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This note focuses on the topic of nutrition in protracted crises. While malnutrition is one of the biggest challenges to development and human well-being in many countries, rates of malnutrition, especially stunting, are significantly higher in countries in the throes of protracted crises. Malnutrition and crises go hand in hand: malnutrition both impacts on and is affected by crises. Protracted Crises impact negatively on people’s lives and livelihoods and the factors responsible for malnutrition: food insecurity, inappropriate care and feeding practices, poor health environment.

Nutrition needs to be integrated in resilience-building programmes to support a people-centred approach and build a bridge between short-term crisis management and longer-term development. Malnutrition cannot be tackled by one sector alone and needs multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder solutions. Synergies can be promoted between partners and coordination mechanisms working on food security, nutrition and resilience for an integrated food security and nutrition response. The aim of this paper is to illustrate – including through case studies - how FAO’s work in nutrition plays a prominent role to support the CFS Framework for Action for Food Security and Nutrition in Protracted Crisis situations.