Course:Course:LFS350/Projects/F2022/VNFN

From UBC Wiki

Project Title

Municipal Food Policy Scan and Budget Analysis

Vancouver Neighbourhood Food Networks

Organization Information

Organization Name

Vancouver Neighbourhood Food Networks

Mission and Vision of Organization

The Vancouver Neighbourhood Food Networks (VNFN) are a network of community organizations committed to promoting food security in neighbourhoods across the City of Vancouver. VNFN is committed to food equity and access, education, skill building, and advocacy, particularly for community members who are struggling economically. This work is based on the principle that all members of society have the right to quality food. VNFN provides a space for networks to collaborate, share best practices and advocate for food equity & justice, ecologically & culturally sustainable food systems, and community food resilience with a unified voice.

Guiding Principles + Values

  • Moving away from a needs-based model towards a rights-based approach
  • Food as a tool for justice, food sovereignty
  • Accessibility for all
  • Anchoring the work in the lived experience of those who are food insecure
  • Decolonization, connecting with the impacts of colonization
  • Deeper community, connection
  • Engaging in proactive as well as responsive advocacy
  • Taking a systems approach to food security
  • Working collaborative to create influence in ways that can’t be achieved alone

Contact Information

Preferred Method of Contact

  • Best method(s) to contact: Email, Phone
  • Best day(s) to contact: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays
  • Best time(s) to contact: Mornings, Afternoons

Preferred Platform(s) for Remote Collaboration

  • Email
  • Zoom
  • In-person meetings are possible

Project Description

Note: This project will mostly take place online (Zoom) and by phone, with possibility of in-person meetings

Context: What challenge or issue does the project aim to address?

In June 2022, Vancouver City Council approved the 2023-2026 Capital Plan, which includes very limited funding for food systems infrastructure. City Council will be reviewing the proposed 2023 Operations Plan in December 2022, which is another opportunity to advocate for funding for municipal food systems work. Both the municipal Operations and Capital funding context for food security initiatives and infrastructure is severely limited given the growing need for improved food security in our city. Funding for municipal food systems remains extremely low, a percentage of one percent (even less) of total city budget allocations. This does not match the urgency of existing, increasing, and potential food crises driven by climate change, inflation, inequities, pandemics, etc.. The upcoming municipal election, and incoming new City Council, are opportunities to advocate for better resourcing for urban food systems work and VNFNs are looking for support in leveraging these opportunities.

We have been advised to articulate the connection between funding requests/advocacy work to existing municipal policies. Making these connections clear and explicit increases the likelihood that such requests will be successful. We recognize that food and food security intersects with almost all City policy, whether these documents are obviously food-focused or not. Financial support is critical for improving food security and food justice work in our communities, and we need to build a case(s) for support based on existing City directions and priorities. Anecdotally, we have noticed that while food is discussed in many important city policies, such as the new Vancouver Plan, Broadway Plan, Healthy Cities Strategy, Resilient Vancouver Strategy and many more, there is very little direct or even indirect funds allocated.

LFS 350 students will support our work by scanning municipal policy documents such as: Vancouver Food Strategy Reheat (2017), Local Food Systems Action Plan (2021), VanPlay (2020), Vancouver Plan (2022), and other non-food-specific policy documents/frameworks. Students will be looking for specific budgetary commitments, as well as policy commitments that do not appear supported by financial commitments, since both are significant for our purposes.

If time permits:

Students can also help VNFNs map out how the budgeting process for both Operations and Capital works. Who makes decisions on money allocations? What kind of opportunities, if any, are there for public submissions? Understanding these processes would be extremely helpful in identifying opportunities to advocate and intervene in budgetary conversations.

Main Project Activities and Deliverables

  • Students will work with community partner to identify relevant municipal policy documents
  • Students will scan policy documents for references to food systems infrastructure and/or programming, especially references connected to budgetary commitments (or notably absent commitments)
  • Students' policy scan findings will be summarized in a format to be determined by the partner and students (e.g. report, infographic, other)
  • If time permits: students will help map the respective budgeting processes for the municipal Capital and Operations Plans, including key opportunities for intervention
  • If time permits: students will complete a literature review or compile case studies of budget-focused advocacy work similar to the goals of this project (format to be discussed with partner)

Student Assets and Skills (preferred or required)

  • Familiarity with policy
  • Interest in policy and planning

Are there any mandatory attendance dates (e.g. special event)?

  • Students may attend relevant community meetings (dates and topics to be discussed with partner)
  • Attending the Vancouver Food Security Town Hall (tentatively Sept. 27, 6:30pm, TBC) will help students contextualize their project work

Is a criminal record search (CRS) required?

  • No

How much self-direction is expected from the students?

  • Deciding on the project deliverables: Mostly led by community partner with some student input
  • Developing the activity plan and timeline: Mostly led by students with some community partner input
  • Scheduling and initiating the communications plan: Equal leadership between community partner and students
  • Implementing the activity plan: Mostly led by students with some support from community partner
  • Finalizing deliverables: Equal leadership between community partner and students (with the students determining their capacity but with partners' assessment of complexity of work, available resources, etc.)

Preferred Days of Week and Hours

  • Flexible

Related Community Service Opportunities for Students

  • Attending and volunteering with the the food security Town Hall will help students contextualize their project work

Required Reading

Project/Partner Orientation Materials

Students should review the following materials prior to the first partner meeting. Additional orientation materials may be provided at the first partner meeting.

Additional Resources

Expected Outcomes

Intended Short-term Project Outcome

The VNFN has increased knowledge of municipal policy levers and budgetary commitments that will allow for more effective food systems advocacy.

Learning Outcomes

Through this project, I think students will learn about...

  • Municipal policy and the general food systems context in Vancouver

By working on this project, I think students will develop skills and/or awareness of...

  • Advocacy strategies for advancing just and equitable food systems

By the end of the project, I believe students will come to appreciate...

  • The value of food programming and infrastructure, and the opportunities and limitations created by government funding and policy priorities
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