Abstract:
Natural disasters and food insecurity are directly interconnected. Climate change related
hazards such as floods, hurricanes, tsunamis, droughts and other risks can weaken food
security and severely impact agricultural activities. Consequently, this has an impact on
market access, trade, food supply, reduced income, increased food prices, decreased farm
income and employment. Natural disasters create poverty, which in turn increases the
prevalence of food insecurity and malnutrition. It is clear that disasters put food security at
risk. The poorest people in the community are affected by food insecurity and disasters;
hence, there is a need to be prepared as well as be in a position to manage disasters. Without
serious efforts to address them, the risks of disasters will become an increasingly serious
obstacle to sustainable development and the achievement of sustainable development goals,
particularly goal number 2 ‘end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and
promote sustainable agriculture’. In recent years, countries in southern Africa have
experienced an increase in the frequency, magnitude and impact of climate change–related
hazards such as droughts, veld fire, depleting water resources and flood events. This research
aims to reveal Southern African Development Community disaster risk management
strategies for food security to see how they an influence and shape policy at the national
level in southern Africa. Sustainable Livelihood approach was adopted as the main
theoretical framework for the study. The qualitative Analysis is based largely on data from
databases such as national reports, regional reports and empirical findings on the disaster
management–sustainable development nexus.
