Caritas Africa Capacity Building Support Project in Advocacy for the Right to Food

  1. What is the context of the project?

In September 2015, all countries of the world committed to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, built around 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets. These commitments, to which even African governments have subscribed, are of great interest to Caritas, given its interventions in the various areas concerned. However, the realization of this ambitious Plan of Action for Humanity poses a number of challenges in terms of its implementation and the achievement of its intended results.

2. What public need does this project address?

This project addresses the right to food (food and nutrition security) of vulnerable communities, especially for the most marginalized groups (women, children, …) in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Vulnerable communities in sub-Saharan Africa, especially women and children, are suffering from famine and malnutrition. In this part of the world, populations face recurrent crises related to hunger, food insecurity, malnutrition and unsustainable agriculture, all of which are aggravated by the adverse effects of often violent conflicts and climate change.

Also, the right to food of vulnerable communities, especially women and children, is altered despite the availability of natural resources: abundance of fresh water, able-bodied youth in Sub-Saharan African countries.

3. Goal

The goal of this project is to

to contribute to improved governance through Caritas participation in the formulation and monitoring of national public policies aimed at eliminating hunger, ensuring food security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture

4. Objective

The project’s objectives are

Strengthen the role of Caritas in advocacy focused on the promotion of the right to food with a special focus on the most vulnerable populations

5. Expected Impact:

The expected impact of this project can be summarized as follows:

  • The practical needs and strategic interests of populations in general and especially those in situations of food and nutrition insecurity are taken into account in the national action plans for the implementation of MDG2.
  • The people most affected by famine, food insecurity and malnutrition are involved in multi-stakeholder dialogue and consultation frameworks at different levels concerning the promotion of their right to food.
  • Vulnerable groups in local communities affected by food crises have improved their knowledge of their right to food and are gaining equitable access to this right and to available natural wealth and resources.