The Dimensions of Food Insecurity in Sierra Leone: Cues for Technology Innovation

The broad issues of access, stability, availability, and utilization of food are deeply affected by individuals' socioeconomic decisions at the household level. This article synthesizes 100 interviews with rural and urban residents, farmers, and food vendors in rural central Sierra Leone to provide a detailed picture of their food security situation at a household level. These interviews provide specific information about daily meal contents and preparation, differences between urban and rural settings, and popular dishes. Additional insights include market interaction, barriers to participation, food purchasing behaviors, and seasonal variations. Respondents also explained their primary sources of nutrition education and their perceptions surrounding this knowledge. The authors synthesize these insights into discussions on four dimensions of food security: access; stability; availability; and utilization. Based on these findings, the authors present several potential leverage points for technology innovation. The first focuses on transportation and infrastructure along with shortening of supply chains and increased market access. The second is a concentration of national and community efforts on practical nutrition education and specific food preparation alternatives. Finally, the authors suggest that more efficient, appropriate cultivation technologies such as low-cost greenhouses could help Sierra Leone address challenges across all four dimensions of food security.