Course Overview

Natural disasters as well as complex emergencies at times can have significant effects on household food security and nutritional status of the affected population. Assessing such impact and understanding the coping mechanisms of different affected social groups is needed to target, design and implement appropriate strategies that will protect and promote good nutrition and household food security throughout relief and rehabilitation responses. Activities in this area of study strive to strengthen capacity within governments and local institutions to design and implement such strategies and to improve collaboration among various organizations dealing directly with nutrition concerns in emergency relief and rehabilitation.

The course content examines food insecurity and nutritional deficiencies as they appear in different types of humanitarian emergencies. The course discusses the profiles of international relief organizations that are involved in nutrition and food assistance are presented and common nutrition and food assistance interventions in emergency settings. Factors contributing to food insecurity are considered and various response modalities, including in-kind assistance and cash-based approaches, are discussed.