Food Banks - Africa

Africa

The Egyptian Food Bank was established in Cairo in 2006, and in less than 10 years later, food banks run on similar principles spread to other Arab countries in North Africa and the Middle East.

In Sub-Saharan Africa Africa, there are charity run food banks that operate on a semi-commercial system that differs from both the more common "wareshouse" and "frontline" models. In some rural LDCs such as Malawi, food is often relatively cheap and plentiful for the first few months after the harvest, but then becomes more and more exspensive. Food banks in these areas can buy large ammounts of food shortly after the harvest, and then as food prices start to rise, they sell it back to local people throughout the year at well below market prices. Such food banks will sometimes also act as centres to provide small holders and subsistence farmers with various forms of support.

Formed in 2009, FoodBank South Africa (FoodBank SA) is South Africa's national foodbanking network and a member of the Global Foodbanking Network. FoodBank SA's vision is "A South Africa without hunger and malnutrition".