Publication Details

Hidden hunger in rural Tanzania: what can qualitative research tell us about what to do about chronic food insecurity?

This paper is part of a series from CPRC research entitled 'Chronic poverty and development policy in Tanzania: Q2 research in support of the 2010 poverty reduction strategy in Tanzania'.

Andrew Shepherd
Kim Kayunze
Vendelin Tarmo
Emily Darko
Alice Evans
2011

Abstract

This paper is part of a series of working papers making use of a qualitative, life history dataset developed by the CPRC in Tanzania. It investigates the experience of hunger, its causes and consequences, the strategies people use to prevent it, and derives a set of policy implications. The most food insecure people depend on wage labour, so controlling food price inflation and improving wages and working conditions for poor casual labourers would be one priority. Buffers against hunger can easily erode for vulnerable older people, separated, divorced or widowed women, and such people need to be protected against the possible loss of their assets or access to resources. Knowledge is also a powerful tool against hunger – people at local level could use more and better information about nutrition, suggesting that a revival of the once successful community nutrition programme would help.

This paper is part of a series from CPRC research entitled 'Chronic poverty and development policy in Tanzania: Q2 research in support of the 2010 poverty reduction strategy in Tanzania'.