Last week marked a significant milestone in our journey with the Nutrition in City Ecosystems (NICE) project. Four years since its inception in August 2021, we are proud to celebrate the successful completion of Phase-I in the secondary cities of Bungoma and Busia, Kenya. 

Implemented by the Sustainable Agriculture Foundation (SAF) – Africa, in consortium with the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), ETH Zürich, and Sight and Life (SAL), the NICE project has been championing locally-led action to improve nutrition in urban environments. 

Our close-out workshop brought together key stakeholders including representatives from the national government, county governments of Busia, Bungoma, and Kisumu, as well as farmers, private sector actors, business leaders, and consumer groups. It was a moment of reflection, learning, and forward planning—drawing lessons and recommendations to strengthen programming for Phase-II. 

The event showcased the project’s multisectoral approach, with insightful presentations from various departments. We were honoured to have the Deputy Governor of Busia County, Hon. Arthur Odera, preside over the event. His remarks emphasized the importance of advocacy and engagement aligned with national and global priorities on food security, nutrition, environmental sustainability, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

The workshop concluded on a high note, with a rallying call for deeper stakeholder engagement—especially in fiscal planning for sustainability and in alignment with government frameworks. Key recommendations included: 

• Expanding school feeding programs through public procurement to support smallholder farmers. 
• Enhancing participation of women and youth as critical actors in the food system. 

We look forward to building on this momentum as we transition into Phase-II. Together, we can create healthier, more resilient urban food systems.