Based on a webinar organised in 2022 by JENA, ASAP and Yale’s Global Justice Program, Journal ASAP is planning a special issue Toward Food Security in Africa.

Producing food in an environmentally, economically, and socially acceptable manner to meet the increasing demands of a growing population is a grand challenge for agricultural production in Africa. This Special Issue will contribute toward achieving Aspiration 1 of Africa Agenda 2063, which envisions a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development and a key goal of which is to ensure a continent of healthy and well-nourished citizens. Aspiration 1 jibes with Sustainable Development Goal 2 (ending hunger and malnutrition by 2030 with increased agricultural productivity and sustainable food production systems) and with Target III (Ending Hunger in Africa by 2025) of the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods.

Among topical areas to be discussed:

1. Agriculture and the climate challenge (impacts, contributions, mitigation) in Africa

2. Finance and investment of food and implications for food security in Africa

3. Food systems and international trade

4. Food sovereignty and justice in Africa

5. Food security and human security in Africa

6. Food security and sustainability: policy challenges

7. Food security, conflict, demographic change and urbanisation

8. Food and nutrition security and the role of institutional quality

9. Nexus between land use, land reforms and food security in Africa

10. Agro-ecology as a solution to food systems transformation in Africa

11. Agripreneurship toward creating employment for youths and women Africa.

Special issue Title:

Toward Food Security in Africa

Special Issue Keywords:

Africa, agro-ecology, food sovereignty, hunger, justice, land reform, poverty, regenerative agriculture, sustainable food systems

Special Issue Editors:

Summary of the overall theme

This special issue will profile African challenges and solutions in building resilient food systems and consider what must be done to turn political ambition into reality.

Manuscript Submission Information

If you are interested in contributing to this Special Issue on Toward Food Security in Africa in Journal ASAP, please send a 250-300 word abstract (with keywords and a short bio/CV) to Dr. Kevin Okoth Ouko to jeopolicyanalyst@jesuits.africa by March 1, 2023. Authors invited to submit a full-length paper will be notified by March 15, 2023.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page (Click Here). Research methods may include a variety of qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods or approaches, with some discussion of method as needed for an interdisciplinary audience. Full drafts should be done by early May to be discussed at a zoom conference of contributing authors. Final essays are expected in July, with the Special Issue due to appear in September, followed by a post-publication public workshop.

Tentative Timeline:

1. Abstracts due: March 1, 2023

2. Notification of acceptance: March 15, 2023

3. Full drafts due: early May, 2023. (Full drafts should be done by early May to be discussed at a zoom conference of contributing authors)

4. Final papers due: July 15, 2023.

5. Revision and submission of final version: August 31, 2023

5. Publication: September 30, 2023 (Accepted papers will appear online earlier)

6. Invitation to Special Panel during Annul Global Justice Program Conference: November 2023.

This Special Issue is a collaboration of Jesuit Justice and Ecology Network (JENA), Yale Global Justice Program, and Academics Stand Against Poverty.