Emergence of Sustainability in a Complex System: Are Lessons From the Health Sector Applicable to Food Security? (Presentation and Screencast)

This presentation promotes a dialogue between the food security and health development sectors asking whether strategies and approaches can be applied to sustain positive development outcomes learned through the health sector to food security.

The presentation includes a brief overview of USAID history on “sustainability” in the health sector, the shift from linear models toward complex adaptive systems thinking, and the development of the Sustainability Framework. Multiple dimensions of evaluation, visioning, and system mapping, as well as understanding social capital, local learning systems, unpredictability, resiliency, and adaptation are reflected in this framework. Sarriot translates these concepts to the food security and agriculture sectors examining pertinent dimensions, processes, agents and ownership including some field-based examples for discussion.

Sudhir Wanmali, Sharon Arscott-Mills, and Owen Calvert joined Sarriot for the Q&A session.