Through a Letter of Intent signed in December 2023, INCiTiS-FOOD and Voices4Change expressed their shared interest in exploring collaboration opportunities that connect innovative agri-food technologies, community-led initiatives and youth empowerment in African urban areas.
Sustainable urban food systems require more than technological innovation. They also depend on local knowledge, community engagement and opportunities for people to actively participate in shaping the environments in which they live. Connecting research and innovation with grassroots initiatives can help ensure that new solutions respond to real community needs and create opportunities for lasting change.
Recognising this potential, INCiTiS-FOOD and Voices4Change established a basis for future cooperation through a Letter of Intent signed on 11 December 2023. The collaboration brings together the expertise of INCiTiS-FOOD and the community-oriented work of Growth4Change (G4C), an initiative powered by the Swedish foundation Voices4Change.
Connecting Research, Innovation and Community-Led Action
INCiTiS-FOOD works towards more inclusive and circular urban food systems in African cities and towns. Through Living Labs, the project develops and tests innovative agri-food technologies, including hydroponics, aquaponics and insect farming, with the aim of making sustainable food production more accessible and adaptable to local conditions.
Voices4Change is a Swedish foundation supporting initiatives that amplify community voices and encourage positive social change. Through its Growth4Change initiative, it brings together local changemakers to develop innovative solutions for urban transformation, particularly in low-income urban areas and informal settlements in Kenya.
A key focus of Growth4Change is supporting community-driven approaches to urban agriculture. Its initiatives have explored hydroponic farming as a way to produce food in areas where available space and resources are limited. By making use of locally available materials and efficient water management practices, these systems offer opportunities for communities to grow food for household consumption and local markets.
The two initiatives share an interest in making innovative agricultural solutions accessible to communities facing challenges related to food and nutrition security, limited resources and climate change. Their complementary experience creates opportunities to connect technological expertise with practical, locally driven approaches to urban food production.
Exploring Opportunities for Collaboration
The Letter of Intent identifies several initial opportunities for cooperation between INCiTiS-FOOD and Growth4Change.
One of the proposed activities was to invite Growth4Change to explore the possibility of applying to the INCiTiS-FOOD Open Call. This would provide an opportunity to assess how the initiative’s activities and experience could align with the project’s objectives and open call framework.
Another area of interest was the potential exchange of interns between Growth4Change and the Universität der Bundeswehr München, an INCiTiS-FOOD consortium partner. Under the proposed arrangement, Growth4Change would host participants in Africa, providing opportunities for practical training and exposure to community-based agricultural initiatives.
These proposed activities reflect a shared interest in connecting academic expertise, practical experience and local innovation, while creating opportunities for learning and collaboration across different contexts.
Looking Ahead
The collaboration between INCiTiS-FOOD and Voices4Change highlights the importance of connecting research and technological innovation with the knowledge, creativity and experience of local communities. By bringing together complementary expertise and exploring opportunities for practical exchange, the two initiatives aim to contribute to more inclusive and resilient urban agri-food systems.
Through this partnership, both organisations expressed their commitment to exploring joint initiatives that can support community-led innovation, strengthen knowledge exchange and create new opportunities for collaboration in Africa.
We look forward to the opportunities that this connection can bring and to exploring ways in which research, innovation and grassroots action can work together to support more sustainable urban food systems.
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