Cross-sectoral cooperation, coordination, and communication regarding food security

The small-scale farming agenda to increase food security in South Africa’s rural provinces is the cornerstone of local economic development and a key instrument in the fight against poverty and malnutrition. However, the effectiveness of coordination, cross-sector cooperation, and communication channels aimed at improving food security has come under scrutiny. Targeting various actors from the government, non-profit organisations, and academia, this study adopted an interpretivist approach to gather comprehensive data on governance responses to small-scale farming as a means of enhancing food security. Most role-players highlighted the fragmentation of policies, rather than inadequate communication, corruption in tender processes, and dishonest actors tasked with advancing the food security agenda. This chapter emphasises the significance of collaboration, noting that actors who should be working together to improve food security are not doing so, often duplicating projects that benefit the same recipients. This chapter concludes that effective communication is essential for delivering food security directives to the key actors responsible for advancing small-scale farming initiatives. It further provides clarity to practitioners and academics by emphasising that poor communication is the primary hindrance to the effective implementation of food security-oriented policies.