"From the outset, it was recognised that household livelihoods cannot be understood in isolation from the wider economic and political linkages that provide or constrain household choices related to income earning, consumption, land and housing tenure, access to services and political participation. For some years, too little attention was given to these wider links, including the environmental and governance systems that influence water supply and waste management, energy supply and, indeed, food. Gradually, more attention has been given to them and it is in the latter area that this book makes its path-breaking contribution....I look forward to this team and others taking forward the research, policy and practice work identified. This research shows that future work needs to overtly acknowledge and analyse the realities of political power relationships, examine the drivers and characteristics of changes in urban food wholesaling and retailing systems, and ensure that analysis and policy is gendered throughout." taken from the Foreword by Carole Rakodi, University of Birmingham, UK"This book is a game changer and should be compulsory reading for anyone concerned about the future of Africa. Battersby and Waston skillfully draw together the threads of urbanization, governance and food systems to weave a compelling argument for why food and nutrition are central to the future well-being of billions of urban Africans yet to be born. If you believe that Africa’s future is the rural life, read this book – it will change your mind!" - Bruce Frayne, University of Waterloo, Canada"An essential contribution to the critical and much needed re-framing of the role of food and nutrition security in urban poverty in low and middle income countries. This book provides new evidence on the links between household food security, rapidly evolving food systems and the still inadequate governance of food i