As we put together this newsletter, delegations were preparing for the high-level segment of the UN Biodiveristy Conference (COP 15) in Montreal, Canada. The emblematic goal of protecting 30% of the globe’s land and ocean by 2030 is proposed by a coalition of countries to finally counter the loss of…

A Decade of the CFS VGGT: assessing progress and enhancing accountability “There is no system change, without a shift of power” (Annalisa Mauro, ILC) A decade following their endorsement by the members of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS), the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of…

A blog commemorating Women’s Day in South Africa, 9 August Written by Caroline Peters, Wendy Pekeur, Matilda Tsitsi Fakazi, Nomonde Buthelezi, Hazel and Sanelisiwe Nyaba, Nicole Paganini and Victoria Redmond In discussing our work on urban food futures, the word most frequently on our lips is “crisis”. The pandemic has…

Cities worldwide are attempting to reconfigure their food systems to achieve an array of objectives related to climate change, public health, and social justice. Recognizing the importance of fostering the coordination of many actors, multiple fora are dedicated to sharing cities’ experiences and insights in building climate-resilient and sustainable urban…

Highlights of UNCCD COP 15 contributions by TMG and partners written by Wangu Mwangi Governments underestimate the power of communities. Violet Shivutse It is often pointed out that we are well into the final “Decade of Action” that must deliver on global commitments to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)…

A Template for Inclusive Policymaking for Sustainable Agricultural Development — Farmers drawn from all over Kakamega County in western Kenya attended the First Governor’s Day with Farmers (GDF) held at the Bukura Agricultural Training Centre on 22nd February 2022. …

Written by Nicole Paganini and Victoria Redmond In early March, project teams from the Urban Food Futures programme gathered in Cape Town for a vibrant one-week workshop to reflect on the findings of the scoping phase and formulate action-research priorities. One of the core objectives of the partner exchange was…

The latest climate report on “Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability”, released on 28 February 2022 by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), emphasises the impact of global warming on increased and unpredictable transboundary pest outbreaks and the consequent need for improved governance to enhance resilience. The report, representing the work…

“The Horn of Africa is facing the worst desert locust crisis in over 25 years, and the most serious in 70 years for Kenya. The current situation […] is set to become a regional plague […] which represents an unprecedented threat to food security and livelihoods in the region and…