Food Systems
The way food is grown, shared, and accessed determines far more than what’s on someone’s plate; local food systems define livelihoods, health, opportunity, and resilience.
Conflict, climate shocks, and economic instability are straining the world’s food systems, or the networks that communities use to grow, process, and deliver food. When these systems falter, hunger and malnutrition rise, farmers lose income, and families struggle to meet basic needs.
Global Communities helps repair and reimagine these systems so they can feed families today and sustain livelihoods tomorrow. We work alongside local leaders, farmers, and businesses to build resilience at every step — from seed to market to school meal.
Farmers are adopting climate-smart practices and diversifying their crops, while women and youth are stepping into leadership and shaping more equitable economies. Schools are sourcing and serving local food, strengthening both nutrition for children and demand for small producers.
Grounded in decades of experience and fueled by partnerships across governments, local organizations, and the private sector, we address the entire food system to secure nutrition and income long after a crisis ends. Deep partnership with communities is the key to building solutions that outlast disruption and create lasting opportunity.
Transforming The Systems That Fuel Families
Growing Food Locally & Sustainably
We help small farmers and cooperatives grow more food in ways that protect the land and adapt to changing weather. From planting seeds to harvesting crops, we support climate-smart agriculture so families can put healthy meals on the table.
Growing Food Locally & Sustainably
We help small farmers and cooperatives grow more food in ways that protect the land and adapt to changing weather. From planting seeds to harvesting crops, we support climate-smart agriculture so families can put healthy meals on the table
Opening Doors to Business Growth and Market Opportunities
We connect farmers, including women and young people, to fair markets so they can sell their harvests, earn reliable incomes, and support their families. By backing small businesses and cooperatives, we create jobs, expand opportunities, and build stronger local economies.
Opening Doors to Business Growth and Market Opportunities
We connect farmers, including women and young people, to fair markets so they can sell their harvests, earn reliable incomes, and support their families. By backing small businesses and cooperatives, we create jobs, expand opportunities, and build stronger local economies.
Nourishing Children Through School Meals
We partner with governments and communities to deliver daily, nutritious school meals that help children learn and thrive. By sourcing foods locally and including education, water and sanitation, and nutrition into the program, we strengthen schools and set the foundation for long-term progress.
Nourishing Children Through School Meals
We partner with governments and communities to deliver daily, nutritious school meals that help children learn and thrive. By sourcing foods locally and including education, water and sanitation, and nutrition into the program, we strengthen schools and set the foundation for long-term progress.
Building Resilience Through Local Leadership
We make food security part of a bigger picture — connecting it with savings groups, emergency planning, access to finance, and good local leadership. This helps communities stay strong during hard times and keep building toward a better future.
Building Resilience Through Local Leadership
We make food security part of a bigger picture — connecting it with savings groups, emergency planning, access to finance, and good local leadership. This helps communities stay strong during hard times and keep building toward a better future.
Connecting Food with Water, Health, Education & Finance
When children are nourished, they learn better. When families have secure food systems, local economies grow. That’s why our work connects farming with nutrition, clean water, literacy and school attendance, and income opportunities — creating holistic solutions that last.
Connecting Food with Water, Health, Education & Finance
When children are nourished, they learn better. When families have secure food systems, local economies grow. That’s why our work connects farming with nutrition, clean water, literacy and school attendance, and income opportunities — creating holistic solutions that last.
Together with families, farmers, teachers, cooperatives, local governments and private partners, we’re building food systems that nourish, empower and endure — no matter what lies ahead.
Impact
1 million+
children reached with daily school meals
across five countries in 2024
16,500
of farmers supported with training, market access
and climate-smart agriculture
21,000
households in Ethiopia supported in transitioning to regenerative grazing
Featured Program
Nourishing Futures Through School Meals
Every day, millions of children arrive at school too hungry to learn. Global Communities partners with governments, donors, and communities to change that—designing sustainable, locally sourced school meals programs that do more than fill plates.
These programs fuel learning, strengthen families, and transform local food systems by connecting farmers, teachers, and parents in a shared mission to nourish the next generation.
From climate-smart school gardens and fuel-efficient cookstoves to women-led savings groups and classroom nutrition lessons, our holistic approach ensures every meal contributes to healthier children, stronger communities, and more resilient food systems.
Resources
Targeting individuals or communities? Learnings from AfriScout on improving pastoralists’ well-being
Integrated Fleet Management System
Special Study on Migration for the MCGOVERN-United States Program
Mianatra Madagascar Project Brief-FR
First Teacher Groups – a Community-Based Early Learning Initiative, Improves Parenting Practices and Child Development in Northern Tanzania
Mianatra Project Brief
Guía Metodológica de Investigación Participativa para la Acción (IPA) para el Abordaje ye Seguimiento des Rumores sobre COVID-19
News
Emerging Farmers Partnership GDA
This article was originally published by USAID. Zambia’s development holds much promise but faces much peril. Urban economic growth has boomed, however rural areas have stagnated in poverty. Most rural households are engaged in subsistence-level farming on small plots that are not economically viable and often turn to unsustainable livelihoods that degrade natural resources to…
Waterloo Community Needs Assessment
Global Communities was asked by John Deere to design and conduct a participatory community needs assessment in Waterloo, Iowa in partnership with local community members and local partners. The assessment used an participatory-based approach to develop an in-depth understanding of the assets, opportunities, and gaps existing in the Waterloo community in order to inform and…
‘Our Harvest’ Project Delivers Food, Hope to Guatemalan Families
Since the Government of Guatemala announced a “state of calamity” following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Guatemala, PCI, a Global Communities Partner, has continued to coordinate the procurement and delivery of fresh food to local schoolchildren through Nuestra Cosecha. PCI implements Nuestra Cosecha (“Our Harvest” in Spanish) in partnership with Save the Children…