Israeli Center For Food Security

GOALS
Reducing food insecurity in Israel.

BACKGROUND
In Israel, many individuals and families do not have food security - their nutritional intake is deficient in quality or quantity. Additionally, the food supply is erratic and children are sent to school with no food to eat during the day. Food insecurity is a growing phenomenon in Israel, resulting from the dismantling of the welfare state and the cutback in social allowances and budgets. The Center for Food Security was recently established by lecturers and students from Ben Gurion University in Be'er Sheva, who are members of the Forum for Social Justice in the University. They joined forces with the Be'er Sova association, which provides food services to needy people in the region.

STRATEGIES
Advocacy – working for adequate legislation and policy; empowering and organizing those suffering from the problem; collecting information and conducting research; public education.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Defining the nature of relations with Be'er Sova . The Center will use Be'er Sova's infrastructure, but decision-making remains separate.
• Defining activities and developing strategies on the basis of food insecurity research conducted in the Negev.