At a glance
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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 programmes 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 £120 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:
Nepal April 27, 2011 12:07PM
Global Food Crisis Response - Far-Western Nepal
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The Global Food Crisis Response (GFCR) project in Western Nepal began in September 2008 and continued through February 2011. The project took a multi-pronged approach to alleviating the strain put on households by the increase in global food prices.
The overall goal of GFCR Nepal was to improve immediate and medium-term food security, while laying the groundwork for long-term solutions. To attain this goal, Mercy Corps Nepal implemented both short-term interventions (Cash for Work) and longer-term interventions (Agricultural Value Chain Enhancement, Access to Credit) to lay the groundwork for more sustainable resilience.
Tajikistan December 14, 2010 11:19AM
Thirsty for Knowledge
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Women living in the remote mountainous region of Tajikistan known as the Rasht Valley benefited in many ways from participating in the 2005-2009 Development Assistance Program (DAP) funded by USAID. The program was intended to combat food insecurity and vulnerability through educational workshops and food distribution. As this study documents, this program also facilitated women's empowerment and growth in social capital.
May 27, 2010 3:45PM
Programme de Réponse à la Crise Alimentaire Mondiale
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Le but global du programme de Réponse à la Crise Alimentaire Mondiale (RCAM) était l’amélioration immédiate et à moyen terme de la sécurité alimentaire, tout en établissant les bases pour des solutions à long terme dans les communautés vulnérables autour du globe.
May 27, 2010 3:31PM
The Global Food Crisis Response Programme
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The overall goal of the Global Food Crisis Response (GFCR) programme was to improve immediate and medium-term food security, while laying the groundwork for long-term solutions in vulnerable communities worldwide.
September 15, 2009 1:02PM
Food Security Sector Approach
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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 programme 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.
September 15, 2009 12:58PM
Food Security Sector Overview
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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.
September 15, 2009 12:57PM
Food Security Sector Update Fiscal Year 2009
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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.
August 4, 2009 3:32PM
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Guidelines
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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.
April 29, 2009 3:54PM
Thirsty for Knowledge
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Back in 2005, Mercy Corps began an effort to reduce malnutrition and food insecurity for families in rural Tajikistan. The Development Assistance Programme provided mother and child health counselling and aid to increase agriculture production, processing and marketing. It covered nearly 100 villages in the isolated Rasht valley.
When it ended, families involved in the programme reported cleaner and healthier households, a greater understanding of health issues and the availability of more varieties of food.
One unexpected benefit was that women said they felt more freedom to leave the home, communicated and exchanged more information with other female villagers, and enjoyed more influence and respect within their own family.
This field study explores these unanticipated impacts and changes in women's empowerment as a result of the programme in hopes of providing a framework for similar programmes in other countries.
