The CityFood Market Handbook for Healthy and Resilient Cities

As cities around the world grapple with rising food insecurity, climate pressures, and deepening inequalities, food markets play a critical role in building healthier, more equitable, and climate-resilient urban food systems. 

With 16 real-world case studies from cities across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas, the handbook offers concrete examples of how markets can be reimagined as inclusive, sustainable, and people-centered spaces, showcasing how food is accessed, consumed, and valued in cities.

At the core of the handbook is the CityFood Market Action Framework, which provides a structured approach to transforming food markets in cities through four strategic pillars built upon the 16 featured city case studies:

  • Policy & governance – Integrating markets into urban planning and fostering collaboration across sectors.
  • Market infrastructure – Improving both physical and digital infrastructure to enhance food safety and reduce waste:
  • Funding & incentives – Mobilizing financial resources to support vendors, promote local produce, and attract consumer engagement.
  • Capacity building & awareness – Empowering communities through education and participation to drive behavioral change.

While primarily designed for local governments, the Handbook is equally relevant to businesses, researchers, civil society and non-governmental organizations, and community members. 

The Handbook offers actionable insights on markets’ management, infrastructure, hygiene standards, and services that shape different food market environments — highlighting how these factors impact food security and the livelihoods of market actors. The focus is on publicly managed markets that operate regularly, whether daily, weekly, or monthly.

 

 

Handbook cover

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