Project properties
Title Shifts toward private sector engagement in Dutch food security policy
Group Public Administration and Policy
Project type thesis
Credits 26-39
Supervisor(s) Jeroen Candel (PAP)
Examiner(s) Prof. Dr. Katrien Termeer (PAP)
Contact info Jeroen Candel, MSc.
Begin date 2014/03/13
End date
Description Food insecurity is a complex problem that requires a multi-sectoral and –level approach. For a long time, Dutch food security policy was focused primarily on allocating resources to international development cooperation and humanitarian aid, be it directly, through funding NGOs, or by active engagement in international organizations. In recent years, however, the Dutch government has reformulated its food security policy in a direction that emphasizes the role that private actors, particularly businesses, can play. Dutch businesses are encouraged and stimulated to start up commercial activities that could contribute to food security in partner countries. The Dutch government attempts to facilitate these initiatives by providing resources and removing barriers in partner countries.

This shift towards supporting private initiatives in Dutch food security policy is not without controversy, however. Some voices within NGOs and Dutch government disapprove the use of development cooperation resources for supporting businesses. Moreover, it is not clear whether an emphasis on Dutch private sector involvement leads to a more effective food security approach compared to more traditional approaches .

The proposed research project aims to contribute to a better understanding of (the consequences of )this shift in Dutch food security policy. Depending on the skills and interests of the student, the proposed research project can take different angles, for example:
1) To study the controversy that surrounds the new Dutch food security approach and how this controversy relates to broader (national/international) discourses with respect to international development cooperation.
2) To determine the effectiveness of the new Dutch food security approach in addressing food insecurity in developing countries, incl. best practices.
3) To compare the Dutch food security policy to that of other countries and international organizations and to examine whether a diffusion of food security policies has taken place.
Used skills Qualitative research, Desk research, Documents Analysis, Interviews. Demonstrable interest in public governance, fluent in English language and preferably Dutch (interviews with Dutch actors), affinity with food security
Requirements