Do global food system trends reflect local realities? Perceptions of stakeholders

Nairobi illustrates the multifaceted challenges faced by rapidly urbanising cities, particularly in relation to urban food systems. However, existing studies rarely map the mechanisms through which food system drivers interact, nor sufficiently explore how different stakeholders experience the same food system pressures. This study applies the High Level Panel of Experts framework (HLPE) to explore stakeholders’ perceptions on drivers shaping Nairobi’s urban food system and examines how they interact within the food system. Using a qualitative methodology, 15 drivers were identified with climate change cutting across many of them. Results highlight how stakeholders’ power, role, and positioning within the city’s food system shape which impacts occur, which drivers are influential, and whose vulnerabilities persist. These dynamics, together with governance structures and resource prioritisation were shown to shape inefficiencies within Nairobi’s food system. Overall, the study demonstrates that Nairobi’s food system is shaped by the interactions of several drivers, yet transformative change remains limited. These findings advance understanding of urban food systems by providing insights into interlinkages shaping the transformation and the conditions under which it takes place. The findings support the HLPE framework while extending it by demonstrating the need for adaptation to local contexts alongside understanding of factors that hinder transformative potential. The findings further show that stakeholders’ perceptions differ according to vulnerabilities and points of interaction with the food system. This underscores the need for adopting a systems and multi-narrative approach and highlights the importance of grounding policies in local perceptions and realities.