Food and Nutrition

It would be impossible to provide a comprehensive resource here regarding addressing a food crisis. Instead, this page focuses on where to find in-depth information (web sites, books, journal articles and other publications) on this subject. This page was authored by a volunteer from the AWN community. Updates and new pages are welcomed!

On this page:

• Sphere standards
• ODI Good Practice Reviews
• USAID Field Operations Guide
• Emergency Nutrition Network
• Infant Feeding in Emergencies
• Training on Nutrition in Emergencies

Sphere Minimum Standards

The Sphere Project, revised edition. Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Emergency Response. Contains detailed minimum standards for food security, nutrition and food aid in emergencies, agreed by a number of NGOs and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Go to  www.sphereproject.org and click on 'Handbook'.

Oxfam Guidelines

Oxfam has some useful food security guides on its website, including:

• Food security assessments in emergencies - a livelihoods approach
• Guiding principles for our response to food crises
• Oxfam's approach to nutritional surveys
• Community-based approach to food distribution

Find them at www.oxfam.org.uk/what_we_do/emergencies/how_we_work (click on 'Food security and nutrition').

ODI Good Practice Reviews

"Emergency Supplementary Feeding Programmes" is published by the Overseas Development Institute as their Good Practice Review Number 2. "General Food Distribution in Emergencies" is their Good Practice Review Number 3.

They are downloadable for free at www.odihpn.org/publistResults.asp (select Good Practice Reviews from the menu) or go to www.odihpn.org and click on Publications, then Good Practice Reviews. You have to sign in to get to the electronic version of the documents, or you can order hard copies by email.

USAID Field Operations Guide

The Field Operations Guide (FOG) of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) contains substantial guidance on food and nutrition.  Click here for the relevant page of their website, where you can view or download a copy.

Emergency Nutrition Network

The Emergency Nutrition Network (ENN), based at Trinity College, Dublin, provides a forum for the exchange of experience in emergency food and nutrition, and has some useful documents on its website at www.ennonline.net.

Infant Feeding in Emergencies

The Emergency Nutrition Network (ENN) coordinates the Infant Feeding in Emergencies (IFE) Core group, made up of UNICEF, WHO, UNHCR, WFP, IBFAN-GIFA, CARE USA, Tdh and ENN. The IFE Core Group has recently updated its 'Infant and young child feeding in emergencies operational guidance' which aims to provide concise, practical guidance on how to ensure appropriate infant and young child feeding in emergencies. This is intended to be relevant for all aid workers working in all emergency situations.  It's in English, French, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Bahasa.

Nutrition in Emergencies Training Course

RedR/IHE London offer a training course on nutrition in emergencies.  See www.redr.org for details.

If you would like to volunteer to be responsible for this page's information, please see the AWN volunteer guidelines and follow the directions to express interest. Or, if you would like to contribute an item to this page, simply post your question, comment or suggestion on this subject directly to the AWN Forum.