food environments through real-world socio-technical experiments
- Promoting inclusive multi-actor governance to empower public officials, small businesses and communities with ownership and agency to shape their food systems
- Accelerating innovative, women- and youth-led agri-food businesses to support local value addition and inclusive economic participation.
Project aims
AfriFOODlinks aims to address the systemic underpinnings of food insecurity and environmental impact, to lead to real transformation. Urban food environments are the key area for improving nutrition and reducing environmental impact in African cities because this is where residents make choices about the food they eat.
It is also where the food security priorities of food availability, access, agency, utilisation and stability manifest.
AfriFOODlinks aims to address the systemic underpinnings of food insecurity and environmental impact, to lead to real transformation. Urban food environments are the key area for improving nutrition and reducing environmental impact in African cities because this is where residents make choices about the food they eat.
It is also where the food security priorities of food availability, access, agency, utilisation and stability manifest.
AfriFOODlinks envisions a thriving network of cities in Africa and beyond, in which food systems and nutrition are firmly established on the local governance agenda. Citizen-led multi-stakeholder governance platforms welcome diverse voices to inform policy and urban planning processes that promote food and nutrition security and environmentally regenerative practices.
- AfriFOODlinks Vision Statement
Project highlights
AfriFOODlinks sees 3 drivers of the urban food environment’s form, function and dynamics:
- Infrastructure
- Social and cultural preference
- Business innovation
By improving business innovation, infrastructure investment, and shaping cultural preference, AfriFOODlinks expects to contribute systemically to the realisation of fair, equitable, healthy and environmentally friendly urban food systems from primary production to consumption.
AfriFOODLinks is divided into 6 packages of work, which will be managed by specialists and experts in those particular fields, and will include a number of project partners
- Knowledge validation, amplification, creation and uptake
- Strengthening multi-stakeholder governance processes
- Promoting inclusive and circular agribusiness & innovation
- Improving food environments through experimentation
- Building lasting Africa-Europe partnerships
- Mutual learning, exchange communications & outreach
The project website and knowledge hub has been launched!
Visit our website here: www.afrifoodlinks.org
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Project resources
African CITYFOOD Month 2021 Event Report
African CITYFOOD Month 2021 Event Report
Project news updates
24 May 2023
Recognising that the climate change battle will be won or lost in cities will be key for next IPCC Chairperson
20 April 2023
Energising e-mobility in African cities
12 May 2023
A city of hope for all
24 May 2023
Recognising that the climate change battle will be won or lost in cities will be key for next IPCC Chairperson
20 April 2023
Energising e-mobility in African cities
12 May 2023
A city of hope for all
team manager
Main project contact
Luke Metelerkamp
Senior Professional Officer: Urban Systems
The project team
Transforming Africa’s Urban Food Systems team
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Luke Metelerkamp
Senior Professional Officer: Urban Systems
Luke spent the past 14 years actively immersed in civil society organisations and fledgling research institutes, working at the forefront of transdisciplinary research and transformative learning, and specialising in urban food security programmes, food systems governance and social-learning processes. He has worked extensively with global leaders across the spectrum of system change – from grant-makers and policy think-tanks, to universities and social movements. Luke holds a BA in Applied Design, a Masters in Sustainable Development Planning, and a PhD that focussed on the role of informal learning networks and youth in food system transformation. Luke also has a small flock of chickens and some young fruit trees that are teaching him a lot about patience and collaboration!
Ayman Aribou
Professional Officer: Sustainable Energy Action and Political Liaison
Claudia Schroder
Research & knowledge management officer
Carine Lehtem Buma
Professional Officer: Climate change, Energy and Resilience
Bongiwe Simka
Professional Officer: Urban Nature and Nature-based Solutions