The Food Security and Nutrition Network resource library features practical implementation-focused guides, tools, and training materials in a number of relevant program areas. You can browse the library by topic or view the newest, highest rated, most downloaded or FSN Network recommended materials. If you know what you are looking for you can also search by author or title.
We welcome submissions of new resources from the community. Please remember we are looking for high-quality, published materials, that offer guidance for improved food security and nutrition implementation.
This tool is an introductory resource for staff of development and humanitarian organizations working with people whose lives and rights are threatened by disasters and climate change. It is aimed at program management, advisory and technical staff of development and humanitarian organizations, and seeks to strengthen staff understanding of the basic approaches and principles that can be applied to disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation initiatives. It also provides practical guidance on how to integrate disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation into the program cycle, different sectors and a range of contexts. This guide includes examples from practitioners’ experiences that illustrate good practice and learning, and suggests tools and resources that practitioners find useful.
The guide is a product of the Emergency Capacity Building (ECB) Project agencies, which include CARE International, Catholic Relief Services, Mercy Corps, Oxfam, Save the Children and World Vision International.
This report commissioned by World Vision and Save the Children calls for a radical rethinking of policies to address hunger in West Africa. The report aims to assess progress, lessons learned, and challenges in promoting resilience in the Sahel, with a particular focus on the well-being of children. The study demonstrates the need for a massive response by governments and partners in order to tackle child malnutrition – chronic and acute, together. It offers evidence-based recommendations for a comprehensive, child-focused approach to resilience in the Sahel.
This Guidebook has been written to provide assistance to staff in undertaking the Assessment and Design phase for the Initiative integrated cluster level programme. As explained further in this Guidebook, STF represents a new programming approach for World Vision in the scope and scale of its programme and projects.
This guidance note is for government and civil society organisations working on disaster risk reduction (DRR) initiatives at community level, in partnership with vulnerable communities. It shows what a ‘disaster-resilient community’ might consist of, by setting out the many different elements of resilience. It also provides some ideas about how to progress towards resilience.
Authors:
John Twigg
Organizational Authors:
DFID Disaster Risk Reduction Interagency Coordination Group
This report is a detailed analysis of changes in policies and programmes in the Sahel. It assesses to what extent lessons of the 2005 food crisis were put into place, or applied, during the crisis of 2010. Commissioned by the Sahel Working Group as a follow up to an earlier study “Beyond Any Drought”, the initial central question guiding this study was “what lessons have been learned since 2005 about what has to change in the Sahel, so that every drought does not result in a new humanitarian crisis?” Beyond Any Drought assessed the root causes of chronic vulnerability in the Sahel.
This paper begins by summarising some of the key debates around differing understandings and uses of the term resilience, and then focusing on socioecological resilience, uses an empirical case study of Bardia National Park in Nepal to demonstrate how a resilience approach can be a useful tool in understanding key interactions between social and ecological systems that impact on the management of protected areas.
This resilience framework looks at the root causes of household vulnerability instead of trying to predict how well households will cope with future crises or disasters. It also considers how household food security links to the entire food system.
Organizational Authors:
FAO: Food Security Information for Decision Making Concept Note
This paper assesses the possibility of adopting the resilience concept developed within the environmental context to the food security domain, and proposes a methodology for measuring household resilience to food insecurity as a solid basis for vulnerability analysis. Different authors define vulnerability in different ways, but all agree that it is a function of risks, hazards and one or more descriptors of resilience or its components. However, resilience has never been measured in such a context, and is a multidimensional concept, based on several pillars. This study aims to define a model that explains resilience, its pillars and its relations to food security.
Authors:
L. Alinovi
E. Mane
D. Romano
Organizational Authors:
FAO Agricultural Development Economics Division,
Florence University, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics
This working paper reviews academic conceptualisation of the concept of ‘resilience’ in social, ecological and socio-ecological systems. It reviews 16 overlapping conceptualisations of resilience from the literature, outlining key characteristics and indicators of resilience. A metatable captures the key findings of the paper, including detail on indicators.
This document is organized into four parts. Part One provides a general introduction to the rationale behind developing an integrated framework and outlines the key concepts underlying the V2R approach. Part Two systematically describes the different elements of the framework: vulnerability and resilience; hazards and stresses; livelihoods; future uncertainty; and governance. It highlights the linkages between the different elements and provides examples of action drawing on Practical Action’s own experience. Part Three suggests practical steps in carrying out an analysis of vulnerability and resilience, providing checklists of questions and example tools. It also describes a number of different ways in which the framework and analysis can be used to guide action – for planning, for adapting, or for monitoring and evaluating projects or programmes and for carrying out training. Part Four consists of a selection of reference materials which support and supplement the information contained in the earlier parts of this document. They provide more detail on particular approaches, models and tools which complement the V2R framework.
This report commissioned by World Vision and Save the Children calls for a radical rethinking of policies to address hunger in West Africa. The report aims to assess progress, lessons learned, and challenges in promoting resilience in the Sahel, with a particular focus on the well-being of children. The study demonstrates the need for a massive response by governments and partners in order to tackle child malnutrition – chronic and acute, together. It offers evidence-based recommendations for a comprehensive, child-focused approach to resilience in the Sahel.
This Approach Paper is intended to inform the next phase of DFID’s work on resilience to both natural and man-made disasters,5 by providing a starting point for discussion within the Department and with our partners. Although the focus is on disasters, this is part of a wider process to mainstream resilience across all of DFID’s work which is being led by Policy Division.
This tool is an introductory resource for staff of development and humanitarian organizations working with people whose lives and rights are threatened by disasters and climate change. It is aimed at program management, advisory and technical staff of development and humanitarian organizations, and seeks to strengthen staff understanding of the basic approaches and principles that can be applied to disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation initiatives. It also provides practical guidance on how to integrate disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation into the program cycle, different sectors and a range of contexts. This guide includes examples from practitioners’ experiences that illustrate good practice and learning, and suggests tools and resources that practitioners find useful.
The guide is a product of the Emergency Capacity Building (ECB) Project agencies, which include CARE International, Catholic Relief Services, Mercy Corps, Oxfam, Save the Children and World Vision International.
This Guidebook has been written to provide assistance to staff in undertaking the Assessment and Design phase for the Initiative integrated cluster level programme. As explained further in this Guidebook, STF represents a new programming approach for World Vision in the scope and scale of its programme and projects.
This report commissioned by World Vision and Save the Children calls for a radical rethinking of policies to address hunger in West Africa. The report aims to assess progress, lessons learned, and challenges in promoting resilience in the Sahel, with a particular focus on the well-being of children. The study demonstrates the need for a massive response by governments and partners in order to tackle child malnutrition – chronic and acute, together. It offers evidence-based recommendations for a comprehensive, child-focused approach to resilience in the Sahel.
This Guidebook has been written to provide assistance to staff in undertaking the Assessment and Design phase for the Initiative integrated cluster level programme. As explained further in this Guidebook, STF represents a new programming approach for World Vision in the scope and scale of its programme and projects.
This guide is developed to assist field workers and communities to analyse people’s vulnerability, draw action plans, mobilise resources and enact appropriate policies, laws and strategies to reduce their vulnerability to disaster. There are few guidelines developed by other organisations on how communities can carry out vulnerability analysis.
This paper assesses the possibility of adopting the resilience concept developed within the environmental context to the food security domain, and proposes a methodology for measuring household resilience to food insecurity as a solid basis for vulnerability analysis. Different authors define vulnerability in different ways, but all agree that it is a function of risks, hazards and one or more descriptors of resilience or its components. However, resilience has never been measured in such a context, and is a multidimensional concept, based on several pillars. This study aims to define a model that explains resilience, its pillars and its relations to food security.
Authors:
L. Alinovi
E. Mane
D. Romano
Organizational Authors:
FAO Agricultural Development Economics Division,
Florence University, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics
This literature review utilizes secondary data and information from books, journals, expert interviews, and the Internet to answer several research questions: Can livestock improve people’s capacity to cope with risk and vulnerability? If so, how has this been done? How can this coping be improved? The review endeavors to enhance understanding and awareness of the current status of the livestock sector and the main livestock keepers in Africa, and illustrate how livestock interventions can be used as coping mechanisms to alleviate household food insecurity and improve livelihoods.
Characteristics of a Disaster-Resilient Community is a guidance note for government and civil society organizations working on disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) initiatives at community level in partnership with vulnerable communities. It shows what a ‘disaster-resilient community’ might consist of, by setting out the many different elements of resilience. It also provides some ideas about how to progress towards resilience.
Authors:
John Twigg
Organizational Authors:
Interagency Group:(ActionAid, British Red Cross, Christian Aid, Plan UK, Practical Action and Tearfund)
This Approach Paper is intended to inform the next phase of DFID’s work on resilience to both natural and man-made disasters,5 by providing a starting point for discussion within the Department and with our partners. Although the focus is on disasters, this is part of a wider process to mainstream resilience across all of DFID’s work which is being led by Policy Division.
This working paper reviews academic conceptualisation of the concept of ‘resilience’ in social, ecological and socio-ecological systems. It reviews 16 overlapping conceptualisations of resilience from the literature, outlining key characteristics and indicators of resilience. A metatable captures the key findings of the paper, including detail on indicators.
Africare developed the Food Security Community Capacity Index (FSCCI) to measure beneficiary communities’ technical ability and knowledge (capacity) needed to deal successfully with issues related to food security in their communities. In the most recent update of the tool in 2004, the FSCCI was revised to better take into account the special capacities needed to cope with cyclical risks and shocks, specifically HIV/AIDS. This guidance has been prepared to provide staff of Africare and other Cooperating Sponsors (and the communities they serve) with a brief background on the evolution of this tool, a clear set of steps to use in measuring the FSCCI within beneficiary communities, and the different ways this tool can be used.
This tool is an introductory resource for staff of development and humanitarian organizations working with people whose lives and rights are threatened by disasters and climate change. It is aimed at program management, advisory and technical staff of development and humanitarian organizations, and seeks to strengthen staff understanding of the basic approaches and principles that can be applied to disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation initiatives. It also provides practical guidance on how to integrate disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation into the program cycle, different sectors and a range of contexts. This guide includes examples from practitioners’ experiences that illustrate good practice and learning, and suggests tools and resources that practitioners find useful.
The guide is a product of the Emergency Capacity Building (ECB) Project agencies, which include CARE International, Catholic Relief Services, Mercy Corps, Oxfam, Save the Children and World Vision International.
This paper revisits the issue of evaluation in natural resource management and recasts it in light of complex adaptive systems thinking. An evaluative framework for adaptive co-management is developed which directs attention toward three broad components: ecosystem conditions, livelihood outcomes and process and institutional conditions.
Authors:
Ryan Plummera
Derek Armitageb
Organizational Authors:
Elsevier
Department of Tourism and Environment, Brock University
Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University
This guidance note is for government and civil society organisations working on disaster risk reduction (DRR) initiatives at community level, in partnership with vulnerable communities. It shows what a ‘disaster-resilient community’ might consist of, by setting out the many different elements of resilience. It also provides some ideas about how to progress towards resilience.
Authors:
John Twigg
Organizational Authors:
DFID Disaster Risk Reduction Interagency Coordination Group
Characteristics of a Disaster-Resilient Community is a guidance note for government and civil society organizations working on disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) initiatives at community level in partnership with vulnerable communities. It shows what a ‘disaster-resilient community’ might consist of, by setting out the many different elements of resilience. It also provides some ideas about how to progress towards resilience.
Authors:
John Twigg
Organizational Authors:
Interagency Group:(ActionAid, British Red Cross, Christian Aid, Plan UK, Practical Action and Tearfund)
The purpose of these guidelines is to provide the CFSVA analysis team with currently recommended procedures and protocols for undertaking a CFSVA. It is not a manual or protocol, but rather a collection of guiding frameworks, tools, and approaches to CFSVA planning, implementation, analysis, and dissemination. It consolidates existing CFSVA guidelines into one unique, comprehensive document. It should be used as a reference to ensure that most aspects of a CFSVA exercise are adequately covered. Please click here to view the Comprehensive Food Security & Vulnerability Analysis (CFSVA) Guidelines - First Edition, 2009
This Approach Paper is intended to inform the next phase of DFID’s work on resilience to both natural and man-made disasters,5 by providing a starting point for discussion within the Department and with our partners. Although the focus is on disasters, this is part of a wider process to mainstream resilience across all of DFID’s work which is being led by Policy Division.
This report commissioned by World Vision and Save the Children calls for a radical rethinking of policies to address hunger in West Africa. The report aims to assess progress, lessons learned, and challenges in promoting resilience in the Sahel, with a particular focus on the well-being of children. The study demonstrates the need for a massive response by governments and partners in order to tackle child malnutrition – chronic and acute, together. It offers evidence-based recommendations for a comprehensive, child-focused approach to resilience in the Sahel.
The overall purpose of this study is to provide insights on how best to promote self-resiliency for the chronically food insecure, both at the household and community levels. It is also intended to provide guidance on means of improving the effectiveness and complementarity of PSNP, OFSP and NGO interventions by employing a sustainable livelihoods approach to examining the vulnerability and resilience of beneficiary households and communities.
Organizational Authors:
CHF – Partners in Rural Development Canadian Network of NGOs in Ethiopia (CANGO)
This document is organized into four parts. Part One provides a general introduction to the rationale behind developing an integrated framework and outlines the key concepts underlying the V2R approach. Part Two systematically describes the different elements of the framework: vulnerability and resilience; hazards and stresses; livelihoods; future uncertainty; and governance. It highlights the linkages between the different elements and provides examples of action drawing on Practical Action’s own experience. Part Three suggests practical steps in carrying out an analysis of vulnerability and resilience, providing checklists of questions and example tools. It also describes a number of different ways in which the framework and analysis can be used to guide action – for planning, for adapting, or for monitoring and evaluating projects or programmes and for carrying out training. Part Four consists of a selection of reference materials which support and supplement the information contained in the earlier parts of this document. They provide more detail on particular approaches, models and tools which complement the V2R framework.
Africare developed the Food Security Community Capacity Index (FSCCI) to measure beneficiary communities’ technical ability and knowledge (capacity) needed to deal successfully with issues related to food security in their communities. In the most recent update of the tool in 2004, the FSCCI was revised to better take into account the special capacities needed to cope with cyclical risks and shocks, specifically HIV/AIDS. This guidance has been prepared to provide staff of Africare and other Cooperating Sponsors (and the communities they serve) with a brief background on the evolution of this tool, a clear set of steps to use in measuring the FSCCI within beneficiary communities, and the different ways this tool can be used.
This literature review utilizes secondary data and information from books, journals, expert interviews, and the Internet to answer several research questions: Can livestock improve people’s capacity to cope with risk and vulnerability? If so, how has this been done? How can this coping be improved? The review endeavors to enhance understanding and awareness of the current status of the livestock sector and the main livestock keepers in Africa, and illustrate how livestock interventions can be used as coping mechanisms to alleviate household food insecurity and improve livelihoods.
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