UCT frames student well-being, dignity, and equitable access to learning as core institutional values, reflected in its Vision 2030 commitment to “unleashing human potential” and removing structural barriers to student success. Within this framework, UCT recognises that food insecurity undermines academic engagement, mental health, and social inclusion. As part of its institutional commitment to student support and success, UCT has established structured, university-led interventions to prevent and alleviate hunger among students through coordinated food-security programmes, targeted resource distribution, and dedicated fundraising mechanisms. These actions show that addressing student hunger is not peripheral but forms part of UCT’s formal strategies to promote equity, belonging, and access to education.

UCT’s primary intervention is the Food Sovereignty Programme, administered by the Department of Student Affairs and operating continuously since 2018. The programme has expanded significantly over time, and by 2024 it delivered monthly grocery packs containing non-perishable food items to students who are unfunded, underfunded, or facing periodic food insecurity. Students apply directly to the programme, ensuring that support is targeted to those with documented need. In 2024 alone, the Food Sovereignty Programme distributed nearly 10 000 grocery packs, in addition to providing personal-care items every second month, recognising that hygiene resources are essential to dignity and well-being. Public updates in 2024 indicated that more than 1 100 students had registered for assistance, and the university anticipates rising demand, with projections of approximately 1 250 students per month requiring support by 2025.

The programme is intentionally designed around dignity, non-stigmatisation and equitable access, aligning with UCT’s ethos of student-centred support. Eligibility criteria publicly communicated by the university state that applicants must be registered UCT students who are unfunded, underfunded, awaiting funding decisions, or living off-campus/self-catering residences without regular access to meals. The programme’s communications emphasise a confidential, respectful process that shields students from the external signs of food hardship that often deter help-seeking. This dignity-focused approach is consistent with UCT’s broader commitments to inclusivity and student well-being, as outlined in institutional strategy and Student Affairs documentation.

The initiative is sustained through a combination of institutional coordination and community-based fundraising. UCT actively mobilises donations from staff, students, alumni, and external partners, with major fundraising drives such as UCT Day and the annual Phonathon explicitly supporting the Food Sovereignty Programme. These public campaigns illustrate community-wide engagement and transparent institutional accountability. In addition, UCT has formally recognised food insecurity as a barrier to academic success through an internal Food Security Task Team, established within its “Students: Access, Support and Success” portfolio. This embeds student hunger mitigation within UCT’s strategic governance structures and ensures ongoing oversight and monitoring.