DanChurchAid
Zambia
The right to adequate food in Zambia
Food insecurity is an increasing problem in Zambia despite the country's rich and abundant natural and human resources.
The problem is due to various structural causes and has been compounded by natural causes such as frequent droughts and dry spells. However, the main structural cause is the government's inability to provide and implement good policies and avail sufficient financial and technical resources to nuture the agricultural sector.
Basic human rights
The right to food is the right of all individuals, alone or in comunity with others, to enjoy physical and economic access to adequate, safe and nutritious food or the means for its procurement to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. DanChurchAid's systematic use of a rights-based approach in the implementation of the programme seeks to address the structural barriers to food security and empower individuals and communities to claim their right to food.
Adressing rights violations
The food security programme work in Zambia addresses some of the rights violations that deny poor rural households their right to food. The rights violations addressed include the right to:
- Acquire food through own production and purchase
- Access knowledge on nutrition and sustainable agriculture.
- Participate in the formulation and implementation of agricultural policies and productive resources, including land, credit and technology.
Focus on the rural poor
The programme targets especially the rural poor who are usually also the most food insecure. It also targets the government as a legal duty bearer as well as traditional leaders (moral duty bearers) who are the custodians of the customary land on which most of the food incesure reside. Some international organisations will also be targeted in relation to the role of the global agricultural trends in the fulfilment of right to food.
The implementing partners
DanChurchAid's partners in Zambia are involved in implementing pro-poor projects focusing on sustainable agriculture, advocacy and lobbying on structural barriers to food security and empowerment and awareness raising among the right holders on various issues.
Main intervention areas
DanChurchAid in Zambia focuses on four intervention areas in addressing the rights violations:
- Sustainable agriculture
- Empowerment of the poor through organisation and awareness-raising
- Advocacy/lobbying at national, regional and international level
- Income generating activities.
The programme's high priority areas are Chipata and neighbouring districts in Eastern province as well as Choma and neighbouring districts in Southern province.
Zambia
