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Publications
Pathways to self-reliance for refugees and host communities in Northern Uganda
03/2019
Uganda is one of the largest refugee hosting countries in Africa, with more than 1.1 million refugees. The Uganda Refugee Policy (2006) and the Refugee Regulations (2010) grant refugees wide-ranging rights hinged on a strategy of allocating refugees land, freedom of movement and the right to seek employment.
Early action against dzud safeguards herders’ livelihoods in Mongolia
11/2018
This policy brief analyses the outcomes of targeted early actions in Mongolia during the winter of 2017 to 2018, triggered by warnings that extreme weather posed a major risk to vulnerable livestock herders. It evaluates their effectiveness and quantifies the benefits of acting early.
Using seasonal forecasts to support farmer adaptation to climate risks
11/2018
The brief uses a unique set of data from Zambia collected from smallholders before and after the 2015/2016 ENSO event, which was widely anticipated by regional and global forecast services to contribute to dry conditions in southern Zambia and an overall shorter growing season.
Policy priorities relating to rural migration depend on country contexts
10/2018
Many different policies affect rural migration through their impacts on agriculture, rural development, food insecurity and poverty. As countries at different levels of development face different challenges and policy priorities (as shown in the typology based on rural migration drivers), the migration context matters for related policy formulation and implementation.
Demystifying the link between migration and development informs policy
10/2018
Contrary to popular belief, development is more likely to increase rather than reduce emigration from countries at lower levels of income. The notion that better economic opportunities at home will reduce the incentive to migrate ignores what happens when development actually occurs: aspirations change, education levels improve, and financial constraints to migration become less binding.
Achieving positive rural migration outcomes in rural areas
10/2018
Migration from rural areas is significant, and policy-makers must seek to maximize its positive impacts on development. The movement of people out of agriculture and into other sectors with higher...
Mitigating persistent welfare losses due to weather shocks: The case of livestock herders in Kyrgyzstan
10/2018
Kyrgyzstan experienced an extremely cold winter in 2012, with heavy snowfall followed by a significant spring run-off. This harsh winter led to considerable livestock mortality and price rises for animal products, with a substantial impact on the welfare of livestock herding households.
Building resilience of livelihoods in Karamoja, Uganda
07/2018
The Karamoja region, in North East Uganda, is one of the least developed regions of the country, and is highly vulnerable to resource-based conflict and climate change variability.
Crop diversification increases productivity and stabilizes income of smallholders
04/2018
In sub-Saharan Africa, crop diversification features prominently in many countries’ climate change adaptation strategies. This policy brief focuses on the determinants of adoption and on the impact of seven cropping systems in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia.
Establishing effective partnerships with the private sector for agribusiness development
03/2018
Against a background of limited government resources, public–private partnerships are increasingly being promoted as a mechanism for pooling financing, increasing efficiency and mitigating some of the risks of doing business in the agrifood sector.
The challenge of employment in the 21st century: creating jobs in the food system
02/2018
Agriculture remains the single most important employer in many developing country, as there are about 200 million unemployed nowadays and many more underemployed.
Strong rural–urban linkages are essential for poverty reduction
10/2017
By 2050, two-thirds of the world’s population will live in urban areas. Should we thus be more concerned with urban development? On the contrary, we should still focus on rural...
How to meet the needs of an evolving food system
10/2017
Rapidly changing food systems are creating both challenges and opportunities. As urban food markets have grown in recent decades, so too have rural–urban food supply chains. The growing urban demand has the potential to be a major force towards poverty reduction and inclusive rural development.
Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals requires investing in rural areas
10/2017
Rural-based economic activity can be just as effective for poverty reduction as that of urban sectors. Since the 1990s, rural transformation has lifted nearly as many people out of poverty as urban development.
Is crop diversification a panacea for climate resilience in Africa?
09/2017
Crop diversification is often promoted as a strategy to achieve climate resilience. However, the benefits to crop diversification may vary depending on household resource endowments.
Leveraging institutional food procurement for rural transformation
06/2017
The brief contains recommendations and a framework for developing an Institutional Food Procurement Programme (IFPP) based on lessons from ten case study appraisals of WFP's purchase for progress initiative and Brazil's national food procurement programmes.