GAIN Working Paper n°49-Empowered Local Agency, Infrastructure Investment, And Governance
Food systems, important for food security, nutrition, prosperity, and environmental well-being, are integral to all 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Traditional food markets are strategic entry points for food systems transformation, since a diversity of stakeholders (including local producers, vendors, consumers, and government), interact routinely in these spaces. These markets connect millions of stakeholders within and across local food systems and levels of government mandates. As food-insecure regions like sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) rapidly urbanise, most urban, low-income, vulnerable communities are reliant on food purchased from markets. As such, markets are key spaces to guide vendor practices, influence consumer food choices, and strengthen inclusive governance. Despite their critical value, markets’ ‘hard’ (structures and equipment) and ‘soft’ (capacities and resources) infrastructure are significantly under-supported. Investment efforts have been challenged by a lack of understanding of how markets are embedded in the wider food system and markets’ wholesale and retail dynamics, inadequate financial models, insufficient public budgets and capacity, and limited empowerment of key stakeholders. This paper introduces and illustrates GAIN’s Inclusive Food Systems Governance Model and supporting tools. The model is designed to strengthen investment and empower voices, alongside increased efforts to ensure sustainability and resilience in traditional food markets. It has been shown to support effective market infrastructure investments, to foster local agency and inclusive and equitable food systems transformation, and to be adaptable across different contexts. The case of Marikiti Market, Machakos County (Kenya) shows the model in action, including details of specific investment components and costs. As infrastructure investments are limited, the importance of making a sound business investment case for public and private (and philanthropic) partnerships and banks to invest in traditional markets is critical.
Amidst Aid Cuts – Urgent call for Smarter, Stronger & Swifter solutions to Curb Malnutrition
The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) joins world leaders and organisations at the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit to press for smarter nutrition financing, stronger private sector engagement and swifter actions on nutrition commitments made.
Enhancing Urban-Rural Linkages for Resilient Food Systems
- , Global
In recent years, increasing climate challenges have highlighted how important it is to rethink food systems in order to create a just and more sustainable future. With 70% of the world’s food production consumed in cities, and 70% of food-insecure people living in urban or peri-urban areas, cities hold great potential in transitioning from hotspots of food-related challenges to powerful agents of food systems transformatio
369,000 children likely to die and 2.3 million at risk due to 44% cuts in global nutrition funding
Experts warn of the devastating toll of aid cuts on malnourished children and how it will impact generations to come—not just as huge human cost—but also a huge cost to development, economic growth, and future global prosperity.
Africa Food Systems Forum 2025
- Dakar, Global
The Africa Food Systems Forum will host its annual summit in Dakar, Senegal, from 31 August to 5 September
GAIN@COP30
- Belém, Global
The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the largest global event for discussions and negotiations on climate change. In 2025, Brazil will have the honour of hosting the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30), which will take place in Belém, Pará.
UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4)
- Addis Ababa, Global
This event will build on the momentum of the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit and the first Stocktake in 2023 (UNFSS+2), focusing on accelerating sustainable, inclusive, and resilient food systems transformation.