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Structure of proposal, summarise major components of research Essay The objective of this research is to assess the impact of food garden projects on the livelihoods of communities on household and community levels. Also, to assess the impact of the food garden initiatives, in the reduction of food insecurity and poverty. The objectives are also to describe and evaluate the impact of Government and various role players, assistance in the sustainability of the food garden projects in various regions. The study will be conducted in various regions in the Western Cape, where various departments and role players launched projects on world food day. In the year 2014 Suurbrak was the community identified by the Department of Agriculture the theme/aim for the year was Family Farming: Feeding the world, caring for the earth. In the year 2015 Pella was the community identified by various role players the theme for 2015 was â€Å"Social Protection and Agriculture: Breaking the cycle of rural poverty†. The year 2016 Graafwater was identified as the community and launched on World Food Day. Numerous people across the globe live in extreme poverty and are faced with food insecurity. Food insecurity is a major issue especially in rural communities, that rely directly on resources at their disposal. Safety Nets are usually an aid to sooth or assist in reducing food insecurity in rural communities, through Governmental projects implemented. In the Western Cape province, rural communities rely on support programmes form NGOs or Government projects to reduce food insecurity and to Sustain their Livelihoods. The Western Cape Province also experience elevated levels of food insecurity and malnutrition due to extreme poverty conditions that occur in rural communities. Key Words: Food insecurity, Food Security, Poverty reduction, Sustainable Livelihoods, Food garden initiatives, Title: Assessing Food garden initiatives/projects to alleviate food insecurity and assessing the impact of the projects on the Livelihoods of communities: A Case Study in the Western Cape Background to the Research: The numerous Food garden projects was launched by various role players to eliminate poverty and to increase food security. Problem Statement: Primary focus of the Research, Question format Problem Statement 1.1 The City of Cape Town, like any other cities in South Africa, faces high rates of poverty and inequality. Poverty remains a real and alarming problem. It is estimated that 22.1% of residents live in poverty. 1.2 Poverty is multi-dimensional and manifests in many ways. One of the key manifestations for people who are poor is a lack of access to basic services such as, food, water, electricity and sanitation which improves quality of life. Access to basic services significantly affects the lives of women and girls who are often tasked with household chores. Although, the 2011 Census reports that 87.28% of people living in Cape Town have access to piped water, 90.20% to a toilet facility, 93.98% to electricity and 94.94% to refuse removal services, challenges exist in providing quality services that are sufficient, efficient, affordable and appropriate to meet the needs of communities. 1.3 Poverty is both a cause and result of marginalisation. Many vulnerable groups such as women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities are overrepresented amongst the poor and they face a range of complex social, economic, cultural and physical barriers in getting out of poverty. 1.4 Food security is generally viewed as closely related to poverty. Research in Khayelitsha, Philippi and Ocean View1 indicated that four out of ten households in Cape Town’s poor areas go without food at least once a week because they cannot afford to buy it. Poverty disproportionately affects female-headed households and makes them especially vulnerable to food insecurity. 1.5 Poverty and food insecurity are linked to poor health and it also severely affects the healthy development of children. Food insecurity may result in malnutrition which has long-term physical and developmental effects. 1.6 The City of Cape Town is committed to addressing poverty and improving the quality of life of all people living in the city, particularity people who are poor, vulnerable or marginalised. The Social Development Strategy sets out how the City plans to do this. However, there is a need to articulate the interventions aimed at meeting the needs of the poor who may be helped through food garden initiatives amongst other interventions 1.7 The City needs to coordinate its efforts aimed at alleviating the plight of the most vulnerable with the work that is done at a national and provincial level. Provincial Government fund and implements a number of programmes aimed at addressing poverty through sustainable livelihood programmes or projects. There is a need to ensure that the work done by all spheres of government in the city is strategic and has the maximum impact. Key Research Questions Detailed Literature Review: Importance of the Research: Methodology: Timescale/ Research Planning: Hypothesis: List of Reference