To realize the right to adequate food for all we need to transform our food systems, so they are more sustainable and inclusive.
Strengthening Rural Governance for the Right to Adequate Food
Many communities are denied their human right to food because of weak policies, poor governance, or systems that fail to include the most vulnerable. A multi-country initiative in Kenya, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia is working on changing that.
In many parts of the world, hunger is not caused by a lack of food, but by lack of access, justice, and accountability. Food is more than a necessity — it is a human right.
Yet, too often, communities are denied this right because of weak policies, poor governance, or systems that fail to include the most vulnerable. This is the thinking behind the Strengthening Rural Governance for the Right to Adequate Food project, a multi-country initiative implemented in Kenya, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Ethiopia with support from Welthungerhilfe (WHH) and partners. The project is designed to empower communities, strengthen governance, and ensure that the right to adequate food is recognized not as charity, but as justice.
A Story from Vihiga, Kenya: Bringing fertilizer closer to the farmers
In Vihiga County in western Kenya, the project reaches more than 21,000 people, most of them women and smallholder farmers. Here, communities are learning that food is not just about cultivation, but about dignity and rights.
Take the case of subsidized fertilizer. Initially, distribution points were located at constituency level, far from smallholder farmers who needed them most. The additional transport costs meant many could not afford the fertilizer at all. After dialogues between farmers, local leaders, and county officials facilitated by the project, distribution points were moved closer to communities — to the ward level. Farmers could now access fertilizer more easily, plant on time, and harvest enough to feed their families. A simple governance change led to improved harvests and greater food security.
“We used to walk long distances to get fertilizer, and by the time we reached the depot, it was finished. Now that the depot is near, I can plant on time — and my harvest has doubled.”
James, farmer from Lyaduywa WardSupporting widows and people with disabilites to exercise their rights
For people with disabilities, access to the government’s Inua Jamii cash transfer program was another challenge. Many were unaware of the registration process or had their stipends taken by relatives. Through the project, groups of people with disabilities were organized, trained, and represented at the county level. Leaders like Rita Elaki emerged, ensuring fair registration and accountability. Today, no one in her group is left out of their monthly stipend, and children with disabilities are able to attend school with the support of the community.
The project also addresses other structural barriers. Through legal aid clinics, widows facing land succession disputes gained access to lawyers — something previously out of reach. Chiefs and local leaders, once part of the problem, are now under greater scrutiny as citizens understand their rights.
“When my husband died, I thought losing my land was my fate. But after attending a legal aid clinic, I learned the land is also my right. Now the chief himself supports me in processing the title deed.”
Margaret, widow from SabatiaExtension services, once unavailable due to inadequate government staffing, are now more accessible after consistent community lobbying. Farmers can call on agronomists and veterinary officers, reducing crop and livestock losses. Perhaps most importantly, communities are embracing public participation in decision-making. Citizens trained as Right to Food Ambassadors are mobilizing their neighbors to attend county budget forums, ask questions, and ensure their voices are heard.
“Public participation is not a favor — it is your constitutional right,” a Member of the County Assembly in Vihiga recently told citizens during a community forum. “And now people are beginning to believe it,” adds Josphat, a Right to Food Ambassador. “We no longer whisper our complaints — we speak up.”
A Rights-Based Approach to Ending Hunger
What makes this initiative unique is its rights-based approach (RBA). Instead of treating food security as a matter of charity, the project frames it as a matter of accountability. Rights holders — the citizens — are empowered to demand services. Duty bearers — from county officials to traditional leaders — are reminded of their constitutional and moral obligations.
This shift has changed relationships, policies, and outcomes. It has created a ripple effect where small wins — such as timely fertilizer distribution or fairer access to cash transfers — build confidence, courage, and trust in democratic systems.
Mobilizing civil society across countries
The work in Vihiga is part of a larger, multi-country effort. In Kenya, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Ethiopia, the project is mobilizing civil society, strengthening accountability, and helping governments shape policies that place the right to food at the center of development.
For Welthungerhilfe, it is also part of a global mission: to achieve a world without hunger by 2030. Eradicating hunger is not only about increasing yields or providing aid — it is about ensuring that every person, everywhere, can access adequate food as a matter of right.
Looking ahead: better equipped for challenges
The journey is far from over. Communities in Vihiga and across the other project countries continue to face challenges, from climate shocks to rising food prices. But the progress so far proves a vital truth: when people know their rights, when they can hold leaders accountable, and when systems are made more inclusive, hunger is not inevitable.
