Every day, thousands of people go to bed hungry, die of malnutrition, or do not know where their next meal is going to come from. Food security is a central topic of the United Nations Sustainable...Show moreEvery day, thousands of people go to bed hungry, die of malnutrition, or do not know where their next meal is going to come from. Food security is a central topic of the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda, but despite international attention to this topic, there is no sufficient improvement. In particular, Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) are identified as potential actors to fill financial gaps of food security projects in developing countries. However, the existing literature has failed to carefully assess which aspects of MDB finance are most effective in improving food security. Thus, this research paper aims to answer the research question “Which aspects of MDB finance are most suited to improve food security in developing countries and why?”. Using a quantitative approach, a cross-country, longitudinal analysis is applied to assess the effect different aspects of MDB finance have on national levels of food security. The results indicate that MDBs should focus on a higher number of projects per country rather than highly financed projects, as well as prioritize financial instruments of grants and technical assistance. However, no genuine effect of MDB finance on levels of food security could be established due to no statistical significance. Thus, the findings must be treated with caution. It is, therefore, crucial to further investigate the different aspects of MDB finance and their effects on levels of food security, to be able to make meaningful recommendations to the MDBs.Show less
In a time where Food Insecurity is at an all-time high, gaining a better understanding of its consequences is crucial for states to adopt the right policies. Existing literature highlighted the...Show moreIn a time where Food Insecurity is at an all-time high, gaining a better understanding of its consequences is crucial for states to adopt the right policies. Existing literature highlighted the causes of food insecurity as well as its consequences in times of sudden unrest. However, no research has investigated the gradual consequences of low food availability on institutions. This study aims at closing this gap by answering the question “How is institutional trust affected by food insecurity?”. More precisely, this paper applies the social contract theory to the issue of food insecurity in Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. A new index regarding institutional trust is used to differentiate between institutions. The analysis is carried out through a multivariate linear regression and data is retrieved from the Afrobarometer round 7. Findings support a significant negative effect, confirming that food insecurity leads to a decrease in institutional trust, more severely in representatives one.Show less
In conflict literature, much attention has been given to the relation between food prices and conflict, as well as the effects of climate change on conflict and food security, in an attempt to...Show moreIn conflict literature, much attention has been given to the relation between food prices and conflict, as well as the effects of climate change on conflict and food security, in an attempt to explain civilian victimisation through food security. However, the effect of crop pests and diseases on violence against civilians has not been studied, despite the large proportion of worldwide crop loss caused by these factors. This study theorises that these pests pressure the local food supply and thus force armed groups to use violence in order to obtain their necessary resources from the local population. This results in the hypothesis that the occurrence of plant pests in an area increases the risk of violence against civilians by non-state actors. Specifically, this study focuses on the effects of locust swarms in four African countries: Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya. The hypothesis is quantitatively tested using both OLS regression and negative binomial regression. A positive correlation between locust swarm occurrence and violence against civilians is found, which holds up against both fixed effects and specific control variables. This new finding suggests that the occurrence of locust swarms shortens the time horizons for cooperation between rebels and the local population, incentivising rebels to quickly gain resources using violence rather than engaging in long-term, more peaceful cooperation.Show less
This study provides a critical analysis to the issue of malnutrition in Guatemala by looking at the constraints of national food security policy. Even though there are a number of programs and...Show moreThis study provides a critical analysis to the issue of malnutrition in Guatemala by looking at the constraints of national food security policy. Even though there are a number of programs and strategies designed to tackle malnutrition, it is found that they are often not implemented nor executed. This thesis suggests that this can be attributed to weak institutionalism, such as a lack of capacity, coherence and strength, present throughout multiple levels of the national food security and nutrition system (SINASAN). This research first analyses this problem from a historical perspective by examining the high levels of poverty and inequality which are deeply rooted into Guatemalan history and society. A state of food insecurity, a state in which malnutrition is more likely to emerge, is worsened when there is a lack of accessibility and availability to food resulting from income poverty and inequality. This directly implies that levels of malnutrition can only be reduced if poverty and inequality are also tackled. This complexity to the issue of malnutrition is, and will stay, an enormous obstacle for political institutions in creating sustainable and efficient food security programs and policies. Noticeably, weak institutionalism in Guatemala increases this barrier. Namely, a lack of continuity in government administrations leads to temporary and inconsistent food security strategies and excessive bureaucracy, a lack of coordination and structure withhold the proper implementation of food security projects from national level to local level. In other words, this study exposes that Guatemala finds itself in a vicious cycle which delays the reduction of malnutrition.Show less
This thesis argues that previous literature dealing with water scarcity conflicts and politics inside river basins misses out on important factors determining water scarcity. Hence, a political...Show moreThis thesis argues that previous literature dealing with water scarcity conflicts and politics inside river basins misses out on important factors determining water scarcity. Hence, a political geography and political ecology perspective is utilized in order to link international relations, political economy and geography. With this combination, concepts like food security, land-lease deals and their link with water scarcity are examined in order to illustrate that water scarcity is much more than water equity principles often found in transboundary river interaction between specific states. This thesis specifically focuses on the Nile Basin, most notably Egypt and Ethiopia in particular, and argues that many players from all over the world through investments and discursive practices interfere with Nile water allocation indirectly and obscurely. Hence, just hammering out a legal framework with Nile Basin riparians in not enough and should looked for in economic and discursive practices surrounding water scarcity.Show less
