For Development Professionals:
Sector: Food Security
Photo: Thatcher Cook for Mercy Corps
It is estimated that more than 1 billion people live in hunger. That means one person in every seven is at risk from one of the most deadly and widespread health issues in the world today, malnutrition. UNICEF estimates 60 percent of child deaths in developing countries are from malnutrition, and those that survive hunger in the early stages of life are at risk from irreparable physical and mental health issues. While this level of health and hunger is severe, the food security sector offers an effective leverage point to alleviate this suffering: The UN claims there is enough food on the planet to provide the global population with a healthy and nutritious diet. Agriculture plays a crucial role in developing countries where the 450 million small farms – two hectares or less – are home to about 2 billion people, comprising roughly 46 percent of the global workforce. Improvements in health care, water and sanitation conditions and hygienic household practices can allow children to grow up well nourished and families to maintain good health and nutrition status. Mercy Corps believes that the human capital exists to eradicate chronic hunger and malnutrition. Our food security programs attempt to catalyze this potential in order to find viable long-term solutions to the availability, access and utilization of food resources.
In recognition that access to adequate food and nutritional sustenance is integral to the success of relief and development programming, Mercy Corps currently operates upwards of 40 food security development projects in over 20 countries, worth approximately $200 million. These projects work with communities and households to develop and implement sustainable approaches to meeting their own food needs and improve food availability, access and utilization, as well as the ability to withstand shocks.
To learn how we help people transition to a higher degree of food security , take a look at the following information:
Food Security Sector Approach ›
This document is a comprehensive explanation of our technical approach to this sector. It describes how, where and why the sector does its works. It gives the reader an in-depth view of why the sector is important to international relief and development while also providing a practical framework and theoretical approach to program development, implementation and monitoring and evaluation. This document is appropriate for a reader who wants a highly technical explanation of the sector with a page count of 5 or more.
Food Security Sector Overview ›
This document is a shorter and more simplified version of the Sector Approach. It gives an overview to the sector and why it is important to international relief and development work. It also explains how Mercy Corps structures and implements its sector programs. This document is appropriate for a reader who wants a medium level of technicality and a page count of 4 or below.
Food Security Sector Update Fiscal Year 2009 ›
This document offers a snapshot of the sector’s programming strategy, progress and future outlook current for the Fiscal Year 2009 (July 2008 to June 2009). It explains the strategic standing of the agency within the industry and global sector contexts, while using program highlights, successes, impact data and future program potential as evidence. This document is appropriate for a reader who is familiar with Mercy Corps’s sector approach and wants an up-to-date picture of the agency's accomplishments and current operations in this sector.
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Guidelines ›
These guidelines act to provide context, a toolbox and a how-to manual for Mercy Corps program managers looking to implement water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) projects or programs, regardless of previous experience.
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