Migrant Windhoek: Rural–Urban Migration and Food Security in Namibia

The relationship between migration and food security in urban areas is an emerging area of research internationally. To date, with the exception of studies in India, Kenya, and Namibia, little attention has focused on food insecurity experienced by migrants in cities of the Global South. Building on earlier work in Namibia, this paper interrogates the relationship between migration and food security in the city of Windhoek. Windhoek has experienced significant rural–urban migration in recent years, especially since Namibia’s independence in 1990. Many migrants have settled in the northern and north-western areas of the city, primarily in the informal settlements. Most of the migrant households are poor and food insecure. In an effort to mitigate their insecure food situation, they make use of various strategies including receiving food transfers, obtaining food from informal markets, and other informal methods. This paper documents the dimensions and variations in food security amongst migrant households and examines the linkages between migration and food insecurity in a rapidly-growing African city.