POLICY BRIEF: Leveraging Public Food Procurement for Non-communicable Diseases (NCD) Prevention in South Africa: Responsibilities and Opportunities

With South Africa facing a growing burden of non-communicable diseases, public food procurement offers a powerful lever to tackle all forms of malnutrition. This policy brief draws on research into the legal and policy frameworks that shape public food procurement in the country. The key question is no longer whether public food procurement should support broader socio-economic goals, but how to align it effectively with human rights and national development priorities. Strengthening public food procurement for the prevention of non-communicable diseases is not only a constitutional obligation—it is also a strategic opportunity.