y
Français   
Food Security Information for Decision Making
Home
blue
Programme
blue
News
News
Newsletters
Multimedia
Behind the scenes
blue
Distance Learning
blue
Training and Workshops
blue
Tools
blue
GIEWS Workstation
blue
Countries
blue
Publications
blue

News

Food Security in Protracted Crises: What Can Be Done?

A new policy brief aims at sharing insights on what might be done to improve food security in protracted crises.

March 2009

When emergency situations continue for years or even decades achieving food security becomes an overwhelming challenge.

This policy brief aims at sharing insights, based on concrete evidence from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia and the Sudan, on what might be done to improve food security in these situations.

> Download Policy Brief: Food Security in Protracted Crises (pdf)

line
> Key Findings
> Recommendations
> More Information
line

Key Findings

blue dot Structural factors - such as failed institutions and conflicts over land and resources - are at the root of most protracted crises. They also play an important role in further fueling crises.
blue dot

Informal polices may be more relevant than formal policies – yet they are hardly taken into account by the international community.
blue dot Short term and humanitarian responses predominate, yet development paradigms are not always appropriate.
blue dot Affected communities are already acting for the long term and not merely waiting for the emergency to be over, a process ignored by the international community.

blue dot People adapt their livelihoods to the crisis but the overall resilience of food systems remains a challenge.
blue dot There is a lack of suitable frameworks for analysing and responding to protracted food security crises.

Recommendations

blue dot Rethink response. Address both the short and long term dimensions of crises. Make sure it is based on an adequate analysis of specific contexts.
blue dot Involve local partners and institutions when defining and implementing response. Account for all groups affected by the crises, with special attention to women, children and minority groups.
blue dot Account for shifts in livelihoods and support patterns of resilience
blue dot Conflict resolution and prevention are crucial

More Information

This Policy brief is based on the book "Beyond Relief: Food Security in Protracted Crisis" edited by Luca Alinovi, Günter Hemrich and Luca Russo (FAO) and published by Practical Action Publishing (ISBN 987-185339-660-1).

The book draws together findings from case studies conducted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia and the Sudan. The studies gives very specific examples and insights about what did - and did not - work in terms of improving food security.

Beyond Relief: Food Security in Protracted Crisis

Table of Contents

Food security in protracted crisis situations: Issues and challenges (Luca Russo, Günter Hemrich, Luca Alinovi and Denise Melvin)

PART I: Case Studies from Sudan

Crisis and food security profile: Sudan (Luca Russo)

Responding to protracted crises: The principled model of NMPACT in Sudan (Sara Pantuliano)

Policies, practice and participation in protracted crises: The case of livestock interventions in southern Sudan (Andy Catley, Tim Leyland and Suzan Bishop)

PART II: Case Studies from Somalia

Crisis and food security profile: Somalia (Peter D. Little)

Livelihoods, assets and food security in a protracted political crisis: The case of the Jubba Region, southern Somalia (Peter D. Little)

Livestock and livelihoods in protracted crisis: The case of southern Somalia (Suzan Bishop, Andy Catley and Habiba Sheik Hassan)

PART III: Case Studies from the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Crisis and food security profile: The Democratic Republic of the Congo (Koen Vlassenroot and Timothy Raeymaekers)

Conflict and food security in Beni-Lubero: Back to the future? (Timothy Raeymaekers)

Land tenure, conflict and household strategies in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (Koen Vlassenroot)

PART IV: Conclusions

Beyond the blueprint: Implications for food security analysis and policy responses (Luca Russo, Luca Alinovi and Günter Hemrich)





Beyond Relief: Food Security in Protracted Crises
This Policy brief is based on the book:
Beyond Relief: Food Security in Protracted Crises
edited by Luca Alinovi, Günter Hemrich and Luca Russo (FAO)

Links
> Policy Brief: Food Security in Protracted Crises: What Can Be Done?
> Book: Beyond Relief: Food Security in Protracted Crises
> Original Case Studies
Related Articles and Seminars
> Related Seminars
> VIEWPOINT: How do you think beyond food aid in a conflict? (AlertNet, September 2008)
> Related seminar at ODI's Humanitarian Policy Group (September 2008)
> ODI Humanitarian Practice Network: What can be done to achieve food security in protracted crises?
(September 2008)


FAO
The EC-FAO Programme on "Linking Information and Decision Making to Improve Food Security" is funded by the European Union and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
European Union
Food Security Information for Decision Making FAO European Union