East Africa Food Security Forum 2024 — Key Findings

Awinera researchers presented key findings at the East Africa Food Security Forum held in Nairobi, Kenya, bringing together over 200 researchers, policymakers, and development practitioners from across the region.

The forum, hosted by the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), focused on evidence-based approaches to addressing the twin challenges of food insecurity and climate vulnerability in East Africa.

Awinera's presentation drew on findings from its ongoing household food security assessment in refugee-hosting districts of Western Uganda — a study tracking seasonal variation in food access, dietary diversity, and coping strategies among refugee and host community households.

Key findings shared at the forum included evidence that food insecurity is significantly more prevalent during the dry season (October–December), that female-headed households face disproportionately high levels of food insecurity, and that social protection transfers — when well-targeted — can meaningfully reduce food insecurity in the short term.

The team also participated in a panel discussion on improving data quality in food security measurement, drawing on Awinera's experience validating resilience metrics during the COVID-19 pandemic.