Economic Security: Protecting lives, preserving livelihoods

Our economic security programmes are designed to reduce risks and protect people affected by armed conflict and other violence. Strengthening economic security keeps livelihoods afloat, reduces drivers of displacement, maintains social support systems and mitigates risk factors related to sexual violence, access to education and family separation. 

We work to provide immediate relief to people affected by conflict, ensuring they have safe access to food, shelter, medical assistance and other essential needs. This can help prevent them from falling deeper into poverty and help reduce the severity of their circumstances in the short term.

We help people affected by food insecurity to access nutritious food, particularly those who have been displaced from their homes or who are living in areas that are difficult to access. This may include distributing food parcels, providing hot meals or supporting community kitchens, or providing financial assistance so that people can purchase food locally.

We seek to prevent malnutrition by working with communities to improve access to and the availability of nutritious food and optimizing nutrition practices, especially for the most vulnerable children, expecting and nursing women and people deprived of their liberty. As the causes of malnutrition go far beyond the food that is consumed, prevention includes close collaboration with other essential services including water, sanitation, health care and education. When levels of malnutrition are high, we will work to treat acute malnutrition - also known as wasting – through specialized services at health centres or hospitals.

We provide financial and material support and skills training to people in urban and rural areas, including farmers, small business owners and individuals in regular employment. This can help communities get back on their feet again after crisis, building self-sufficiency and reducing their reliance on humanitarian aid.

We work with local communities to support agricultural production to improve food supply chains and as an income source for families. Our aid varies from providing seed and equipment (or the financial assistance to purchase them) to training farmers in climate-smart methods to increase their yields and improve the quality of their crops, supporting seed banks and cooperatives, and working with ministries of agriculture to improve seed quality and seed systems more broadly. 

We support livestock owners by providing veterinary care such as vaccination, treatment and breeding services, fodder and other resources to help them maintain their herds and ensure a steady supply of food. We work closely with community animal health workers and ministries to facilitate access to animal health services in areas affected by armed conflict.

We know that the important work needs to go on after we leave, so we build up the capabilities of key local institutions so they can invest in the infrastructure that supports people’s jobs and livelihoods, such as functioning markets and financial services. This work also includes access to other essential services like water, health care and education. We combine these activities with livelihood support programmes for maximum impact.

We work to ensure that people have access to clean water and proper sanitation facilities, which is essential for preventing malnutrition and other health challenges.