Kenya: Fighting food insecurity with urban farms, sack gardens

Introduction: In the midst of one of Africa’s largest slums, vegetables are growing. It began as a French initiative to support jobless youth after a spasm of post-election violence in 2008—and feed them at the same time.

The “garden-in-a-sack” concept, introduced by the NGO Solidarites International, makes it possible to grow food in small spaces and save money for other purchases. In Mathare, Kiambiu and Kibera slums, with close to 3 million inhabitants, Solidarités has brought sack-gardening to about 22,109 households, directly benefiting more than 110,000 people.