The Role of Relevant Basic Education in Achieving Food Security and Sustainable Rural Development.

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to contribute to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of development policies and cooperation of the European Community, the European Union and other development actors by understanding the ways by which relevant basic education can contribute to achieving food security and sustainable rural development.

Food insecurity and under-education are common in many developing countries and this poses challenges which cannot be faced by one sector alone. It is therefore essential to explore feasible measures in which these interrelated issues can be tackled together, focusing on interventions which have the greatest effect on poverty reduction.

Basic education initiatives in rural areas which have used agricultural or environmental experience as a means of making teaching and learning more relevant and the potential impact of this kind of approach on food security and sustainable rural development were studied. This was done through a global literature review, looking at different policies, initiatives and analyses complemented with field work in Kenya, Zimbabwe and Mali. Potential implications for policy and suggested areas for increased investment are proposed.

Citation

The Role of Relevant Basic Education in Achieving Food Security and Sustainable Rural Development, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium, 167 pp.

The Role of Relevant Basic Education in Achieving Food Security and Sustainable Rural Development.

Published 1 January 2005