Food Security in the Afro-China Cooperation: The Hanging, Untapped ‘Win-Win’ Partnership

Abstract

China-Africa cooperation, is a story of many successes, while also raising many eye-brows, as the world comes into terms with the alternative approach to development aid. The indebted African countries, hitherto considered unsuitable for funding by the west have had a fall-back position with China and successfully applied for development funding to support mainly infrastructure projects. Livelihood sustainability (food security) is therefore neglected, herein referred to as the hanging and untapped ‘win-win’ opportunity for partnership. The article is based on secondary data and adopts the theories of human-ecological system model and the sustainable livelihoods approach. In the discussions, some of the global challenges in the Afro-China cooperation, besides food security, include climate change, trade imbalance, migration and deforestation, which require multidisciplinary approach to handle. The conclusions underlined prioritizing of food security by leveraging on synergies within sustainable development goals for sustainability. Careful evaluation of new future partnerships is recommended.