RUAF

In 2007 ETC-Urban Agriculture (UA) started to explore a new field of work: the role of urban agriculture in linking relief, rehabilitation and development following a disaster or in emergency situations. A number of new contacts have been established and explorations undertaken on how to develop further activities. Similarities exist between food production in camp settings and in urban and slum areas. Experiences with urban food production, like community gardening, may offer good practices and approaches.

In 2008 a special issue of the UA-Magazine was published: Linking Relief and Rehabilitation, the Role for Urban Agriculture, with contributions from UNHCR and several NGOs involved in relief work in fragile states. ETC has explored collaboration with local actors in Liberia, DRC and in Sierra Leone. In Sierra Leone ETC-UA, together with the Italian NGO COOPI and the RUAF Foundation, formulated a four-year Urban Food Security project in Freetown/Western Area. This EU-funded project is being implemented in partnership with Sierra Leone Youth Empowerment Organisation and the Sierra Leone National Association of Farmers and in close cooperation with Njala University and local and national institutional and civil society stakeholders under the umbrella of the Freetown Multi Stakeholder Forum on Urban and Peri Urban Agriculture (FUPAP).

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