Back Back     Home Home

Theme: Food Security and Livelihoods

A Billion Hungry People: Governments and aid agencies must rise to the challenge

This paper considers some of the ways in which governments and aid agencies could address the needs of the more than 1 billion hungry in the world. The first section explains that the initial step is for all stakeholders to recognise and agree on the nature and breadth of the problems on the ground. The second section recommends different responses to hunger...

Published in 2009, by Oxfam

A review of UNICEF’s role in cash transfers to emergency-affected populations

This paper is part of an ongoing process exploring UNICEF’s engagement with cash-based responses in emergencies. The main aim of the paper is to stimulate discussion on the potential role of cash transfers within UNICEF’s response to emergencies.

Published in 2007, by Susanne Jaspars et al

Addressing the Humanitarian Challenges of Climate Change Regional and National Perspectives

Preliminary Findings from the IASC Regional and National Level Consultations

Published in 2010, by IASC

Agricultural Outlook 2010-2019: Highlights

The goal of this collaborative work is to build consensus on how global agriculture may evolve in the coming decade and the key issues impacting its course.

Published in 2010, by OECD, FAO

Behaviour Change Communication in Emergencies

Provides the means to prepare, plan, implement and monitor behaviour change communication initiatives supporting health, hygiene and child protection efforts in emergencies, including IFE issues. For programme managers from UNICEF, United Nations agencies, NGO partners and government personnel.

Published in 2006, by UNICEF Regional Office of South Asia

Cash and Food Transfers: A Primer

The objective of this paper is to unpack the various aspects of the “cash versus food” debate, to map out where the controversies lie and to demonstrate the need for a more pragmatic, balanced and contextspecific approach. A key message is that appropriateness cannot be predetermined since programme objectives, the economics of food consumption, market...

Published in 2007, by Ugo Gentilini

Cash for work programming – a practical guide.

Comprehensive information on cash based interventions including baseline and evaluation questionnaires, data base, evaluation reports and training manual. For trainers and field staff

Published in 2002, by Sarah Lumsden, Emma Naylor

Cash transfer programming in emergencies

Guidelines based upon Oxfam experiences for field staff.

Published in 2010, by Pantaleo Creti, Susanne Jaspars

Cash transfers in emergencies: evaluating benefits and assessing risks

Reviews evidence for benefits and risks and provides framework for evaluation for field staff and managers.

Published in 2001, by David Peppiatt, John Mitchell, Penny Holzmann

Cash Workbook: A practical user’s guide for the preparation and implementation of Cash Projects

Guidelines on preparing for cash projects for field staff

Published in 2010, by Egon Rauch, Helmut Scheuer

Cash-based responses in emergencies

Review of cash based responses in a number of countries for managers and field workers

Published in 2007, by Paul Harvey

Changing Glaciers and Hydrology in Asia: Addressing vulnerabilities to glacier melt impacts

The goal of the study reported here is to provide approaches to glacier melt, within the context of climate change, based on state-of-the-art knowledge, to USAID Missions in three topic areas: (1) science related to glacier melt and high-altitude hydrology, (2) the impacts of changes near and far in space and time, and (3) the organizations and activities...

Published in 2010, by USAID

Chapter 20: Global climate change

In: The Comparative quantification of health risks -book.

Published in 2004, by Anthony J. McMichael et al.

Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in the food and agriculture sector

Technical Background document from the expert consultation held on 5 to 7 March 2008

Published in 2008, by FAO

Climate change and children

Examines the effects of climate change on children – and examines how climate change has evolved from an ‘environmental’ issue into one that requires collective expertise in sustainable development, energy security, and the health and well-being of children. Young people speak directly through comments and letters collected by UNICEF’s Voices of...

Published in 2007, by UNICEF

Climate change and children: a human security challenge. Policy review paper

The study reviews the implications of climate change for children and future generations, drawing on relevant experiences in different sectors and countries of promoting child rights and well-being. It traces in considerable detail the pathways through which shifts in temperature and precipitation patterns create serious additional barriers to the...

Published in 2008, by UNICEF

Climate Change and Food Security: A Framework Document

Until recently, most assessments of the impact of climate change on the food and agriculture sector have focused on the implications for production and global supply of food, with less consideration of other components of the food chain. This paper takes a broader view and explores the multiple effects that global warming and climate change could have on...

Published in 2008, by FAO Interdepartamental Working Group on Climate Change

Climate Change and Human Health: Risks and responses

This book seeks to describe the context and process of global climate change, its actual or likely impacts on health, and how human societies and their governments should respond with particular focus on the health sector.

Published in 2003, by WHO

Climate change is affecting our health. Something should be done now.

This brochure presents six paintings, produced by the Italian painter Elisabetta Farina and commissioned by WHO are linked to a broader initiative named Art for Health aimed at using art work to support awareness-raising about the health consequences of climate change. It underlines the global impact making use of images of women from different regions...

Published in 2009, by WHO

Climate Change, Food Insecurity and Hunger: Key Messages for UNFCCC Negotiators

This paper highlights some of the projected impacts of climate change on food security and summarizes the responses called for by several of the largest humanitarian and development organizations involved in the fight against hunger. To address this unmatched challenge, a strong commitment of the international community, particularly the developed countries,...

Published in 2009, by IASC Task force on Climate Change

Climate Change: Quantifying the health impact at national and local levels

Environmental burden of disease series, No. 14

Published in 2007, by Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum, Rosalie Woodruff

Concerning Accountability in Humanitarian Action

This paper asks whether initiatives designed to improve accountability really are the solution to the problems humanitarianism faces today. It does not aim to dismiss accountability; rather, it seeks to show that accountability is a procedural phenomenon, not a moral one. Imposing it in the absence of a more specific understanding of what it means is...

Published in 2007, by Austen Davis, ODI

Cooking up a storm: Food, greenhouse gas emissions and our changing climate

This report sets out what we know about the food system’s contribution to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Taking a life cycle perspective, it looks at how these emissions arise, both by life cycle stage (from plough to plate to bin) and by food type. It then explores the flip side of the coin: the global impact of a changing climate on how we grow,...

Published in 2008, by Tara Garnett

Deepening the dialogue: Agriculture and Nutrition collaboration to Enhance Global Food Security

This document summarizes discussions held during a highly participatory event that was aimed at enhancing collaboration among people working in the agriculture and nutrition sectors.

Published in 2010, by AED, FAO

Demographics and Climate Change: Future Trends And their Policy Implications for Migration

This working paper seeks to explore the potential impact of future demographic and climate change on migration patterns in developing countries, in order to identify policy implications for international development and evidence gaps that could be plugged with appropriate new research.

Published in 2008, by Richard Black, Dominic Kniveton, Ronald Skeldon, Daniel Coppard, Akira Murata, Kerstin Schmidt-Verkerk

Economic Growth, Equity and Nutritional Improvement in Indonesia

A country case study supported by UNICEF for the XV congress of the International Union of Nutritional Sciences, September 26 to October 1, 1993, Adelaide.

Published in 1992, by UN Standing Committee on Nutrition

EFSA Distance Learning material

Two versions are available; one for experienced practitioners and the other for relative novices. The training package is an interactive package with many exercises and case studies to work through. Suitable for field staff

Published in 2007, by WFP

Emergency Food Security Assessment Handbook, Second Edition

This Handbook is intended for use when an Emergency Food Security Assessment (EFSA) is conducted in emergency situations or protracted crises, whether due to sudden natural disasters, disease, economic collapses or conflicts. An EFSA covers the geographic areas affected and determines the impact on households and their livelihoods.

Published in 2009, by WFP

Environmental Emergencies. Learning from multilateral response to disasters

This publication, which highlights success stories and lessons learned, is aimed at a wide audience. The intent is to further raise awareness of the devastation that an environmental emergency can cause, and to promote advocacy and action in response. It also aims to highlight the strong need to integrate humanitarian and environmental action.

Published in 2010, by UNEP

Environmental health in emergencies and disasters

This practical guide deals not only with emergency response, but also with measures designed to reduce the impact of disasters on environmental health infrastructure, such as water supply and sanitation facilities. It also aims to strengthen the ability of people to withstand the disruption of their accustomed infrastructure and systems for environmental...

Published in 2002, by IFRC, ISDR, UNHCR, WHO

Estudo de Caso Sobre a Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional no Processo de Desenvolvimento de Moçambique

Neste exercício, a SAN é o ponto de partida de analise no processo de implementação das MDM dos diferentes sectores de desenvolvimento sócio - económico. O DHAA é usado como um instrumento de visualização e análise dos programas de SAN em relação às seguintes considerações respeitar, proteger, realizar e garantir que constituem os componentes primordiais.

Published in 2005, by UN Standing Committee on Nutrition

FAO Food Security Information for Action Distance Learning Material

DISTANCE LEARNING materials designed for self-paced e-learning, developed by international experts to support capacity building and on-the-job Training and Workshops at national and local food security information systems and networks. Free of charge registration provides access to the materials.

Published in 2007, by FAO

Food and Nutrition Handbook

This handbook is aimed at WFP staff at all levels who are involved with the delivery of food assistance to WFP beneficiaries. It should serve as both a reference and training manual, providing the staff with - better understanding of food an nutrition issues as they relate to WFP - a practical tool to tackle a number of basic nutrition related tasks,...

Published in 2005, by WFP

Food Assistance Programming in the Context of HIV

Food Assistance Programming in the Context of HIV, a joint publication by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the FANTA Project, is a guide developed to improve the design and implementation of food security programs that respond to HIV-related challenges as well as HIV programs that utilize food and food-related activities to achieve HIV-related outcomes.

Published in 2007, by USAID, AED, WFP

Food Security and Climate Change: The Answer is Biodiversity

Climate change will profoundly affect agriculture worldwide.Food security in many countries is under threat from unpredictable changes in rainfall and more frequent extremeweather. Farmers in poorer countries with harsh climateconditions will likely be most affected. A review of recent scientific literature underlines that the most effective strategy to...

Published in 2008, by Janet Cotter, Reyes Tirado

Food security and livelihood assessments

This book is intended to provide practical guidance to ACF field workers on how to implement a Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL) assessment.

Published in 2010, by ACF

Food security assessments in emergencies: A livelihoods Approach

Framework and concepts for food security assessment based on livelihoods approach. Detailed case studies of implementation. For managers and field staff.

Published in 2000, by Helen Young, Susanne Jaspars, Rebecca Brown, Jackie Frize, Hisham Khogali

Food Security Information Systems and Networks

E-learning course designed as a distance learning course to support capacity building and training for national local nutrition and food security information systems and network. This course introduces and provides guidance in assessing different kinds of information systems related to food security analysis.

Published in 2007, by EC/FAO

Gender and Climate Change: Women as agents of change

Climate change briefing

Published in 2007, by IUCN

Gender, Climate Change and Human Security: Lessons from Bangladesh, Ghana and Senegal

This report presents a gendered analysis of how climate change impacts on human security. It also assesses whether adequate scope exists for women to participate in improved human security in a scenario of changing climate. Based on this analysis, recommendations are given for enhancing the integration of a gender perspective in climate change and human...

Published in 2008, by WEDO

Gender: The missing component of the response to climate change

This report analyses the gender dimension of climate change and the policies enacted to mitigate and adapt to its impacts with the aim of developing gender sensitive approaches with regards to mitigation measures, adaptation projects and national regimes. The framework of the study is represented, on the one hand, by the scientific assessment of climate...

Published in 2006, by FAO

Global Climate Change: Can Agriculture Cope?

Briefing Dossier

Published in 2010, by Isobel Birch, Richard Grahn

Global Climate Change: implications to international public health policy

Since 1990, WHO has published a series of reports on climate change and has participated in review processes such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. These activities have outlined key characteristics of the health risks generated by a warming and a more variable climate. However many of the projected impacts on health are avoidable, through a...

Published in 2007, by Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum, Carlos Corvalán, Maria Neira

Global Health Risks: Mortality and burden of disease attributable to selected major risks

This World Health Organization report states that the leading global risks for mortality in the world are high blood pressure (responsible for 13% of deaths globally), tobacco use (9%), high blood glu­cose (6%), physical inactivity (6%), and overweight and obesity (5%). These risks are responsible for raising the risk of chronic diseases such as heart...

Published in 2009, by WHO

Guidelines for cash transfer programming

Chapters on assessment, decision making, planning activities and resources, targeting and registration, distribution and delivery and monitoring and evaluation. For managers and field workers

Published in 2010, by ICRC, IFRC

Halving Hunger: Meeting the first Millenium Development Goal through business as unusual

IFPRI Director General Shenggen Fan presents a report that challenges the way we address the hunger problem in the world. The report argues that new innovative approaches are needed to meet the first MDG of halving the hungry in the world by 2015. These approaches involve 1.Investing in two core pillars: Agriculture and social protection 2.Bring in new...

Published in 2010, by Shenggen Fan

Handbook for defining and setting up a food security information and early warning system

This handbook describes the Food Security and Early Warning Information System (FSIEWS) method, seeking to enhance the ability of governmental and non-governmental actors to know who, where and why people are affected or threatened by food insecurity. The handbook is addressed to national technical managers, central and decentralized, as well as to their...

Published in 2001, by FAO

Household food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) for Measurement of Food Access Indicators Guide

GUIDELINES outlining Household Food Insecurity Access Scale as a method for assessing food insecurity by looking at food access. This method is an adaptation of an approach used in the USA. The guidelines include the questionnaire and guidance for interviewers as well as details of how to score the results. These guidelines have been designed for those...

Published in 2006, by FANTA

Househols Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) for Measurement of Household Food Access

This guide provides guidance on the specific data collection needs for the Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) indicator. It assumes that these questions will be part of a population-based survey instrument and will be applied to all the households in the sample. The HDDS is used as a proxy measure of the socio-economic level of the household.

Published in 2006, by FANTA

How to Conduct a Food Security Assessment: A Step-by-Step Guide for National Societies in Africa

This guide should be used as a practical tool to undertake an initial food security assessment. It goes through the different stages of a food security assessment, and provides techniques and examples of how to perform a food security assessment. The guide can be used both in rural or urban settings.

Published in 2006, by IFRC

Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response

A handbook and set of training materials which is an output of the Sphere Project, (an inter-agency project) with the aim of improving quality and accountability of humanitarian assistance. It contains the Humanitarian charter, and 5 technical chapters – each with standards, indicators and guidance notes.

Published in 2011, by The Sphere Project

Integrating nutrition and food assistance into HIV care and treatment programmes - DRAFT

This operational guidance manual outlines the potential benefits and challenges of incorporating food and nutritional support into anti-retroviral treatment programmes. The purpose is to assist national governments with the planning and implementation of food assistance programmes and to guide national bodies, implementing NGOs as well as WHO and WFP country staff.

Published in 2008, by WHO, WFP

Joint Assessment Guidelines (with tools and resources)

Manual and training guide to food security and nutrition assessment.

Published in 2004, by UNHCR, WFP

Learning from cash responses to the tsunami. Case studies

These case studies form part of a project to document learning around cash based responses to the Indian Ocean tsunami. For managers and field workers.

Published in 2006, by Lesley Adams, Retno Winahyu

Legacy of disasters: The impact of climate change on children

The evidence is clear: global warming is a fact, and it will have a dramatic impact on humankind. The likely effects of this warming – increasingly frequent and severe natural disasters, temperature extremes, a global rise in the sea levels – will be unevenly felt and will hit children in developing countries hardest of all. Yet despite political...

Published in 2007, by Save the Children

Livelihoods Assessments and Analysis

E-learning course designed as a distance learning course to support capacity building and training for national local nutrition and food security information systems and networkThis course introduces the concept of livelihoods and the components of the livelihoods framework. It also provides guidance on assessing livelihoods in different food security...

Published in 2007, by EC/FAO

Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards

Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards (LEGS) are a set of international guidelines and standards for the design, implementation and assessment of livestock interventions to assist people affected by humanitarian crisis. They are based on livelihood objectives that aim to provide rapid assistance to protect and rebuild the livestock assest of...

Published in 2009, by Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards Project

Markets and emergency needs assessments. Cairo workshop

Proceedings of workshop for managers and field staff

Published in 2006, by Alexis Hoskins

Micro-level Practices to Adapt to Climate Change for African Small-scale Farmers

This paper discusses micro-level practices for adapting to climate change that are available to small-scale farmers in Africa. The analysis is based on a review of 17 studies about practices that boost small-scale farmers’ resilience or reduce their vulnerability to observed or expected changes in climate; it includes data from more than 16 countries in...

Published in 2010, by Till Below, Astrid Artner, Rosemarie Siebert, Stefan Sieber

NIPHORN report

Nutrition Information Project for the Horn of Africa, Report of Regional Technical Working Group Meetings.

Published in 2007, by UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office, Tulane University

Nutrition guidelines for care and support of people living with HIV/AIDS. Zambia

The guidelines are given in 11 chapters. Chapters 2 and 3 give information on basic nutrition for an active and healthy life, and technical information that link nutrition and HIV. Chapters 4 to 9 give advise on the diet, treatment and hermal remedies, positive living and other types of care. Nutritional counselling and education, monitoring and evaluation...

Published in 2004, by Zambia, National Food and Nutrition Commission

Nutrition in India

The report is divided into two parts. The first part comprises a detailed national nutrition situation analysis, with data as far as possible disaggregated by state. It includes data on nutrition and mortality outcome vis−a−vis age, sex and socioeconomic status. Changing trends in food consumption and nutritional status of children and adults are...

Published in 1992, by UN Standing Committee on Nutrition

Nutrition-Relevant Actions in Tanzania

This Tanzanian case study provides an example of how a poor country can combat malnutrition through political commitment and choice. It gives hope that while socio−economic development is important to achieve the nutrition goals of the 1990’s, much progress can be made without waiting for the trickle down effects of economic development.

Published in 1993, by UN Standing Committee on Nutrition

Nutrition-Relevant Actions in Zimbabwe

This review of the nutrition situation in Zimbabwe over the years since independence in 1980 will consider both nutrition−related problems and actions.

Published in 1992, by UN Standing Committee on Nutrition

Protecting Health from Climate Change: Connecting Science Policy and People

A new report from WHO presents an overview of the science of the links between climate change and human health. It provides an update of the evidence on health risks caused by climate change, describes which populations are most vulnerable, and outlines the actions that will be necessary to protect health from climate change.

Published in 2009, by WHO

Public Health Guide for Emergencies

Building emergency relief skills requires not only technical health training but also education in emergency preparedness and response. This guide is designed to serve as a reference for such training.

Published in 2008, by John Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health , IFRC

Reporting Food Security Information

E-learning course designed as a distance learning course to support capacity building and training for national local nutrition and food security information systems and network. The four lessons provide guidance in designing, writing and increasing the impact of food security reports in different contexts.

Published in 2007, by FAO/EC

Review of Trends, Policies and Programmes Affecting Nutrition and Health in Egypt (1970-1990)

The main objective of this report is to review the different policies, as well as programs affecting health and nutrition status of Egyptians over the period 1970−1990. The study will attempt to outline and examine Critically the major trends in the health and nutrition status of the Egyptians in the light of: − the Egyptian socio−economic setting; ...

Published in 1992, by UN Standing Committee on Nutrition

SCN News No 38: Climate Change: food and nutrition security implications

This edition of the SCN News is rightfully dedicated to climate change and its implications on food and nutrition. It is hoped to be thought provoking, showing you how climate change impacts on nutrition. The topic has been approached from very different angles: impacts on food security (in general, in the Asia-Pacific region and sub-Saharan Africa),...

Published in 2010, by SCN

Seed vouchers in emergency programming: Lessons from Ethiopia and Mozambique. Background paper

Case studies and lessons learned for field staff and programme managers

Published in 2006, by Catherine Longley

SENAC Brief: Why pay attention to markets?

Emergency Needs Assessments and the Impact of Food Aid on Local Markets. Briefing paper explaining importance of market analysis for programme managers

Published in 2006, by SENAC - Strengthening Emergency Needs Assessment Capacity

Stories from the Pacific: the gendered dimensions of disaster risk management and adaptation to climate change

This publication synthesises the issues and outcomes from the Forum on the Gendered Dimensions of Disaster Risk management and Adaptation to Climate Change, held at the forum’s interactive group discussions. It provides a starting point for further discussion and exchange on these important issues.

Published in 2009, by UNDP, AusAid

Sustainable livelihoods guidance sheets

As a whole, this set of Guidance Sheets attempts to summarise and share emerging thinking on the sustainable livelihoods approach. It does not offer definitive answers and guidelines. Instead, it is intended to stimulate readers to reflect on the approach and make their own contributions to its further development.

Published in 1999, by UK Department for International Development

The environmental food crisis – The environment’s role in averting future food crises

A new rapid response assessment report released by UNEP warns that up to 25% of the world's food production may become lost due to environmental breakdown by 2050 unless action is taken. The report provides the first summary by the UN of how climate change, water stress, invasive pests and land degradation may impact world food security, food prices and life...

Published in 2009, by Christian Nellemann, Monika MacDevette, Ton Manders, Bas Eickhout, Birger Svihus, Anne Gerdien Prins, Bjørn P. Kaltenborn

The practitioners Guide to the Household Economy Approach

A teaching manual describing the components of the Household Economy Approach and the practical techniques needed to use them.

Published in 2008, by SCUK

The state of Food Insecurity in the World 2010

Following more than a decade of seemingly inexorable increases in the number of undernourished people, estimates for 2010 presented in this edition of The State of Food Insecurity in the World show a glimmer of hope, with the first fall since 1995. But that still leaves nearly a billion people going hungry, and is it too early to know if this is the...

Published in 2010, by FAO, WFP

The state of the world population 2009

How do population dynamics affect greenhouse gases and climate change? Will urbanization and an ageing population help or hinder efforts to adapt to a warming world? And could better reproductive health care and improved relations between women and men make a difference in the fight against climate change? Find the answers in the State of World Population 2009.

Published in 2009, by UNFPA

The use of nutrition indicators in surveillance systems, Technical Paper No. 2

The aim of this paper is to improve understanding of the use of nutritional indicators in surveillance systems that feed into Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information Mapping Systems (FIVIMS) both at global and at national level1. The focus is on nutritional indicators (i.e. anthropometry and indicators of micronutrient status) rather than the total...

Published in 2001, by Jeremy Shoham, Fiona Watson, Carmel Dolan

Thematic Guidelines, Nutrition and Health; Guidelines for the use of Nutritional Information in VAM

Guidelines developed for VAM staff on how to collect and interpret nutrition information. Useful for staff unfamiliar with nutrition indicators and includes how to assess nutrition status and the importance of indicators in understanding the food security situation of a population, but does not describe in detail how to conduct a nutrition survey. Gives...

Published in 2006, by Eric Kenefick, WFP

Toolkit for addressing nutrition in emergency situations

The toolkit is intended as an easy-to-use field guide that outlines the key basic interventions for nutritional support to individuals and groups during an emergency situation. In most emergencies, we focus on two key aspects: risk assessment and risk management. This toolkit focuses on risk management. What it takes to ensure that emergency needs are met...

Published in 2008, by IASC