Webinar: From Market Stalls to City Government Halls

gloireri — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 12:31:31 +0000

Webinar: From Market Stalls to City Government Halls gloireri Tue, 03/10/2026 - 13:31

This Inspirational Kongamano webinar brings together city and market actors who are actively working to build more just, sustainable, and resilient food systems — with a clear focus on improving access to healthy diets.

You’ll hear practical insights on:

Innovative approaches to market investment
Inclusive models for food systems governance
Strengthening nutrition capacity at city level

The session will also draw from lessons emerging from GAIN’s food systems governance programme and its partnerships for impact.

We’re joined by speakers from ICLEI World Secretariat, ICLEI Africa, Nutrition in City Ecosystems (NICE), GAIN, and other leading organisations working at the forefront of urban food systems transformation.

If you are working on, or interested in, how cities can better deliver healthy diets, this session offers grounded perspectives and real-world examples to learn from.

Register Now

Tuesday, 24 March 2026

Countries

Regions

Topics

Hosted by

GAIN

Other

Image Thumb (540x337px)

Programme (2024)

Food Systems Governance

Webinar: From Market Stalls to City Government Halls

Inspiration Kongamano
📅 24 March 2026
⏰ 12:00 CET
💻 Online – Zoom

Register Now

Webinar: From Market Stalls to City Government Halls

Inspiration Kongamano
📅 24 March 2026
⏰ 12:00 CET
💻 Online – Zoom

Register Now

Webinar: From Market Stalls to City Government Halls

Inspiration Kongamano
📅 24 March 2026
⏰ 12:00 CET
💻 Online – Zoom

Register Now

Overview

Cities and their local and traditional food markets are vibrant hubs where food, people, and culture intersect. Beyond being places of trade, markets connect farmers, small businesses, vendors, and consumers creating essential bridges between rural and urban food systems.

Across many low- and middle-income countries, urban residents rely heavily on purchased food. Local markets therefore play a crucial role in shaping access to affordable, safe, and diverse diets. Vendors and market systems also serve as spaces of innovation from micro-finance initiatives and food waste reduction to new income streams for vendors and small enterprises.

City governments and market actors together influence how food systems function. Decisions related to land use, infrastructure, sanitation, food safety, and economic development all affect how markets operate and how communities access healthy diets. When governments and markets collaborate effectively, they can strengthen resilience, support livelihoods, and improve nutrition outcomes.

The Challenge

Despite their importance, traditional and local markets are often viewed primarily as economic trading spaces rather than critical components of healthy food systems. This narrow perspective has historically limited investment and inclusive decision-making. As a result, many markets face inadequate infrastructure such as poor sanitation facilities, insufficient storage, unreliable water access, and limited waste management systems. These constraints affect vendor livelihoods, food safety practices, and the dignity of market environments.

Looking Ahead

Cities and market actors around the world are increasingly recognizing the transformative potential of local markets. Through new governance approaches, investments, and partnerships, markets are being re-imagined as key drivers of resilient, inclusive food systems.
This webinar will highlight emerging lessons and experiences, including insights from initiatives such as the CityFood Market Handbook for Healthy and Resilient Cities and collaborations between ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability and GAIN.

Webinar Objectives

This Inspirational Kongamano webinar aims to:

Showcase initiatives led by cities and market actors to strengthen resilient food systems and improve access to healthy diets.
Highlight innovative approaches to market investment and inclusive food systems governance.
Share insights from GAIN’s food systems governance programme and partnerships for impact.

Speakers

Dr. Ann Trevenen-Jones

Technical Lead, Food Systems Governance Programme

Ana Puhač Crouzet

Urban Food System Specialist at the FAO

Balance Phala

Senior Food Systems Officer at ICLEI World Secretariat

Dickson Minja

Food Systems Governance Officer

Elizabeth Imbo

Country project manager- Nutrition In City Ecosystems (NICE) in Kenya, working at Sustainable Agriculture Foundation- Africa (SAF-A) .

Luke Metelerkamp, PhD

Head of the African City Food Centre at ICLEI Africa

Trish Muzenda

Public Health Researcher

Participants will have the opportunity to engage during the session through Mentimeter polls and live chat Q&A, with a post-webinar Q&A follow-up shared afterwards.

Register Now

Additional Resources

Why Nutrition Starts Long Before the Plate

When we think about improving nutrition, our minds often jump to the dinner plate: the colourful vegetables, the lean proteins, the whole grains. We focus on consumer choices, dietary guidelines, and the individual responsibility to eat healthily. But what if the most critical decisions shaping our nutrition have already been made long before the food reaches our plate? What if the very food environments where we buy our food are the true starting point for a healthy diet?

This is the reality for billions of people worldwide. Nutrition is not simply a matter of personal choice. It is a complex outcome shaped by the food environments people navigate every day.

Read More

Partners

Share on

GAIN - Events

Webinar: From Market Stalls to City Government Halls

Overview

The Challenge

Looking Ahead

Webinar Objectives

Speakers

Additional Resources

Partners