Our programs work to provide or restore agricultural livelihoods opportunities, improve agricultural production and food availability, and promote self-reliance by reducing food aid dependency, even while meeting immediate, lifesaving food needs during periods of conflict or disaster. The availability of food production and agricultural livelihoods is intrinsically linked with the ability of families and communities to access nutritious food in a humanitarian crisis.
As part of our commitment to holistic food security, we support improved agricultural livelihoods by providing critically needed agricultural inputs, such as seeds, tools and fertilizer, to crisis-affected households. We support farmers to re-start their productive livelihoods and earn income, and accompany inputs with technical assistance on appropriate farming methods. We also support the use of climate-smart technologies such as urban gardens, micro-irrigation, seed multiplication and rainwater harvesting. Where appropriate, we also provide livestock inputs and technical assistance around appropriate livestock care, to support livestock-rearing households to generate income.
Our Approach
Global Communities supports food production by strengthening agricultural livelihoods. For example, in Syria, we rehabilitate critical infrastructure along the wheat-to-bread value chain, including mills and bakeries, to ensure that the infrastructure is in place to sustainably support local food production. We also support households to establish small gardens to provide fresh fruits and vegetables for consumption to support a nutritious diet.
Global Communities’ programs are balanced between food aid and livelihood promotion, with a focus on sustainable support, aiming to reduce food aid dependency, improve household nutrition and food availability, provide income and transition targeted groups from relief to sustainable livelihoods.