Introduction
Rapid urbanization, climate change, and rising food prices are reshaping food systems worldwide. Urban and peri-urban populations—especially low-income households, women, children, migrants, and informal workers—face increasing risks of malnutrition, food insecurity, and limited access to fresh and nutritious foods. Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture (UPA) offers a powerful, nature-positive solution to address these challenges by producing diverse, safe, and affordable food close to consumers while creating green jobs, strengthening local economies, and enhancing climate resilience.
This proposal aims to promote Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture for Nutrition Security by supporting community-led, climate-smart, and inclusive food production systems in cities and their surrounding areas. The project integrates nutrition-sensitive agriculture, circular economy principles, water-efficient technologies, and digital tools to improve dietary diversity, livelihoods, and urban resilience.
Problem Statement
Urban food systems are highly dependent on long, vulnerable supply chains that are easily disrupted by climate shocks, pandemics, fuel price volatility, and geopolitical instability. As a result:
- Urban poor households spend a high proportion of income on food but still lack access to nutritious diets.
- Consumption of ultra-processed foods is increasing, contributing to malnutrition, obesity, and non-communicable diseases.
- Peri-urban agricultural land is under pressure from urban expansion, pollution, and weak land tenure.
- Women and youth have limited access to productive resources, skills, and markets in urban food systems.
Despite these challenges, cities generate large volumes of organic waste, wastewater, and unused spaces that could be transformed into productive agricultural resources through sustainable UPA models.
Goal and Objectives
Overall Goal
To enhance nutrition security, livelihoods, and climate resilience of urban and peri-urban communities through sustainable, inclusive, and nutrition-sensitive urban agriculture systems.
Specific Objectives
- Increase access to fresh, diverse, and nutritious foods for urban and peri-urban households.
- Strengthen livelihoods and green jobs for women, youth, and vulnerable groups.
- Promote climate-smart, water-efficient, and low-emission food production systems.
- Integrate circular economy approaches using organic waste, composting, and safe wastewater reuse.
- Strengthen urban food governance, policy integration, and community stewardship.
Target Groups and Beneficiaries
- Low-income urban and peri-urban households
- Women-led households and women farmer groups
- Urban youth, migrants, and informal workers
- Small-scale peri-urban farmers and producer cooperatives
- Municipal authorities and urban planners
Direct beneficiaries will include approximately 10,000 individuals, with at least 60% women and youth. Indirect beneficiaries include urban consumers, local markets, and city institutions such as schools and health centers.
Project Components and Activities
- Component 1: Nutrition-Sensitive Urban Food Production
- Establish rooftop gardens, vertical farms, container gardens, and community gardens.
- Promote cultivation of nutrient-dense crops (leafy greens, legumes, fruits, biofortified varieties).
- Integrate small livestock and aquaculture where appropriate (poultry, fish, rabbits).
- Provide starter kits including seeds, tools, compost, and water-saving technologies.
- Component 2: Climate-Smart and Resource-Efficient Practices
- Promote drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting, and greywater reuse.
- Introduce climate-resilient crop varieties and agroecological practices.
- Support low-cost protected cultivation (shade nets, poly-tunnels).
- Encourage nature-based solutions such as pollinator gardens and urban trees.
- Component 3: Circular Economy and Waste-to-Resource Models
- Establish decentralized composting and biofertilizer units using urban organic waste.
- Train communities on safe waste segregation and compost application.
- Link food waste recovery with urban agriculture inputs.
- Reduce methane emissions from landfills through organic waste diversion.
- Component 4: Capacity Building and Digital Extension
- Component 5: Market Linkages and Value Addition
- Support short food supply chains, farmers’ markets, and community-supported agriculture (CSA).
- Promote value addition (drying, pickling, minimal processing) to reduce food loss.
- Link producers with schools, hospitals, and social protection programs.
- Component 6: Policy Engagement and Urban Food Governance
- Support municipalities to integrate UPA into urban planning and climate strategies.
- Strengthen land tenure arrangements and access to public spaces for agriculture.
- Establish multi-stakeholder urban food councils.
Gender Equality and Social Inclusion
The project places women and youth at the center of urban agriculture transformation. Key strategies include:
- Prioritizing women-led producer groups and youth enterprises.
- Providing childcare-friendly training schedules and safe production spaces.
- Supporting women’s leadership in cooperatives and urban food councils.
- Ensuring access for migrants and marginalized communities.
Environmental and Climate Benefits
- Reduced food miles and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Improved urban biodiversity and green cover.
- Enhanced soil health through composting and organic practices.
- Increased resilience to heat waves and floods through green infrastructure.
Implementation Strategy
The project will be implemented over 36 months through partnerships with:
- Municipal governments
- Local NGOs and community-based organizations
- Research institutions and universities
- Private sector technology providers
A phased approach will include pilot demonstrations, scale-up, and institutionalization.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)
Key indicators include:
- Number of urban gardens established
- Increase in household dietary diversity scores
- Income generated from urban agriculture
- Volume of organic waste composted
- Reduction in food loss and emissions
Participatory monitoring and digital data collection tools will be used.
Sustainability and Scaling
Sustainability will be ensured through:
- Community ownership and cooperative models
- Cost-recovery through produce sales
- Integration into municipal budgets and policies
- Private sector partnerships for inputs and markets
Risk Analysis and Mitigation
Potential risks include land access constraints, water scarcity, and policy barriers. Mitigation strategies include flexible production models, water-efficient technologies, and strong municipal engagement.
Alignment with Global Frameworks
The project aligns with:
- SDGs 2, 3, 11, 12, and 13
- FAO Urban Food Systems Framework
- UN-Habitat New Urban Agenda
- National climate adaptation and nutrition strategies
Conclusion
Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture represents a transformative pathway to build resilient, inclusive, and nutrition-secure cities. By empowering communities, closing resource loops, and integrating food systems into urban planning, this project will deliver lasting benefits for people, planet, and prosperity.
