Over the last couple of decades, local governments have started taking action to address food system challenges. Many innovative food policies have taken place in cities in particular. However, despite major developments spearheaded by visionary local leaders and communities in recent years, local governments in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) continue to face major challenges in integrating food security, nutrition and sustainable food systems in their agenda. This publication introduces a new knowledge base for understanding food planning and governance processes and models in local governments of low- and middle-income countries, a valuable counterbalance to the prevailing literature and experience from high-income countries. It provides practical insights on the needs, challenges and opportunities in local food planning practice in three countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean. Based on reported cases, this publication offers a broad guiding framework and a methodology for subnational government bodies - including city, metropolitan, regional, distinct and parish governments - that takes into consideration the uniqueness of each local context.