Urban food insecurity and social protection

Abstract

This chapter aims to contribute to the urban food security debate by exploring the role of informal safety nets and formal food based social protection in addressing food insecurity challenges facing low income urban households in Manzini. The empirical data used in this paper came from two surveys: the first involved 500 households and was undertaken in three low income areas of Manzini. The second involved a series of in-depth interviews with senior staff at supermarkets and spaza shops. The results reveal that food security challenges are considerable in the low income areas of Manzini and that, at the same time, various forms of community and intra-household food sharing are an important food source for a minority of poor households in the city. In this regard, the national government needs to consider strengthening food-based social safety-net programmes that assist poor and vulnerable groups.