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Livelihoods & Food Security Livelihoods & Food Security
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Livelihoods & Food Security

by Stephen Browne — last modified 06/02/2010 15:35

Livelihoods security and food security cut across a range of important areas relevant to development and humanitarian initiatives, from HIV/AIDS to natural resource protection; from wildlife conservation to providing humanitarian assistance in complex emergencies. FEG’s multi-disciplinary and seasoned staff provides focused technical guidance to ensure that project, program or policy level initiatives are sensitive to local livelihoods, and are well targeted, long lasting and designed to address not just the symptoms of poverty, but the real needs of households we serve.

FEG supplies the analytical tools for translating a static inventory of livelihood assets into a dynamic understanding of livelihood systems. While livelihoods analysis is a central part of many agencies' goals, what makes FEG's approach unique and powerful is its proven ability to quantify the productive contribution of poorer and richer households' livelihood capitals and assets rather than simply providing a list of them.comp poor rich

This quantification is essential for understanding how to build resilience and reduce vulnerabilities to a range of shocks for poorer and richer households alike.
Integrating Livelihoods

gathering firewood

What are livelihoods?

Livelihoods are the means by which households obtain and maintain access to essential resources to ensure their immediate and long-term survival. An analysis of livelihoods security, therefore, involves the investigation of how people ensure this access in different contexts and settings. Central to this enquiry amongst poor households is an understanding of food security, because - as a general rule - the poorer the household, the larger the proportion of its total income is spent on obtaining food.   

What is food security?

Many definitions of food security can be found throughout the humanitarian world. At a minimum, however, they all share the core concepts contained in the following definiton: Ensured access to sufficient food for all people at all times.

FEG Consulting makes this definition operational in the context of livelihood analysis through its use of the Household Economy Approach.
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