Events
MiFOOD-R2 Seminar:
Remitting for Resilience (R2): Report from Zimbabwe
Speaker: Dr. Tim Brown, Queen Mary University of London, the UK
July 10, 2026 at 10:30 am – 11:30 am (ET)
MiFOOD and IMRC Seminar: Greening Remittances for Food Security: Potentials and Challenges
November 12, 2025 at 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Migrant remittances are increasingly positioned as a potential game changer in the context of a significant, and indeed growing, climate finance gap which is a key obstacle to achieving decarbonization at the speed and scale required. Portrayed as stable, resilient and (almost) crisis-proof financial flows, there is emerging research which suggests that ‘green’ remittances can act as complementary finance enabling micro-level household adaptation and mitigation across a range of arenas including food security. This paper seeks to think through potentials and challenges arising from the intersection of remittances, food security and climate change paying particular attention to dietary transitions, urban gardening, and remittance fatigue. Based upon qualitative research with UK based Zimbabwean communities, it centres migrants as its vantage point. In so doing, the paper unpacks the multi-directional dimensions of remittances as flows and practices; of climate change challenges in places of emigration and immigration, and of dietary change which span from nutrition to nourishment.
Webinar No. 21: Navigating Food Insecurity: The Impact of Remittances in Kingston During COVID-19
March 11, 2025 at 10:00 am - 11:00 am
School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
This seminar presents data on a recent city-wide study examining the role of remittances in households in Kingston. Conducted as part of a survey for the project entitled “Food (in)accessibility among remittance receiving households in Kingston in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic”, the presentation sheds light on the frequency and use of remittance among those left behind. The study therefore contributes to existing literature examining family dependence on remittances and the links between food security and remittances. The discussion offers new insight into the role of remittances in crisis scenarios, in-kind versus cash remittances, and remitting of senders based in Jamaica. The presentation is especially timely given the recent deportation policy agenda in the main destination country of Jamaican migrants. The analysis points to the need for more updated information on remittance practices in small island developing states.
MiFOOD-R2 Inception Workshop: Remitting for Resilience (R2): Enhancing Food Security and Climate Adaptation Through Migrant Remittance
February 17, 2025 at 8:00am - 5:00pm (SAST)
School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
The Remitting for Resilience (R2) Project Inception Workshop at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) on February 17, 2025 brings together leading researchers, policymakers, and development practitioners from across Africa and beyond. The workshop marked a significant step in advancing the project’s mission to explore how migrant remittances contribute to food security and climate adaptation in vulnerable communities. The workshop featured five thematic sessions, offering diverse perspectives on migration, remittances, and food security. Beyond advancing knowledge in the field, the workshop played a crucial role in strengthening the R2 project team by fostering deeper connections, shared purpose, and a strong sense of solidarity among researchers and partners.