Feeding the hungry or feeding dependency?

Abstract: Is food aid a catalyst for recovery following external shocks? Can it serve community development in persistently food insecure areas in the long run, or does it create a dependency trap? This research aims to provide insights into these questions by conducting a case study of a soup kitchen in the South African township Masakhane that was established as an emergency response following COVID-19. The findings suggest that perceptions upon the nature of dependency are significantly time-dependent and volatile. Even though the pandemic has barely subsided, negative attitudes relating to the dependency induced by the kitchen are already starting to permeate collective consciousness as the impact of COVID-19 is becoming increasingly normalized. Whereas communities seem happy to provide relief in acute periods they appear to be less willing to sustain welfare provision. The results also reinforce the findings of previous research on food aid relating to the importance of the design and targeting of community programs.