Enhancing Resilience to Food Security Shocks in Africa

Presented by: Tim Frankenberger, President, TANGO International

In recent decades, the Horn of Africa has faced continuous cycles of crisis. These are the result of complex interactions between political, economic, social and environmental factors.  In spite of efforts to respond to these interactions, the most recent drought crisis in 2011 coupled with conflict and chronic poverty in the region is estimated to have threatened the lives of thirteen million people. The collective response to the drought crisis, conflict and the food security emergency that resulted has exposed the shortcomings of international aid practices and national/regional policies. This presentation examined the key issues to building household and community resilience in the region and highlight several of the policy and implementation issues that must be addressed in order to enhance resilience to future food security shocks. A framing presentation will provide a conceptual framework for resilience, discuss key characteristics and principles of resilience programming, and identify promising practices for building resilience within the context of drought and chronic food insecurity.