This week — unpacking pathways to zero hunger and food security, and observation of International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

The week of 14 October is a busy week for civil society as multiple organisations will commemorate World Food Day on Wednesday 16 October and International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on Thursday 17 October.

On 16 October the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FOA) of the United Nations will host a live webcast of the World Food Day global ceremony at 10 am.

This year’s theme is “Right to ‘foods’ for a better life and a better future”, and builds on hundreds of events and outreach activities worldwide that call for action throughout the month of October.

Register for the live webcast here



To observe the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, the United Nations (UN) will host a commemorative event at its headquarters.

“Poverty has multiple dimensions, some visible and others hidden, but all interlinked. This year’s theme is the Hidden Dimension of Poverty, and will highlight the social and institutional maltreatment experienced by people living in poverty, and consider ways to act together on Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG 16) 16 to promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies.

People living in poverty face negative attitudes. They are stigmatised, discriminated against, judged for example by their appearance, accent and address — or lack of it, blamed for their situation, and treated with disrespect.

A meaningful understanding of poverty and how the different forms of violence and domination interact with each other and affect people living in poverty is critical.

On Monday, 14 October the Dullah Omar Institute will continue with the 4th School on Decentralisation with a discussion on this year’s theme, “Decentralisation and Human Rights”, presented by Professor Jaap de Visser.

The two-week course, which aims to give content to and promote the adoption and implementation of the African Charter on Decentralisation, will bring together select decentralisation practitioners from across 15 African countries to discuss and share experiences aimed at promoting decentralisation and good governance in Africa.

Watch the live-streamed discussion at this link.



On Wednesday, 16 October at 10 am Plaas will host its second Nelga Masterclass on Food Systems and Land Governance, in commemoration of World Food Day.

Globally, food systems are changing with profound impacts on how land is used and governed. Beyond the orthodox ideas about increasing productivity, this masterclass delves into the political economy of food systems and why they are changing, how this affects land rights and tenure, as well as people who live on and work the land.

The discussion will be conducted by Professor Mamadou Goita, a development socioeconomist from Mali, lecturer, researcher and member of the eminent international Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems.

Register to attend the Master Class on Zoom at this link. 



 On Thursday, 17 October, Stellenbosch University’s Centre for Social Justice will host the 5th International Social Justice Conference focusing on Social Justice and Zero Hunger.

This hybrid event, which will occur online and at the Artscape Theatre Centre in Cape Town, South Africa, comes a day after World Food Day. The National Food and Nutrition Security Survey revealed that 63% of households in South Africa are food insecure, meaning that approximately  20 million people do not have food to eat.

The director of the Centre for Social Justice, Professor Thuli Madonsela, said: “Hunger is not merely a lack of food; it is a system of broader social and economic injustices. By looking at hunger through a social justice lens, we work towards a more just and equitable world by addressing the root causes of hunger. These primarily lie in a confluence of socioeconomic inequalities and disruptions in the domestic and global food and nutrition systems.”

The conference and summit will explore how hunger is intricately linked to systemic inequalities, including poverty, lack of access to education, and inadequate healthcare. Also highlighted will be the link between hunger and other global challenges such as environmental justice and peace. The discussions, which will pair the SDG on Zero Hunger (SDG 2) with the human right to food, will focus on targeted solutions that promote equality and social justice.

Venue: Artscapes Theatre Centre, Cape Town 

Tickets for in-person attendance: R500 per person

For online attendance for the keynote plenary only: R250 

Purchase tickets here.



Building on the International Social Justice Conference, Stellenbosch University’s Centre for Social Justice will host the 6th Annual Social Justice Summit On Friday, 18 October.

This year the summit will focus on social justice and the sustainable development goals on zero hunger.

“In October 2023, the International Conference and Summit on Social Justice resolved that ‘hunger’ would be the focus of the activities at the Centre for Social Justice and the Musa Plan for Social Justice (Musa Plan) in 2024. Hunger (SDG2) is one of the world’s biggest challenges. Despite remarkable technological advances globally, hunger remains a worldwide crisis, affecting millions of people every day. Hunger is not just about the absence of food — it is about a lack of access to adequate nutrition, health services, and clean water, chronic disparities in wealth and gender, and displacement due to conflict and climate change.”

Dr Babagana Ahmadu, South Africa’s representative for the Food Agricultural Organisation, will deliver the keynote address.

Venue: Artscapes Theatre Centre, Cape Town

Tickets for in-person attendance: R500 per person

For online attendance for the keynote plenary only: R250 

Purchase tickets here.