The National Development Agency (NDA), in collaboration with the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), invites you to a public policy dialogue to initiate a constructive debate on two interconnected concerns that took centre-stage since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.  Rising food and nutrition insecurity recorded through the growing prevalence of hunger and the effective roll out of food assistance in support of hungry people are at the heart of this dialogue.

In light of Covid-19 pandemic, the South African government made extensive efforts to mitigate the food and nutrition challenges which could have resulted in the vulnerability of households and communities. Prioritising food access to poor and vulnerable South African families in responding to this shock, was applied with several interventions which aimed at cushioning vulnerable households and communities. This included food parcels, food vouchers, and various social grants which were made available to families in need, based on a set of pre-determined criteria.

The Department of Social Development (DSD) played a major role in the parcelling out of most Covid-19 relief packages, working together with other state and non-state institutions in the social sector, including South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), NDA, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), Non-Profit organizations (NPOs) and other food relief agencies.

It is against this background that the NDA commissioned a study aimed at

providing a better understanding on how the social development sector responded to food and nutrition needs to affected populations. Existing policies, programming

strategies and resources during the COVID-19 guided social development sector responses. The outputs of the study aim to inform the adjustments of these policies, strategies, and programming of responses during and post COVID-19 on food and nutrition interventions. This assignment seeks to inform and improve the design of future interventions.

Minister of Social Development, Ms Lindiwe Zulu will deliver a keynote address at this public dialogue. Minister Zulu’s address will focus on Covid-19 responses, Food, and Nutrition Security (FNS) of vulnerable groups in South Africa and will set the tone for this engagement.   

The public dialogue will be hosted Live on Zoom, and registration will be required beforehand.

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_MrtVuOHGTTqf5bmMlbgVTA  

Programme

Presentations:

Stats SA

HSRC (Dr Jacobs)

HSRC (Mr Matome)

DSD

MDA