Mercia Andrews

Rural Women's Assembly (RWA)


The Problem

Many South Africans suffer hunger while up to a third of food produced goes to waste . The food crisis illustrates that women and girls, who produce food, are most affected and go hungry. Given the high inequality and unemployment, they are involved in subsistence livelihoods like farming, fishing, waste picking and as small traders. Thus the partnership will link producers of food to waste management, recycling and re-use, thereby adding value.

The Solution

RWA piloted the establishment of a food recycling centre where rural women, fishers and waste pickers from all levels of food waste (pre-consumption food waste to post consumption) are capacitated to deal with food waste; and also use waste for compost making, green mature and integrate it into agro-ecology. Secondly, they engage with large food retailers to contribute food waste to a "collective kitchen and market" to establish a centre that sells this food at reduced costs as well as set -up collective kitchen and market that prepares low cost, healthy meals for the poor, especially the aged and children. The collective kitchen is set to become a hub of collective learning, sharing and community.