Project properties
Title Integrated food security strategies: do they work?
Group Public Administration and Policy
Project type thesis
Credits 33-39
Supervisor(s) Dr. Jeroen Candel
Examiner(s) Prof. Dr. Katrien Termeer (PAP)
Contact info jeroen.candel@wur.nl
Begin date 2017/02/01
End date
Description The global food price crises of 2007-8 and 2010 and subsequent policy debates have led to increased recognition that the drivers of food insecurity and associated policies transcend the boundaries of traditional governmental sectors and jurisdictions. Building on this insight, many governments of countries facing food insecurity have developed, or are in the progress of developing, integrated food security strategies; often in close collaboration with international donors. The assumption lying underneath such strategies is that concerted efforts across jurisdictions will enhance the coherence and consistency of policy goals and instruments, eventually effectuating in better targeted food security interventions.


In spite of their increasing popularity and associated high expectations, to date only few scholarly attempts to study these strategies and their outcomes have been undertaken. As a result, the evidence base about their main properties, implementation patterns, and food security impacts is limited. This MSc thesis project aims to further the state of knowledge about integrated food security strategies by either (i) studying the different shapes they take, (ii) studying to what extent they are followed up by actual governance changes within administrations, (iii) studying how integrated interventions work out on the ground and how they are experienced by ultimate beneficiaries. The consequent insights obtained by the project will further insights into food security governance and/or policy integration.

Region: Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, South Asia
Used skills Qualitative and/or quantitative research methods
Requirements We look for one or more highly ambitious student(s), who is/are capable of working autonomously, has/have affinity with both development cooperation and public policy, and has/have experience with using qualitative and/or quantitative research methods. Students are expected to further develop the above in a stand-alone research proposal. Students who choose to conduct research in developing countries are expected to be comfortable with working under tougher working conditions.