Seed security and conflict-intentional programming: focus on Africa

Armed conflicts are on the rise in Africa and currently span at least 21 countries. Smallholders are not immune to their effects, often enduring multiple seasons of disrupted production; e.g., farmers in Kivu have navigated conflict since 1993 (60+ seasons). This article focuses on farming during conflict and centers on seed for several reasons: seed is an essential farming input and seed assistance is a prime humanitarian intervention. Broadly, the article revolves around several central questions: How does conflict affect or change seed system functioning? What types of technical seed-linked interventions have been implemented in conflict contexts? Have these interventions been tailored to respond to seed system changes? And is seed, per se , a good entry point for furthering peace-linked or social cohesion work? In framing possible responses, the article goes beyond the basic humanitarian tenet of Do No Harm. The work advances the notion of also Doing Good, and particularly technical good, i.e., supporting responses that are “conflict-intentional,” tailored to strengthen systems in unstable periods. Drawing from a review of written documentation (including web-based searches, university library databases, SCOPUS and ResearchGate; 100+ references), the article presents three sets of findings: (1) It identifies some 20 features of seed systems that might shift in conflict-affected contexts; (2) It documents 11 diverse seed security responses, concluding that few have been tailored toward changing needs; and (3) Focusing on social cohesion and peacebuilding programs, the article identifies only three seed-linked approaches, exploring also if seed attributes make it a useful entry point for more socially-oriented work. The article ends with concrete steps for advancing conflict-intentional programming, suggesting actions at both policy and programmatic field levels.