Food security in complex emergencies: enhancing food system resilience

Area of Science:

• Food Security Studies
• Crisis Management
• Development Policy

Background:

• Food security is significantly impacted by various crises, necessitating adaptive management strategies.
• Protracted crises present unique challenges to food systems, including institutional disruption and declining donor support.
• Understanding these dynamics is crucial for effective policy development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the complex relationship between food security and crisis.
• To identify policy and institutional conditions for managing food security during crises and rebuilding resilience.
• To propose actionable strategies for fragile countries facing protracted crises.

Main Methods:

• Review of country experiences over the past decade in protracted crisis settings.
• Assessment of alternative approaches for addressing institutional disruptions and donor support.
• Analysis of policy options for short- and longer-term responses.

Main Results:

• The study highlights the need for integrated policies that address immediate needs and long-term development.
• A Twin Track Approach is proposed, combining hunger relief with sustainable growth.
• Effective management requires adapting to disrupted institutional mechanisms and evolving donor landscapes.

Conclusions:

• Enhancing food security resilience in protracted crises demands a dual focus on immediate relief and sustainable growth.
• The Twin Track Approach offers a framework for policy interventions.
• National and international policies must be informed by lessons learned from past crises to ensure food availability, access, and stability.