Lessons from Action Aid International's Urban Food Programme

This case study on Action Aid International (AAI)?s Urban Food Programme is part of a larger study on a number of case studies that aims to assemble evidence drawn from the range of different social transfer projects and programmes in the region, and distil this evidence in order to yield useful insights and lessons for the design and implementation of scaled-up social protection in southern African countries. AAI?s Urban Food Programme, Supporting Urban Food and Livelihood Security of Vulnerable Households Affected by HIV and AIDS, is a food delivery and food voucher programme that also includes other activities, namely low input gardens, capacity building and training. The programme is being implemented in a number of suburbs in Harare, Chitungwisa, Bulawayo and Gweru. The programme initially ran from March 2005 to August 2006, but was extended to July 2007, and more recently to March 2008. The maximum number of beneficiaries was 3,145 households, although this has dropped to 2,000. AAI works through ten implementing partners, NGOs and community-based organisations, who assist in identifying beneficiaries as well as distributing the vouchers. AAI also collaborates with Crown Agents who negotiate more favourable exchange rates with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe for purchase of local currency to implement the programme.