The FAO Sub-regional office for Eastern and Southern Africa and Consumers International Africa Office (CI-ROAF), two prominent organisations tackling food safety implementation, have teamed up to work on the issue of street vended foods in Africa, particularly in East and Southern Africa.

During a 3-day workshop scheduled from 15 to 17 June 2005 in Lilongwe, Malawi, participants will present situation analyses and review existing instruments in various African countries. They will also share their experiences on how to implement those instruments with the aim of improving the capacity of both vendors and consumers of street vended foods so as to ensure that safer standards are applied.

Participants will come from Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Benin, with the objectives of formulating a consensual plan of action that includes all relevant stakeholders for promoting safer street vended foods and securing the livelihood of the vendors.

Georges E. Codjia, the FAO’s Regional Food and Nutrition Officer at the sub-regional Office for East and Southern Africa says: “We have always recognised the importance and potential hazards of foods sold in the street. As a major contributor to urban food supply and livelihood, street vended foods play a big role in food security matters. As such, initiatives aiming at tackling issues around street vended foods should be an integral part of more comprehensive national and international food security strategies.”

Amadou Kanoute, Regional Director, Consumers International concurs: “As a consumer organisation, our main objective is to ensure that consumers’ interests are taken onboard. However, the true challenge is balancing safety concerns with the livelihoods of the vendors. This can be achieved through easily understood and enforced regulatory mechanisms, and through further involvement of local, regional and international institutions in the monitoring of street foods practices and hygiene.”