Understanding vulnerability and resilience of urban food initiatives in Morocco

In this chapter, we use (an adapted version of) the vulnerability framework to study four urban agriculture initiatives in Morocco. Using a mixed-methods approach, we aim to understand what makes these cases vulnerable, but also what strengthens their resilience. Zooming in on a number of specific perturbations, or troubles, we show that while all cases struggle with certain perturbations, some cases are better able to turn these into more hopeful situations. In fact, dealing with perturbations can be a source of change, as finding solutions for these perturbations means that different directions are taken, resources are used differently, or strategies are adjusted. In some cases, this creates hope: in other cases, however, it may lead to new perturbations or increased vulnerability towards others. Taken together, the four cases represent a kaleidoscopic picture of hopes and troubles that is highly case specific and that relates to the resources already present. Our work therefore corroborates the main premise of this book, that it is essential to go beyond either an “all good” narrative or an essentialist critical stance and to rather look at the hybrid complexity and fluidity of initiatives.