University of KwaZulu-Natal Post Graduate Programme | FIVIMS - Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information and Mapping Systems

University of KwaZulu-Natal Post Graduate Programme

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) in South Africa is home to a regional capacity development programme in food security

Glossary: food security

A situation that exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.

, the African Centre for Food Security. This transdisciplinary teaching programme was launched in 2001 in response to increasing demand for food security training and need for a critical mass of highly trained practitioners, policy makers and researchers. The Centre is the lead institution for food security capacity development, training and research in Africa and now acts as regional coordinator and facilitator among partner institutions, including Makerere University (Uganda), Bunda College, University of Malawi and Sokoine University of Agriculture (Tanzania). The Centre offers a short course and qualifications including a Post Graduate Diploma, Masters and PhD opportunities.

The transdisciplinary approach includes integration of multiple disciplines in partnership with local communities to understand the interwoven structures and functions of complex societal problems through mutual learning. Academic and research programmes in food security currently draw on scholars and practitioners from a diversity of backgrounds including staff from 15 disciplines. The background of currently 23 registered students from 13 African countries is similarly diverse, including students from academia, research institutions, public service, and non-governmental organizations.

Current research includes a number of projects aimed at developing and testing innovative food security measures. For example, a recently completed review of FIVIMS South Africa (FIVIMS-ZA) indicators will assist in identification of measures that are easy to use and to understand and that are appropriate to South Africa. Further testing and modelling of the indicators aims at monitoring food security and vulnerability

Glossary: vulnerability

The presence of factors that place people at risk of becoming food insecure or malnourished, including those factors that affect their ability to cope.

for cost effective and comparative regional measurement. The current training offerings and research initiatives will be strengthened through regional collaboration that brings together an even wider range of expertise in food security and plans to replicate the UKZN programme at partner institutions to rapidly increase capacity development in Africa. For more information please click here or contact Sheryl Hendriks, Interim Director [ This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ].