Assessment processes and principles related to Food Security that Zimbabwe can rely on for insight.

Sifelani Ngwenya

doi:10.18535/ijsrm/v9i12.sh01

Abstract

Increasing frequency and intensity of food insecurity in Zimbabwe, amidst heavy investment in Disaster Risk Reduction efforts threaten the achievement of the Zero Hunger target by 2030. The need to interrogate assessment practice need not be overemphasized. An interpretive–constructivist paradigm guided this study, while desktop review, focus group discussions and individual interviews were the main data collection tools. A purposively selected sample, of 85participants from Bulilima, Gwanda, Mangwe, and Umzingwane districts was used. These districts share similar social and cultural characteristics and hazards. The sample consisted of District development coordinators (DDCs), Environmental Management Agency, Rural District Council (RDC) chief executive officers, councillors, traditional leaders (chiefs), NGO managers, and heads of schools, deemed to bring depth into the study. NVivo software was used in data analysis to establish order, structure, and meaning, to ensure coherence, consistency, and quality of research findings and deductions. The study found that the term, “assessment” was variedly understood across disciplines and levels of responsibility, due to the existence of parallel assessment regimes that fragment and weaken assessment practice. Hence, the need to make capacity-building, training and education and stakeholder participation a permanent feature in Zimbabwe. This will promote correct understanding and application of the terms, and increase the knowledge of DRR practice. Assessment practice challenges emanate from the manner in which stakeholders do assessments. Hence, the need for attitude change and commitment to the pooling of all the resources towards the assessment practice, and adherence to standards and principles that govern assessment.

Highlights

The world continues to face increasing food insecurity, despite concerted efforts toward building national food securities
The increasing frequency and intensity of food insecurity in Zimbabwe threaten the efforts of achieving the Zero Hunger target by 2030
The criticisms, understanding the concept is a critical starting point in appreciating the events and phenomena that negatively impinge upon communities in various dimensions. It is against this background that this paper seeks to uncover stakeholders’ conceptualization of assessment, its guiding principles, and its application thereof, which could contribute toward mutual efforts in solving food insecurity challenges in Zimbabwe and beyond

Summary

Introduction

The world continues to face increasing food insecurity, despite concerted efforts toward building national food securities. The need for assessment cannot be overemphasised, to better understand the impact of development projects on food security. Despite its mass recognition in the development arena and academia, the term assessment remains clouded by confusion (Baker, 2000; Sayce & Norrish, 2006). The criticisms, understanding the concept is a critical starting point in appreciating the events and phenomena that negatively impinge upon communities in various dimensions. It is against this background that this paper seeks to uncover stakeholders’ conceptualization of assessment, its guiding principles, and its application thereof, which could contribute toward mutual efforts in solving food insecurity challenges in Zimbabwe and beyond.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion