Practice guidelines in relation to key informants’ perspectives on food security among female-headed households in Kenya: A case of Voi Division in Taita-Taveta County, Kenya

Food security is a key development agenda. Food security exists when all people, always have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food, which meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) one and two generally aim at eradicating poverty and achieving food security, respectively. Currently, food security is explored as a rights-based issue whether at an individual or collective level. Ecological system theory illuminates the importance of interlinkages between environmental (sub) systems to attain a holistic system including a food secure system. In existence are regulations highlighting food security as a right to be enjoyed by all humans including females. Even though females are the primary caregivers and heads of their households, they have not enjoyed the right to acceptable food security due to socio-cultural and systemic exclusions, despite the existing legislations. This study on food security among female-headed households (FHHs) was conducted in Voi Division in Taita-Taveta County in Kenya. Fifteen key informants were purposively selected from organisations dealing with the matter of food security in the area. The sample was conveniently acquired by researchers requesting team leaders of the organisations to identify relevant key informants for the interview. As part of the main study, the key informants were requested to express their perspectives on plausible practice guidelines for promoting food security among female-headed households especially in Voi Division. For the purposes of the interviews, verbatim responses of 14 key informants were considered, which ultimately inform the formulation of the practice guidelines by the authors as backed up by literature. The guidelines are recommended for programme planning, for policy and programme implementation. The guidelines for programme planning are conducting participatory rural-appraisals with vulnerable groups, formulating female-friendly policies, and planning for economic empowerment. The guidelines for policy and programme implementation include poverty eradication through formation of self-help groups and implementing female-centred education policies, implementing nutritional programmes, and establishing irrigation projects. Key words: practice guidelines, food security, female-headed households, policy, programme