Food Security

Markets are a key source of food and income for populations across the world. Food security and agriculture practitioners have a long and rich history of using market analysis to inform programming; and in many ways, food security has led the way with market-based programming, with approaches such as the Emergency Market Mapping and Analysis (EMMA) and value chain analyses.

Key Market Systems

  • Goods: Staple food crops, fruits and vegetables, fish, livestock, agricultural inputs

  • Services: Transportation to markets, agricultural labor, milling services

Main concepts and trends

All four pillars of food security (availability, access, utilization, and stability) are affected by market dynamics. The amount of food in a country or region, whether people can afford, harvest, prepare and consume it, and economic trends that determine the prices and quality of goods all impact a household’s access to sufficient, nutritious food.

As food assistance is a common response in humanitarian crises, there is a longer history of market-based programming in food security, compared to other sectors. Activities such as seed fairs, support to market actors such as producers and transporters, and advocacy around market system change in key food markets have subsequently risen in prominence.

 

In instances where conflict and disaster erodes the purchasing power of affected populations, and where markets are functioning and accessible, there is a preference to deliver food assistance through cash and voucher assistance (CVA). In addition, food security programming is increasingly looking beyond CVA, exploring a broader range of market support interventions in food systems.

CASE STUDY:

Reform of market policies: Mercy Corps in Liberia

During the Ebola crisis in Liberia, an assessment by Mercy Corps revealed that market activity had declined, negatively affecting household incomes. This was due, in part, to temporary government restrictions on markets, which intended to limit the spread of Ebola but which also contributed to increased food insecurity at the household level. Mercy Corps persistently and successfully lobbied the government to announce the reopening of markets to increase availability and quality of food items in the local markets.

 

CASE STUDY:

WFP Agricultural Markets Support Programme in Uganda

The World Food Program’s Agriculture and Market Support Programme (AMS) in Uganda aimed to increase the capacity of smallholder farmers, with a focus on women and youth, and to improve agricultural incomes and diversify livelihoods. AMS works with the Government of Uganda, development partners, and the private sector to improve food market systems with a focus on maize. AMS has supported 46 farmers organizations through targeted market support activities, such as agri-finance, post-harvest handling, and collective marketing. By the end of the program in 2020, 56% of groups had registered formally, 46% had negotiated warehouse access agreements, and 24% had opened bank accounts.

 

Key resources and tools

Response analysis and response choice in food security crises: A roadmap

Humanitarian Practice Network

This paper explores response choices and analysis in food security crises.
USAID Modality Assistance Tool for Humanitarian Assistance

USAID

This tool provides harmonized guidance on the selection of intervention modalities (cash, vouchers, in-kind) across United States Government (USG) humanitarian assistance programs.
Emerging Good Practice in in the Use of Fresh Food Voucher Guidance

ACF International

This guidance note provides practitioners an overview of emerging good practice in the use of fresh food vouchers, as well as practical examples. It is based on the findings of a 5-country meta-evaluation of ACF’s experience (2009-2011) in drought-stricken Bolivia, post-earthquake Haiti, after the floods in Pakistan, as well as chronic emergencies in the Dadaab Refugee Camps of Kenya, and the occupied Palestinian Territory.
Key recommendations to support food market systems facing Covid-19

Global Food Security Cluster

This document provides guidance to humanitarian and development actors involved in the food supply chain, implementing food security and livelihoods interventions through COVID response efforts. It focuses on critical food market systems; cereals, pulses, fruit and vegetables, meat, milk, fish and related products.
The Influence of Market Support Interventions on Household Food Security

Tufts University

The purpose of this document is to describe the scope of, and methodology for, an evidence synthesis on the influence of market support interventions on household food security in humanitarian crises. It incorporates academic research but also project evaluations and other documents from the field.
Cracking the Nut 2019 – leveraging market systems for improved food security

Connexus Corporation

This document summarizes the lessons from the Cracking the Nut 2019 conference. The conference focused on the need for international development practitioners to move from a ‘project’ to a ‘systems’ approach. The conference agenda included three themes: reducing systemic risks; improving nutrition, health and access to clean water; and increasing inclusion of smallholders in commercial markets.