The problem with food security assessments and a case for food sovereignty evaluative tools: comparing food security and food sovereignty assessments in Haiti

people surrounding the food in a garden
In his latest paper, Professor Walner Osna invites readers to rethink how we measure hunger and food insecurity in Haiti. While global agencies like the World Food Programme and the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification provide essential data to shape policy, Osna argues they don’t tell the whole story.

Drawing on a 2024 food sovereignty assessment conducted in Haiti’s North Department, the paper reveals the rich insights these community-rooted tools can offer—insights that standard evaluations often miss. From the role of land access and gender dynamics to the mental health impacts of food insecurity and the cultural consequences of economic policy, this study reframes food insecurity not just as a crisis of access, but of agency, equity, and resilience.

Read the full paper and discover why a shift toward food sovereignty is essential to creating lasting, just solutions.