Africa Food and Financial CrisisAfrica Food and Financial Crisis
Food for the Hungry’s ResponseFood for the Hungry’s Response
Food for the HungryFood for the Hungry236 Massachusetts Ave. NE236 Massachusetts Ave. NE
Washington, D.C. 20002Washington, D.C. 20002202-547-0560202-547-0560
Food for the Hungry (FH) is a Christian relief Food for the Hungry (FH) is a Christian relief and development organization that was and development organization that was founded in 1971.founded in 1971.
FH works alongside the poor who are FH works alongside the poor who are suffering from injustice and poverty to help suffering from injustice and poverty to help them reach their full, God-given potential. them reach their full, God-given potential.
Our work primarily focuses on facilitating Our work primarily focuses on facilitating sustainable development and providing sustainable development and providing emergency relief to those in need.emergency relief to those in need.
FH receives funding from USAID, the FH receives funding from USAID, the State Department, USDA, OFDA, State Department, USDA, OFDA, CIDA, UN-OCHA, private donors and CIDA, UN-OCHA, private donors and FH national offices. FH national offices.
FH has over twenty years of Title II FH has over twenty years of Title II program experience and currently program experience and currently implements Title II-funded food implements Title II-funded food security programs in four countries.security programs in four countries.
FundingFunding
Geographic LocationsGeographic Locations
Asia Asia Bangladesh, China, Bangladesh, China,
Cambodia, India, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, PhilippinesMyanmar, Philippines
Latin Am. & CaribbeanLatin Am. & Caribbean Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Dominican Republic,
Guatemala, Haiti, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Haiti, Nicaragua, PeruPeru
AfricaAfrica Burundi, DRC. Burundi, DRC.
Ethiopia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sudan, UgandaSudan, Uganda
Food CrisisFood Crisis If you were to discuss the If you were to discuss the
sudden advent of the food sudden advent of the food crisis with an African farmer crisis with an African farmer her response might be a her response might be a puzzled look,puzzled look,
Or the comment, “so what’s Or the comment, “so what’s new?” new?”
Unfortunately this situation is Unfortunately this situation is the status quo of the the status quo of the chronically food insecure in chronically food insecure in Africa.Africa.
Unless long term, sustainable Unless long term, sustainable action takes place the food action takes place the food crisis that many African crisis that many African families face will continue long families face will continue long after the media has forgotten after the media has forgotten “The Food Crisis”“The Food Crisis”
Food Security Food Security FH feels the best way out of the Food Crisis will FH feels the best way out of the Food Crisis will
be through long term development that results be through long term development that results in sustainable food security. in sustainable food security.
Food security depends on at least four major Food security depends on at least four major factorsfactors
1.1. Risk Reduction Risk Reduction 2.2. Availability of foodAvailability of food3.3. Access to foodAccess to food4.4. Proper Utilization of foodProper Utilization of food
There will be no quick fixes to food insecurity There will be no quick fixes to food insecurity and we need to address all these issues to deal and we need to address all these issues to deal with the current crisis.with the current crisis.
Disaster Risk ReductionDisaster Risk Reduction
Ethiopia: using the Productive Safety Ethiopia: using the Productive Safety Net to reduce risks associated with Net to reduce risks associated with soil degradation and loss of land soil degradation and loss of land through:through:• Gully reclamationGully reclamation• TerracingTerracing• Tree plantingTree planting
Kenya: Reducing conflict through Kenya: Reducing conflict through peace committeespeace committees
Short – Term Mitigation in northern KenyaShort – Term Mitigation in northern Kenya
The food crisis has severely affected HHs in The food crisis has severely affected HHs in northern Kenya. northern Kenya.
Even in good years, the pastoralists and agro-Even in good years, the pastoralists and agro-pastoralists of this region suffer from chronic food pastoralists of this region suffer from chronic food insecurity.insecurity.
The average pastoralist family funds the purchase The average pastoralist family funds the purchase of 65% of their food from the sale of their of 65% of their food from the sale of their livestock. livestock.
Because of growing food insecurity and drought a Because of growing food insecurity and drought a significant number of these pastoralists have significant number of these pastoralists have become destitute after losing most of their become destitute after losing most of their livestock. livestock.
They have left their traditional livelihood and are They have left their traditional livelihood and are referred to as ‘pastoral dropouts’.referred to as ‘pastoral dropouts’.
FH’s mitigation program in northern KenyaFH’s mitigation program in northern Kenya
The short term response to this situation includes cash The short term response to this situation includes cash for work for the most vulnerable. for work for the most vulnerable.
The goals of the cash for work program are: The goals of the cash for work program are: 1.1. short-term mitigation to address immediate food needs short-term mitigation to address immediate food needs
and protect lives and livelihoods and protect lives and livelihoods 2.2. Reduction of risk by creating and/or strengthening Reduction of risk by creating and/or strengthening
productive community assets that will benefit long term productive community assets that will benefit long term market development and linkages. market development and linkages.
3.3. Cash for work outcomes include market infrastructure Cash for work outcomes include market infrastructure development, improved access to water resources, development, improved access to water resources, increased fodder availability, and improved natural increased fodder availability, and improved natural resource management. resource management.
ChallengesChallenges Many have “written-off” the pastorialist livelihood Many have “written-off” the pastorialist livelihood
in northern Kenya as unsustainable.in northern Kenya as unsustainable. However recently a major change in thinking has However recently a major change in thinking has
occurred and the GoK and others are renewing occurred and the GoK and others are renewing their commitment to supporting the pastorialist’s their commitment to supporting the pastorialist’s way of life.way of life.
Long-term solutions are needed but will be Long-term solutions are needed but will be difficult to bring about.difficult to bring about.
FH is working with pastorialist communities to FH is working with pastorialist communities to promote market development and animal promote market development and animal production through sustainable NRM.production through sustainable NRM.
Improved Access and Improved Access and Availability Availability
Northern EthiopiaNorthern Ethiopia
The vast majority The vast majority of households in of households in northern Ethiopia northern Ethiopia rely on farming for rely on farming for their livelihoods. their livelihoods.
Crop productivity is Crop productivity is declining due to declining due to soil erosion, over soil erosion, over use of the land and use of the land and soil infertility.soil infertility.
Climatic ChangeClimatic Change
Rainfall patterns are Rainfall patterns are becoming less and becoming less and less reliable. Neither less reliable. Neither the start of the rains the start of the rains nor their length can be nor their length can be predicted. predicted.
Consequently, long Consequently, long season highland crops season highland crops such as wheat and such as wheat and barley are becoming barley are becoming more risky to plant.more risky to plant.
Potatoes – part of the solutionPotatoes – part of the solution
Farmers are turning to Farmers are turning to another traditional crop, the another traditional crop, the potatopotato
Potatoes mature faster than Potatoes mature faster than cereal crops and therefore cereal crops and therefore can avoid problems can avoid problems associated with the associated with the changing rainfall patterns. changing rainfall patterns.
However traditional potato However traditional potato varieties are low yielding varieties are low yielding and are not resistant to the and are not resistant to the
late blightlate blight..
Cooperating with local research centersCooperating with local research centers
FH is working closely FH is working closely with Ethiopian with Ethiopian research institutions research institutions to promote high to promote high yielding varieties of yielding varieties of potatoes. potatoes.
These varieties are These varieties are resistant to late blight resistant to late blight and yield up to 3 and yield up to 3 times more than times more than traditional varieties. traditional varieties.
Local SuccessLocal Success
Last year, approximately 105 Last year, approximately 105 tons of these improved tons of these improved potatoes where produced by potatoes where produced by local farmers and were sold local farmers and were sold and distributed in the local and distributed in the local community. community.
They continue to be multiplied They continue to be multiplied throughout the area and are throughout the area and are greatly increasing local potato greatly increasing local potato production.production.
This production is being used This production is being used locally to improve diets and locally to improve diets and the potatoes are also being the potatoes are also being sold in local markets to sold in local markets to generate income.generate income.
ChallengesChallenges
Value chains that reach beyond the local Value chains that reach beyond the local community need to be strengthen and developed community need to be strengthen and developed for these improved potato varieties. for these improved potato varieties.
Limited availability of the certified potato seeds is Limited availability of the certified potato seeds is restricting the proper functioning of the value restricting the proper functioning of the value chain.chain.
FH is working with the MoA, research centers, FH is working with the MoA, research centers, local farmers and wholesalers to produce and local farmers and wholesalers to produce and market larger quantities of these varieties. market larger quantities of these varieties.
More work needs to be done to make the value More work needs to be done to make the value chain a “well oiled machine”.chain a “well oiled machine”.
Challenges, continued…Challenges, continued… Connecting the isolated Connecting the isolated
rural markets to markets rural markets to markets with greater opportunities with greater opportunities is difficult due to poor is difficult due to poor roads and access.roads and access.
Local research capacity Local research capacity seems adequate and seems adequate and excellent varieties are excellent varieties are being generated. being generated.
However, the MoA’s However, the MoA’s extension system is under extension system is under funded and ineffective.funded and ineffective.
Improved Food Utilization Improved Food Utilization through Behaviour Changethrough Behaviour Change
- using available food and - using available food and resources more effectivelyresources more effectively
FH uses Formative Research to design FH uses Formative Research to design Behavior Change programsBehavior Change programs
Food utilization can be greatly improved with Food utilization can be greatly improved with a few simple but a few simple but key behavior changeskey behavior changes..
FH conducts local – formative research to FH conducts local – formative research to determine which key behaviors need to determine which key behaviors need to change and therefore should be promoted.change and therefore should be promoted.
The research also determines The research also determines what barrierswhat barriers keep people from adapting these key keep people from adapting these key behaviors.behaviors.
We then design our program to promote We then design our program to promote these key behaviors and address the barriers these key behaviors and address the barriers to behavior change.to behavior change.
Some Common Nutrition and Hygiene Behaviors that Some Common Nutrition and Hygiene Behaviors that improve food security, utilization & reduce malnutrition improve food security, utilization & reduce malnutrition
Mothers washing their hands with soap at Mothers washing their hands with soap at appropriate times.appropriate times.
Giving all children ORS when they have Giving all children ORS when they have diarrhea.diarrhea.
Women breastfeeding their newborns Women breastfeeding their newborns within one hour of birth and exclusively within one hour of birth and exclusively breastfeeding them for 6 months after breastfeeding them for 6 months after birth.birth.
Families providing the right foods to Families providing the right foods to children when they turn 6 months old.children when they turn 6 months old.
Promoter #7
Promoter #3
Promoter #11
Promtor #5
Promoter #6
Promoter #9
Promoter #10
Promoter #14
10 Leader Mothers
10 Leader Mothers
10 Leader Mothers
10 Leader Mothers
10 Leader Mothers
10 Leader Mothers
10 Leader Mothers
10 Leader Mothers
10 Leader Mothers
10 Leader Mothers
10 families
10 families
10 families
10 families
10 families
10 families
10 families
10 families
Promoter #2
Promoter #4
Promoter #13Promoter #15
Promtor #1
Promoter #12
Promoter #8
About 15 Promoters in Each District
Each Leader Mother serves 10 mothers and their families
Each Promoter serves 10 groups of 10 Leader Mothers (totaling 100 Leader Mothers)
10 families
10 families
Key Behaviors are then promoted through Key Behaviors are then promoted through Care GroupsCare Groups
What happens during What happens during Care Group meetings?Care Group meetings?
Social networks are formed to Social networks are formed to support behavior change.support behavior change.
Members report illnesses and Members report illnesses and discuss how to deal with them.discuss how to deal with them.
Members report on their Members report on their progress in health promotion progress in health promotion & troubleshoot& troubleshoot
The week’s hygiene and The week’s hygiene and nutrition messages are nutrition messages are presented by posters, songs, presented by posters, songs, dramas, or games.dramas, or games.
Care Group – Behavior Change Communication Results Care Group – Behavior Change Communication Results
Fewer Malnourished Children (Decreased by Fewer Malnourished Children (Decreased by 42%42% in 2.5 in 2.5 years)years)
40.4
15.6
Challenges with the programChallenges with the program
The Promoter is very important to the The Promoter is very important to the program. There may be a lack of community-program. There may be a lack of community-level MOH staff to assume role of Promoter at level MOH staff to assume role of Promoter at end of project. end of project.
(However, we have found that many Leader (However, we have found that many Leader Mothers still do HH outreach after phase-out).Mothers still do HH outreach after phase-out).
The program requires a commitment to The program requires a commitment to gathering and using formative research data.gathering and using formative research data.
The program requires a mindset shift from The program requires a mindset shift from “education” to promoting behavior change.“education” to promoting behavior change.
Summary of FH actionsSummary of FH actions
Short-term mitigationShort-term mitigation We address emergency We address emergency food accessfood access needs needs
through cash for work and food for work activities through cash for work and food for work activities
Medium and long term activitiesMedium and long term activities We address We address riskrisk through Disaster Risk Reduction through Disaster Risk Reduction
activities such as safety nets.activities such as safety nets. We promote Improved We promote Improved utilization, availability and utilization, availability and
accessaccess through sustainable change. through sustainable change. We target root causes to avoid future crises (or at We target root causes to avoid future crises (or at
least reduce the severity/frequency)least reduce the severity/frequency)
Thank you
