The right to food in Eastern and Southern Africa

There is an increase of food crises and hunger emergencies in Eastern and Southern Africa, caused by a combination of climate change, conflicts and political factors. The complexity of today’s hunger in Africa means there is no simple answer for how to eradicate it.  This paper focuses on these two regions and tries to illustrate some of the factors that contribute to food insecurity. The paper first provides an introduction to the right to food and an analysis of right holders and duty bearers. It then analyses some of the factors that contribute to hunger in Eastern and Southern Africa.

The author provides possible approaches for national governments and the international community in order to better promote the right to food in these two regions. Actors such as self sustaining rural farmers, pastoralists, indigenous people, are considered. In addition the paper considers how the right to food impacts on fishing, water, nutrition and alternative income.

The author concludes that national governments are the main duty bearers in securing the right to food. The international community and private actors should respect and contribute to promote the right to food. National governments should make priorities which include the following:

• securing the right to food should be a main goal in PRSP or similar development policies, and an integrated part of other development policies covering development areas that affect food security
• national governments should prioritise a participatory approach in order to develop appropriate
  development strategies that aim at promoting the right to food directly or indirectly
• the participation of all affected groups/stakeholders at all levels of society in the development of strategies is essential for securing sustainable solutions to secure the right to food
• national governments should prioritise ensuring the right to food in the regulation, management and development of resources, i.e. land rights for women, pastoralists and indigenous peoples
• management of natural resources has to be seen in relation to conflict prevention and peace building
• national governments should prioritise structures that contribute to preventing the development of food crises, such as keeping food stocks and regulating the food market.