SHEHAAM MOOSA

energy, food systems transformation, changemaking and social, climate and food justice.

What is your work about?

Shehaam Moosa is a Masters student at the Institute for Social Development. She is affiliated to the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Food Security and the Social Innovation & Development Niche Area, within the Office of the DVC: Research & Innovation. She is a graduate of the University of Cape Town holding a Bachelor of Social Science, as well as a Bachelor of Development Studies Honours from the University of the Western Cape. Her research explores the influence of social innovation in addressing food (in)security in the context of an epidemic natural disaster – i.e., the recent Day Zero drought in Cape Town and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Her dissertation examines how the COVID-19 and water crises adversely, albeit uniquely impacted on the availability, accessibility, utilisation, quality and safety of food, as well as the stability of food supply and analyses social innovations and community responses implemented to relieve food scarcity and insecurity. Shehaam’s interests include: specialty coffee, nature, art, comedy, mindfulness, selfmastery, sustainable development, clean/green

The conventional top-down approach to disaster management is often rendered unsustainable –failing to encourage community resilience and promote structural change. In South Africa, recent years have seen the emergence of bottom-up practices and various forms of social innovation, where diverse stakeholders and role players collaborate. However, despite success stories, local communities remain plagued by poverty and food insecurity. These social inequalities are deepened and exacerbated during times of crisis. My Master’s thesis is a threefold study intersecting food (in) security, social innovation and natural disaster. The study analyses the influence of social innovation and creative solutions to social and environmental problems in the context of an epidemic natural disaster. It explores measures of social innovation that have emerged to address the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent Cape Town drought on food security. The study presents social innovations that were implemented during the COVID-19 crisis – Community Action Networks, FoodFlow, Food Dialogues 2020, Food Relief Forum, CoCare Voucher Scheme, etc. Likewise, it presents social innovations that were implemented during the Day Zero crisis – Dropula, Aquatrap, Drop Drop, Hydroponics, the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, etc. Significant findings suggest that social innovation, whether technical, technological, digital or otherwise, offer many potential benefits in promoting food security, efficient food chains, inclusive economies, social cohesion and sustainability. However, while social innovation can intimately address food (in) security during peace and war time, it needs to be coupled with other systematic interventions. The study concludes that government needs to work in tandem with business and civil society to create a future by design, not by default, where the most vulnerable populations have physical and economic access to sufficient, high quality lean proteins, whole grain starches, vegetables, fruits and healthy fats promoting good health and wellbeing, and allowing greater sustainability and agency in the food system.

How does your work contribute to the SDGs?

My study emphasises the need to use a food systems lens when considering food security strategies, as it recognises the interconnectedness of food systems with other social systems and appreciates the complex interaction of all the SDGs. For instance, progress on SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) has a direct bearing on the progress on SDG 3 (Good Health & Wellbeing), SDG 6 (Clean Water & Sanitation) is essential for food production and good nutrition, and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption & Production) is critical to achieve food security sustainably. The food system should not be isolated and separated from other systems, such as transport, energy, housing, informality, etc. Food system vulnerability is compounded by many tensions within these interconnected social systems. The systems interact, reinforce and even amplify susceptibility to food insecurity. All in all, my work contributes to the global goals in a sense that the study intersects SDG 2, SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities & Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) in its exploration of potential sustainable solutions, which are socially, economically and environmentally sound and could be taken forward beyond times of crisis. Through the research endeavour, I understand that the worst of COVID-19 and drought must be relegated to memory, but that much can be achieved with creativity, curiosity, collaboration and solidarity of purpose.

How is it impacting your community?

Essentially, my Master’s study lays the foundation for a prospective and hopeful PhD study, which could take the research much further. It could investigate the complexities of the growing changemaking landscape, focusing on emerging economies and marginal communities. At doctoral level I could advocate the building of food sovereignty pathways, meaning that at localised levels community members could control how food is produced and distributed. I could engage in how food security/local food pathways and social innovation/design thinking can be integrated into development planning at the local government level. This would not only contribute to the academy and research community, but spotlight underserved communities and neglected populations. My Master’s project has put me in good stead to consider employment opportunities in the public sector at city and provincial level, as well as in the social sector and the nonprofit world.