This research project aims to understand the relationship between migration and food supply chains through collaborative workshops that bring young South Sudanese urban refugees together with stakeholders to promote the conversation about their involvement with agricultural production and businesses. The research will be conducted using three focus groups that encourage shared ideation between separate groups of self-identified men and women as well as combined gender groups of South Sudanese youth to ensure inclusion and diversity in the conversation. The focus group sessions will encourage participants to build upon the identified themes, challenges, and intervention ideas regarding agricultural businesses. The proposed participatory action research approach encourages creativity and open dialogue, allowing participants to identify challenges and suggest new ideas and modifications related to the transformation of food supply chains. The research will be implemented throughout with a focus on ideation and gathering information to understand the food supply chain for refugees, gendered roles within the system and engage with applied interventions to move forward.
Some key questions addressed in this research include:
- What are the sources and distribution channels of food consumed by South Sudanese urban refugees since their arrival in Nairobi or Nakuru, Kenya?
- In what ways have the variety and nutritional quality of food changed from their pre-migration period in South Sudan to their current situation in urban areas of Kenya?
- What roles do or can South Sudanese urban refugees play in the process of procuring, growing, and selling food after migrating to Nairobi or Nakuru, and how have these roles evolved over time?