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The 2017 Near East and North Africa (NENA) edition of the Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition comes under the theme of “building resilience for food security and nutrition in times of conflict and crisis”. The report establishes a baseline against which to measure future progress towards achieving SDG 2 on ending hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in NENA by monitoring the latest indicators for the SDG targets on hunger and food insecurity (SDG Target 2.1) and malnutrition (SDG Target 2.2). Beyond numbers, the report focuses on the fundamental factors that have driven improvements in food security and malnutrition: poverty reduction, [...]

It is generally assumed that there are strong links between conflict, food security and peace. However, the precise underlying causes and channels that determine these links are often not well understood. More research and data are required to generate the evidence base that helps guide both national and international responses. The present study aims to add to this knowledge. It comes at a time of enhanced risk of famine and severe food crisis in several parts of the world, with conflict as the common denominator. It also comes at a time when the total number of hungry people in the [...]

Together with its partners, FAO works to increase the resilience of agricultural livelihoods at risk of disasters and crises. People with resilient livelihoods are better able to withstand damage, recover and adapt when disasters cannot be avoided. The increasing frequency and intensity of disasters caused by climate change reinforces the urgency to build the resilience of agricultural livelihoods of vulnerable communities. 

This note provides technical and operational guidance to stakeholders of the agriculture, food security and nutrition sector intervening in protracted crises, fragile and humanitarian contexts to ensure that children are not engaged in activities that could negatively affect their health, development or education, and are not employed in hazardous working conditions. It presents the basis to understand that agriculture, food security and nutrition programming in the aftermath of a crisis have po tentially both positive and negative effects on children. It also provides recommendations and concrete examples to address situations of child labour in agriculture in these contexts.

The international community is committed to ending hunger and all forms of malnutrition worldwide by 2030. While much progress has been made, conflict and human-induced and natural disasters are causing setbacks. This year’s The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World warns that the long-term declining trend in undernourishment seems to have come to a halt and may have reversed, largely on account of the above-mentioned factors. Meanwhile, though progress continues to be made in reducing child malnutrition, rising overweight and obesity are a concern in most parts of the world. These and other findings are detailed in the 2017 edition of The State of [...]

The paper discusses the role that social protection can play in saving livelihoods while also enhancing the capacity of households to respond, cope and withstand threats and crises. The paper builds on FAO Social Protection Framework (FAO, 2017) and focuses on the role of social protection systems in humanitarian contexts, with a closer look at protracted crises and a discussion on the importance of shock-sensitive and responsive systems, even in stable contexts. The paper acknowledges that strengthening resilience at national and community levels requires a multisector approach, where risk-informed social protection interventions, including cash transfers, can become a critical component.The paper [...]

This brief will accompany a longer guidance, called "Protection from gender-based violence in food security and agriculture interventions: A guide for FAO and partner staff" to assist in advocacy and awareness-raising. Addressing GBV in FAO’s interventions is important not only because it hinders agriculture, food and nutrition security, but also given that all agencies of the United Nations have a shared responsibility to protect individuals from human rights violations such as GBV. The guidance note gives a definition of GBV and provides guidance for practical steps to take throughout the project cycle to better integrate GBV prevention and mitigation into food security [...]

The current Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa is unprecedented in scale and geographical spread. It has placed serious constraints on the agriculture sector and had a significant impact on food security, rural economies and livelihoods  in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The epidemic has reduced households’ ability to produce food in crisis-hit areas as fear of contagion, quarantines and restriction of people’s movements have prevented farmers from working in their fields. Restrictions on gatherings and movements of goods and people have indeed resulted in the disruptions of agricultural products’ market chains and trade, with a dramatic impact [...]

This note focuses on the topic of distress migration and youth in protracted crises, and the possible solutions from the JFFLS approach, using case studies of FAO interventions. Migration is a common phenomenon in protracted crises, mainly resulting from displacement due to conflict, natural disasters and /or the deterioration of livelihoods. The challenges posed by migration are many: a disruption of food and nutrition security, increasing competition among livelihood groups, ever greater numbers of displaced young people exposed to the threat of both violence and radicalization, plus harmful impact on livelihoods in the countries of origin. However, migration also presents [...]

FAO recognizes the potential of rural women and men in achieving food security and nutrition and is committed to overcoming gender inequality, in line with the pledge to “leave no one behind”, which is at the heart of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda. The publication illustrates the consistent and sustained work of FAO towards gender equality and women’s empowerment, which are at the core of the Organization’s work to eliminate hunger and rural poverty. Each chapter highlights the relevance of gender work to achieving the FAO Strategic Objectives, and describes main results achieved, showcasing activities implemented [...]