Food Security in Protracted Crises: Building More Effective Policy Frameworks

Abstract

This paper considers the principal elements that underpin policy frameworks for supporting food security in protracted crisis contexts. It argues that maintaining the food entitlements of crisis-affected populations must extend beyond interventions to ensure immediate human survival. A 'policy gap' exists in that capacities for formulating policy responses to tackle the different dimensions of food insecurity in complex, fluid crisis situations tend to be weak. As a result, standardised, short-term intervention designs are created that fall short of meeting the priority needs of affected populations in the short and long term and only partially exploit the range of policy options available. The paper discusses key attributes of agency frameworks that could support more effective policy processes to address longer term as well as immediate food security needs. Additionally, it points to some main challenges likely to be encountered in developing such frameworks and, with the participation of beneficiaries, translating them into effective action.

The social context of childcare practices and child malnutrition in Niger's recent food crisis

“…In particular, we have argued that understanding and addressing the wider social, cultural and economic factors that underpin household coping and childcare strategies will be crucial. Tensions between short-and longer-term interventions mean that this is not always easy to achieve in practice (Flores et al, 2005;Gross and Webb, 2006). However, adequate prevention activities in the broadest sense must also be implemented alongside the treatment programmes, and both should be gradually mainstreamed into health services and livelihoods programmes.…”

Revisión de enfoques de políticas alimentarias: entre la seguridad y la soberanía alimentaria (2000-2013)

“…De otro lado, Flores et al 22 exploran la seguridad alimentaria en contextos de crisis prolongadas, proponiendo marcos de política más eficaces. Según su estudio, mientras las crisis prolongadas amenazan el acceso de las personas a alimentos suficientes, el compromiso internacional para reforzar la seguridad alimentaria en esos contextos se ha caracterizado por un fracaso de la formulación de políticas de respuesta, acorde con las cambiantes condiciones económicas, sociales y políticas 22 .…”

“…Según su estudio, mientras las crisis prolongadas amenazan el acceso de las personas a alimentos suficientes, el compromiso internacional para reforzar la seguridad alimentaria en esos contextos se ha caracterizado por un fracaso de la formulación de políticas de respuesta, acorde con las cambiantes condiciones económicas, sociales y políticas 22 . Sus reflexiones señalan la existencia de una brecha en la política de seguridad alimentaria y la falta de un acuerdo sobre los principios y los enfoques para llevarla a la práctica.…”

Economic Survival Strategies and Food Insecurity

“…Flores, Khwaja and White (2005), who focused on "sudden-onset food crises" associated with natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods, highlight the capacity of local and national infrastructures to meet the basic needs of affected citizens during such crises. "G iven the episodic nature of the shock, national governments and civil society often have significant capacity to mobilize resources and to respond to basic demands for food, water and shelter" (p. 37).…”