Concern Worldwide, in partnership with Citi Foundation, is rolling out an ambitious initiative to transform food systems in Nairobi’s informal settlements, tackling the twin challenges of hunger and malnutrition while empowering small-scale traders.
The project, known as Advancing Food Security in Nairobi (AFSN), is part of the Citi Foundation’s Global Innovation Challenge and has already engaged more than 1,200 small-scale traders, most of them women and youth.
It seeks to improve access to affordable, nutritious foods while equipping vendors with business skills to strengthen their enterprises.
Through the AFSN program, participating vendors receive training in business development, linkages to value chains, and connections with mentors and investors.
This has enabled many, such as mother-led businesses, to expand their operations and increase household food security.
Beyond enterprise support, the project promotes healthier eating by training 200 community health volunteers and establishing 20 mother groups that raise awareness on nutrition, infant feeding, and urban gardening.
The effort is designed to break the cycle of poor diets and chronic malnutrition that disproportionately affects children in Nairobi’s informal settlements.
Nairobi, home to over 60% of its population in informal urban settlements, faces high poverty levels, unemployment, and food insecurity.
By building the capacity of small-scale vendors and fostering inclusive food systems, Concern Worldwide aims to create sustainable, locally driven solutions to hunger.
Program Director Hassan Olow emphasized the long-term vision:
“The key solution in addressing food and nutrition security in an urban setup is incentivizing local markets, especially local vendors operating in the food value chain, as a means of increasing access to safe and affordable nutritious food.”
As global supply chains shift and urban populations continue to grow, Concern Worldwide’s AFSN program is positioning Nairobi’s informal food vendors as vital actors in ensuring that no one is left hungry.