Saving lives through stronger, more resilient livelihoods

FAO has a unique role to play in preventing and addressing acute hunger and supporting countries experiencing food crises to return to a path of growth and prosperity, given the Organization’s mandate to end hunger, long-standing permanent country presence, and substantial expertise and experience in both humanitarian and development contexts.  

Protecting livelihoods by providing emergency agricultural assistance from the onset of a crisis enables people to produce food and earn an income. Rapid and efficient response to agricultural threats and emergencies saves lives, promotes recovery and reduces the gap between dependency on food assistance and self-reliance. 

FAO plays a lead role in building the evidence around acute food insecurity levels, analysis of drivers and lasting solutions, including through its role as co-founder of the Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC), co-lead of the Global Food Security Cluster, host of the Integrated Food Security Classification (IPC) global support unit and member of the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Task Force on Preventing Famine.