Sustainable and inclusive food systems are critical for peace and stability. While the linkages between conflict and food insecurity have become clearer, systemic stressors on food systems, from COVID-19 to climate change, have weakened global food systems, including in Africa. In recent years, Kenya has seen an increase in food insecurity, and as of February 2022, there were 3.1 million food-insecure people in pastoral and marginal agricultural areas—a 48 percent increase since August 2021 (FEWS NET). Important tools such as the Kenyan Government’s “Food and Nutrition Security Policy Implementation Framework 2017-2022” and the African Union’s “Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program” seek to address these challenges, but more can be done to build sustainable food systems.

This event will discuss the current state of food security in East Africa in general, and Kenya in particular, examine the causes and impacts of food insecurity and the linkages to peace and security in Kenya, and assess approaches to enhancing food security to determine what is working and what could be improved. Speakers will offer practical options and lessons learned for how policymakers and practitioners can more effectively tackle the challenges of building resilient food systems for sustainable peace.

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