African Human Mobility Review

Changing Diets, Varying Food Consumption Patterns, and Food Security among Recent Zimbabwean Migrants in Windhoek, Namibia

Godfrey Tawodzera — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In Zimbabwe, decades of economic and political challenges have generated significant out-migration to neighboring countries including Namibia, perceived by many Zimbabweans as being more politically and economically stable than their home country. While numerous studies have documented these movements, few have interrogated the food security of migrants in host countries, where they are likely to face food security challenges. This study thus sought to investigate the changing dietary and food consumption patterns of recent Zimbabwean migrants in Namibia and the impact on household food security. The researcher collected data from 35
Zimbabwean migrant households in Windhoek through in-depth interviews. Study results show that deteriorating economic conditions and food insecurity were the major drivers of migration from Zimbabwe. The pre-migration diet of most migrants
was mixed, consisting of both traditional and Westernized foods. The major food security challenges were: non-availability of foods that migrants consumed while still in Zimbabwe; poor quality of some substitute foods; increased food expenses through importing foods from the home country; and shortage of time to prepare some foods. While most migrant households reported improved household food security compared to the pre-migration period, numerous food challenges remained. Many worried that the changing diet and the consequent increase in the consumption of over-processed foods could have negative health outcomes, hence impacting on their food security as well.

Cities of Contagion: Pandemic Precarity, Migration, and Food Security in Urban Africa

Jonathan Crush, Zack Ahmed — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Solving the Cape Town Puzzle: Class, Politics and Migration in the Informal Food Economy

Graeme Young — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Political empowerment possesses significant potential to facilitate the realization of economic inclusion by allowing marginalized groups to make claims on the state in the pursuit of justice and equality. This is particularly promising for individuals engaged in informal economic activity. Cape Town, South Africa, is in many ways a model for this idea: following its post-apartheid democratization process, governments at the local, provincial, and national levels officially recognize the value of informality and have adopted policies to support it. Yet persistent forms of exclusion for those who engage in informal economic activity remain. This article examines why this is the case. In doing so, it explores the forms of marginalization experienced by migrant and non-migrant workers in the Cape Town’s informal food economy and highlights the importance of three factors in explaining why democratization has not translated into greater inclusion: (1) the contours of inequality in the city; (2) the nature of local and national party politics; and (3) the specific dynamics that surround migration and informality. When seeking to translate institutional change into more inclusive forms of development, it emphasizes the importance of paying attention to both open democratic structures and processes and the forms of politics that fill them.

Translocality, Remittances, and Food Security in the Ghana-Qatar Migration Corridor

Bernard Owusu, Jonathan Crush — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This paper examines the impact of migrant remittances on household food security in the Ghana-Qatar migration corridor. Drawing on a 2023 survey of migrant-sending households in Ghana and in-depth qualitative interviews with migrants in Qatar, the study explores the characteristics, determinants, and patterns of remitting. The findings reveal that cash remittances play a crucial role in enhancing food security and the overall welfare of households in Ghana. However, the pressure to remit affects the food security of migrants in Qatar significantly, and they often adopt various coping strategies to manage their limited resources. The paper highlights the translocal nature of Ghanaian households, where remittances contribute to the cultural and economic sustenance of families. The study underscores the dual role of remittances in supporting household food security while imposing financial constraints on migrants and calls for policies that address the needs of both remitters and recipients.

COVID-19’s Impact on Food Security among Urban Refugee Youth in Kenya: A Postcolonial Feminist Perspective

Cherie Enns, Samuel Owuor, Abbey Lin, Kristin Swardh, William Kolong — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study analyzes the experiences of urban refugee communities, more specifically, the
challenges young South Sudanese refugees living in Kenya face. We divert from the
comprehensive examination of refugees in camps to focus on urban youth amid Kenya’s refugee
policy changes and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the support of South Sudanese
community leaders, our study engaged 58 participants – 42 males and 16 females. Participants
engaged in semi-structured discussions about food security and other daily challenges related to
their urban refugee experience. This study draws on postcolonial feminist theory to contextualize
the gender-specific dimensions of food insecurity, centering analysis on discussing historical
power structures, migration patterns, urbanism theory, and geopolitical influences contributing to
the experiences of South Sudanese urban refugee youth in Kenya. Study participants, irrespective
of location, encountered corruption, limiting policies, and conflicting identity formation, with
women specifically highlighting self-identity, dignity, and family as critical to supporting their
resilience. Participants emphasized the impact of COVID-19 on community cohesion, particularly
in shared meals. However, their agency was hindered by movement restrictions, invisible fences,
or barriers exacerbated by unequal support and aid distribution. The research advocates for the
formulation of clear African contextualized urban-based policies and migration systems that
prioritize the needs of urban refugees, safeguarding their rights and upholding human dignity.
Collaborative engagement with all stakeholders within local communities, especially youth
refugees, is necessary to develop effective urban policies that promote stability, economic
advancement, and social integration.

Pandemic Mobilities, Livelihood Disruptions, and Food Insecurities among Eastern Cape Migrants in Cape Town and Johannesburg during COVID-19

Jonathan Crush , Godfrey Tawodzera, Maria Salamone, Zack Ahmed — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This paper examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on internal migrants from the Eastern Cape in the cities of Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa, with a focus on mobility restrictions, livelihood disruptions, and food insecurity. Methodologically, the paper draws on a survey of 1,733 migrant households in the two cities conducted in 2023 and identifies significant economic hardships and increased food insecurity among internal migrants during the pandemic. Findings reveal that the pandemic exacerbated vulnerabilities, with many migrants experiencing job losses, reduced remittances, and heightened food insecurity. The paper underscores the need to differentiate between internal and international migrants in policy responses in times of crisis to ensure targeted support for the most affected populations.

Sustainable Development Goals and Food Remittances: COVID-19 Lockdowns, Digital Transformation, Lessons and Policy Reflections from South Africa-Zimbabwe Corridor

Sean Sithole, Mulugeta Dinbabo, Daniel Tevera — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to address global challenges like food insecurity, poverty, inequality, and economic growth. Remittances are crucial in achieving these goals, especially in developing countries. By directly supporting households, remittances help reduce poverty and food insecurity, improve access to healthcare and education and bolster financial stability. Strengthening policies to facilitate safe, affordable remittances aligns with SDG targets and empowers families to break the poverty cycle, contributing to sustainable development at the community level. Recent migration studies reveal that food remittances are essential to achieving the SDG goals, mainly poverty reduction at the household level and the nutrition security of poor households in Southern Africa. The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly disrupted the mechanisms and pathways through which international migrants transfer food remittances to their home countries. In the Global South, recent studies have highlighted the expansion of digital-mobile technology. However, in Southern Africa, digital food remittances are still under-researched. This paper is based on a mixed-methods study whose aim is to contribute to the academic and policy discussion on food remittances by examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns introduced by the South African and Zimbabwean governments on the nature and volume of cross-border food remittance flows between the two countries. The article begins by assessing the characteristics of food remittance transfers during the pandemic. It then highlights key lessons learned regarding the role of various transfer channels amid significant disruptions. Finally, the discussion pivots to the implications of mobile and digital technology-based channels for the food remittance market, which primarily operates within informal financial ecosystems. This examination underscores the transformative potential of technological advancements in reshaping the dynamics of remittance flows during times of crisis. A key finding is that digital-mobile technologies in cross-border food remittances promote financial and digital inclusion and offer swift, accessible (particularly during the pandemic-induced disruptions of informal channels), reliable, and convenient ways to remit food, which is crucial for food and nutrition security. The insights gained from this paper underscore the need for policymakers to support and enhance the integration of digital-mobile technologies within the food remittance framework. By doing so, stakeholders can ensure improved food and nutrition security for families reliant on these vital transfers, thus contributing to broader socio-economic stability in the region.

“An Endless Cycle of Worry and Hardship”: The Impact of COVID-19 on the Food Security of Somali Migrants and Refugees in Nairobi, Kenya

Zack Ahmed, Jonathan Crush, Bernard Owusu — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

COVID-19 has produced unprecedented effects on the global economy and society by exposing multiple weaknesses and faultiness. The pandemic has disrupted global and local agricultural production processes and food supply chains with negative consequences for food security. Containment measures to limit the spread of COVID-19, including strict restrictions on the movement of people, goods, and services have affected urban food systems adversely in multiple ways. Urban migrants and refugees in many parts of the Global South have been disproportionately hit by these measures, increasing the precarity of their living conditions and exacerbating the food insecurity of the migrants’ households. Based on the results of a household survey and in-depth interviews with Somali migrants in Nairobi, Kenya in August 2022, this study documents the pandemic-related experience of these migrants in food access and consumption and assesses the overall impacts of COVID-19 on their food security. This study seeks to contribute to the emerging body of case study evidence that assesses the food security outcomes of the pandemic in vulnerable populations.

Informal Cross-Border Traders and Food Trade during the Global Pandemic in Zimbabwe

Abel Chikanda — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The collapse of Zimbabwe’s economy in the 2000s resulted in the country relying largely on food imports from other countries, especially from South Africa. Informal cross-border traders (ICBTs) have become crucial players in the country’s food economy, playing an important role in the importation of food as well as its retail across the country. Cross-border trading also provides employment opportunities to a large number of people in the country, especially women, in an environment of depressed economic opportunities. The paper relies on data from a variety of sources, including surveys by the Southern African Migration Programme (SAMP) as well as document analysis to demonstrate the role played by ICBTs in the country’s food economy. It also assesses how ICBTs were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and examines their strategies employed to continue their business activities during the time of mobility restrictions. More importantly, it demonstrates how the lack of understanding of the contribution of ICBTs to employment generation and urban food security has led to the adoption of policies and practices that do not accommodate informal food trading in the country’s urban landscape. The paper also discusses how informal cross-border trading (ICBT) and informal food trading in Zimbabwe have changed in the post-COVID-19 period and sets a research agenda on understanding the role of ICBT in the economies of countries in the Global South.

Refugee Protection and Food Security in Kampala, Uganda

Andrea Brown — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study reviews the governance of Kampala’s food system and refugee protection approach in order to propose strategies to recognize and protect the food security needs of Kampala’s refugee population more effectively. Uganda is Africa’s largest refugee host, with a policy approach that has been widely lauded for its flexible settlement provisions and commitment to durable solutions. However, growing refugee populations and underfunding have led to serious pressures, severely exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. One unique aspect of Uganda’s refugee governance approach is the allowance of refugee populations to self-settle outside of designated camps in the capital city, Kampala. This research uses a governance lens to explore what is being done to support the food security of this group, by whom, and how this could be improved. The researcher conducted interviews with asylum seekers and refugees living in two of Kampala’s large informal settlements (Kisenyi II and Namuwongo) and with a range of policy stakeholders during May 2023. Multiple levels of government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) offer overlapping formal and informal services and programs accessible to different populations living in settlements. This paper points to gaps and limitations linked to resources, as well as difficulties identifying vulnerable populations, locating political responsibility, coordination, and weak policy implementation, and suggests governance strategies to respond better to refugee and asylum seekers’ food security needs. Key recommended responses are to overhaul the refugee registration system, recognize and protect urban food security, and improve policy actor coordination through collaborative strategies that move beyond awareness of the crisis to setting specific targets and timelines to address it.