The relationship between migration and food security in urban areas is an
emerging area of research internationally. To date, with the exception of studies in
India, Kenya, and Namibia, little attention has focused on food insecurity experienced
by migrants in cities of the Global South. Building on earlier work in Namibia, this
paper interrogates the relationship between migration and food security in the city of
Windhoek. Windhoek has experienced significant rural–urban migration in recent
years, especially since Namibia’s independence in 1990. Many migrants have settled
in the northern and north-western areas of the city, primarily in the informal settlements.
Most of the migrant households are poor and food insecure. In an effort to mitigate their
insecure food situation, they make use of various strategies including receiving food
transfers, obtaining food from informal markets, and other informal methods. This
paper documents the dimensions and variations in food security amongst migrant
households and examines the linkages between migration and food insecurity in a
rapidly-growing African city.