Systematic review of the literature on ‘informal economy’ and ‘food security’: South Africa, 2009-2014
Loading...
Date
2016-07
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies, University of the Western Cape
Abstract
Despite the importance of the informal food economy in fulfilling the daily and weekly food needs of a
large proportion of South Africa’s low-income population, it appears little research exists on the exact
nature of the relationship between the informal food economy and food security. This paper performed
the first qualitative systematic review of research from South Africa that addresses both these aspects.
The methods used in the review are described in detail, to increase the readers’ ability to assess the
reliability of subsequent findings and analysis. Findings confirmed the low level of research focus on the
informal food economy (and food security), in particular the stages of the value chain beyond the farm
gate and before the consumer. Food safety research is common, although applied narrowly and with
mixed findings. The conceptualisation of nutrition research is encouragingly wide, encompassing both
over- and under-nutrition, but does not seem to consider the broader urban informal context in which
consumers are embedded. Lastly, the research approaches used are predominately quantitative, and the
voices of those who survive within the informal food economy are largely absent.
Description
Keywords
Food security, Informal economy, Informal sector, Systematic review
Citation
Even-Zahav, E., and Kelly, C. 2016. Systematic review of the literature on ‘informal economy’ and ‘food security’: South Africa, 2009–2014, Working Paper 35. Cape Town: PLAAS, UWC and Centre of Excellence on Food Security.