Hunger and the help: A case study of rizq as a civil society organisation in urban Pakistan

The research aims to explore and evaluate the efficacy of grassroots social movements in battling food insecurity amongst the urban poor in Pakistan. By using Ribot and Peluso's Theory of Access (2003), Symbolic interactionism, and Resource Mobilization Theory (RMT), a theoretical framework was established to study the role of a non-profit organization, Rizq, in battling food insecurity and hunger. By employing the use of in-depth interviews and participant observation, Rizq was analyzed as a case study in its efficacy in mitigating food insecurity and hunger by a two-pronged approach: the role of Rizq in the provision of food and the effect it had on the beneficiaries. The result of the study showed that Rizq was successful in mitigating hunger and food insecurity. However, the results were short-term. Further research is needed in urban poverty to understand the issue of food security as a multidisciplinary phenomenon and strive toward possible local solutions.