DevNet

30 minutes ago

We are excited to share the key research findings and recommendations from Nurussaadah Mokhtar of the University of Otago.

Nur’s study explores how supermarket urbanism shapes food access for low-income households in Malaysia and how urban agriculture can offer adaptive options within these systems. Two participatory mapping workshops in the low-income neighbourhoods of Kota Damansara and Damansara Damai, Selangor, involved seven women residents each, documenting local food outlets, gaps in access, supermarket dependence, barriers to fresh food, and vegetable consumption practices. Insights were complemented by interviews with officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, urban planners, and practitioners of both community-based and commercial urban agriculture in Greater Kuala Lumpur.

Findings show that supermarkets dominate affordability, driving households to prioritise lower prices over convenience or cultural preference, often travelling further for cheaper produce. Welfare programmes channel households into supermarkets, enhancing purchasing power but limiting choice and marginalising local markets. Traditional markets remain culturally important but are less accessible and often costlier, with mobility, transport, and location strongly shaping food options.

Urban agriculture offers uneven benefits. Community-based initiatives can supplement household food supply, but outcomes depend on participation, capacity, and planning constraints. Commercial urban farms prioritise profit and supermarket supply chains, rarely improving affordable access for the urban poor. These dynamics highlight the need for coordinated policies that integrate food systems, urban planning, welfare programmes, and local food initiatives to enhance equitable urban food security.

Read Nur's Policy Brief Here: devnet.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/NZPG-Policy-Brief_Nurussaadah-Mokhtar_University-of-Otag...

Photo 1: Harvesting fresh eggplant, pak choy and ulam raja (a common traditional vegetable) at a vibrant community farm tucked within the Kota Damansara public housing neighbourhood.

Photo 2: Exploring Malaysia’s largest commercial urban farm, perched atop a bustling supermarket in Greater Kuala Lumpur.

Photo 3: Collaborative mapping workshops with women who have been working in their community garden since 2010. ... See MoreSee Less

DevNet

2 days ago

Meet Rosie O’Hagan, recipient of a DevNet Postgraduate Field Research Grant for her research, Combating Gender-based Violence Amid Colombian Armed Conflict: NGO Activities, Empowering Approaches, and Ongoing Challenges.

Reflecting on her fieldwork, Rosie shared:

“My field research took me to the vibrant cities of Bogotá and Bucaramanga, where I explored how NGOs work to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in the context of Colombia’s ongoing armed conflict. Through qualitative methods, this research is deeply grounded in the lived experiences of practitioners who confront this issue every day, and I was continually inspired by their commitment and courage. I am profoundly grateful to DevNet and MFAT for supporting this research, and to my incredible supervisors, Regina Scheyvens and Aisling Gallagher, whose guidance and encouragement have been invaluable throughout this journey.”

Discover Rosie's key findings and policy recommendations in her policy brief here: devnet.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/OHagan-Rose-Policy-Brief-1.docx ... See MoreSee Less

DevNet

1 week ago

Congratulations to Dr Emma Powell, Lauren Turner, and Fran Little at Te Puna Vai Marama - Cook Islands Centre for Research on winning the DevNet Pacific Writing Retreat Grant 2026.

The retreat aims to create dedicated space for Pacific researchers to write, fostering more published work by Pacific Island scholars and equipping participants with the skills and experience to facilitate their own writing retreats in the future.

Drawing on their experience in academic writing development and research capacity-building initiatives in the Cook Islands, the team will deliver a facilitated academic writing and mentorship programme. With support from DevNet, up to 14 researchers from the Cook Islands will have the opportunity to work alongside experienced mentors in a supportive writing environment, strengthening their academic writing and research skills. ... See MoreSee Less