The Urban Nutrition Initiative is a consortium project implemented by three partners: Diabetes Awareness Trust (DAT), Feedback to the Future (FttF), and the Alliance Bioversity & CIAT (ABC). The project, titled “Piloting an Organic Food System in Kenya by Connecting Vulnerable Consumers in Nairobi with Small-Scale Producers in Makueni County,” runs from February 2023 to December 2025.

ABC serves as the lead coordinating organization, while DAT and FttF are the implementing partners. DAT focuses on vulnerable consumers in Viwandani, Makadara Sub-County, Nairobi, with a particular emphasis on people managing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mothers with children under five years. FttF primarily works with small-scale farmers in Kilome Sub-County, Makueni County, while also engaging with communities in Viwandani.

Why This Project Matters

Unhealthy diets are now the leading cause of death worldwide. In Kenya, food systems often exclude the urban poor, contribute to the triple burden of malnutrition, and drive unsustainable practices that degrade land, biodiversity, and climate. At the same time, food safety challenges remain a serious concern, especially in informal settlements where over 2.6 million Kenyans live with high levels of disease burden, food insecurity, and malnutrition. Current agricultural and trade policies tend to favor unsustainable farming, leaving little room for agroecological and regenerative practices.

This initiative seeks to demonstrate that an alternative, healthier, and fairer food system is possible by piloting a model that links organic production (fruits, nuts, vegetables) with urban consumption. Viwandani was chosen because at least 25% of its residents originate from Makueni County, sustaining strong family ties and informal food supply chains that connect rural producers to urban consumers.

DAT’s Role

DAT contributes to two of the four core project results:

1. Raising consumer awareness – increasing knowledge and improving practices around food acquisition and preparation to promote safe, diverse, and healthy diets that can help prevent malnutrition and NCDs.
2. Testing and sharing a new food system model – contributing evidence to support decision-making and scaling of an organic food system across Kenya.

To achieve this, DAT is:

• · Leading consumer awareness campaigns on healthy and safe-produced foods.
• · Training community health workers on nutrition, food safety, and practical recipes.
• · Bridging the gap between consumers and producers through field visits and exposure learning.
• · Advocating for county-level policies in Nairobi that guarantee access to safe, fairly produced, and affordable foods, especially for vulnerable communities.

The Bigger Picture

Together, DAT, FttF, and ABC are co-creating, piloting, and documenting a model that connects urban poor consumers with regenerative farmers. The project builds new market linkages and business models involving consumers, small-scale producers, and vendors (including mama mbogas). Once tested, the model will be shared with policymakers and civil society actors to influence Kenya’s broader food system towards a more inclusive, sustainable, and health-centered future.

For more information, contact info@diabetesawarenesstrust.org