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Q & A: How NCA Works with Food Security
Hunger in the world is increasing - due to conflict, climate change, and economic instability. NCA works to combat hunger, both in emergencies and through long-term development. Here you can read how.
Sufficient, safe, and nutritious food is a fundamental prerequisite for life, health, and dignity. Photo: Håvard Bjelland
Today, 343 million people worldwide live with acute food insecurity, according to the World Food Programme. This means they are in immediate danger of not getting enough food to meet basic needs.
Lack of access to sufficient and safe food is a major problem in most of the countries where Norwegian Church Aid operates. NCA and our partners aim to enable people and communities to lift themselves out of poverty, and our work on food is part of this.
Here is an explainer of how NCA works with food security.
Why does Norwegian Church Aid work with food security?
“Norwegian Church Aid works with food security because access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food is a fundamental prerequisite for life, health, and dignity. At the same time, food security is closely linked to poverty, employment, and stability in societies,” says Siv Øystese, thematic advisor on economic development and food security at Norwegian Church Aid.
“Globally, we see that hunger is increasing, driven by conflict, climate change, and economic instability,” says Øystese, pointing out that unless investments are made in food supply and food systems, the need for humanitarian aid will grow.
Therefore, the goals of NCA are:
- That people have stable access to safe, sufficient, and nutritious food, and that they handle food in a safe and proper way.
- That they can sustain themselves through sustainable livelihoods, either by producing food themselves or by having a livable income.
- That communities become more resilient and prepared to handle crises and climate change.
How does NCA work with food security?
NCA works both with emergency response in humanitarian crises and in protracted crises, as well as with long-term development.
“We actively work to link humanitarian efforts and development, so that emergency aid gradually transitions into food production and income opportunities, and communities become better able to handle future crises,” says Siv Øystese.
In humanitarian crises, the goal is to save lives and meet immediate needs. NCA helps ensure that people are not forced to, for example, sell assets or reduce food intake. Our approach is to meet urgent needs first, and then quickly support the rebuilding of livelihoods.
Typical food-related interventions in crises:
- Cash support (cash transfers) so people can buy food locally.
- Food distribution where markets do not function or where it is not possible to provide cash support.
- Early livelihood support in a crisis, such as distribution of seeds or tools.
In the long term, the goal is to build lasting, sustainable food systems, reduce the need for humanitarian aid, and contribute to economic development and resilient value chains. Small-scale farmers are central - they account for a large share of food production in low-income countries and are key to both food security and income growth.
Typical food-related interventions in long-term development:
- Strengthening smallholder farmers’ ability to increase productivity and income.
- Providing training in climate-smart agriculture that can withstand drought and changing weather conditions.
- Improving market access for smallholder farmers and strengthening value chains, so farmers can sell their products and access inputs.
- Ensuring financing, for example through savings and loan groups and by linking farmers and other actors in the food value chain to reliable financial institutions.
- Ensuring good nutrition, water, and hygiene so food is utilized as effectively as possible.
How can we increase food production during climate change?
“To increase food production, we must do so in a way that also protects natural resources, is sustainable, and climate-adapted,” says Siv Øystese.
Typical measures:
- Climate-smart agriculture: NCA and our partners carry out a range of interventions. Farmers get access to seed varieties that are drought resistant. They receive advice on how to build healthy soils, make efficient use of water, and practice sustainable agriculture.
- Our work builds on existing collaboration within communities so that knowledge of climate-smart agriculture is well anchored locally. We also support the development of plant nurseries, promote diversified food production, and strengthen smallholders’ links to markets where they can sell their goods. In this way, we contribute to increased productivity in both crop and livestock farming. Overall, this makes food production more resilient to climate change.
- Protecting natural resources: NCA promotes sustainable use of land, water, and ecosystems, and contributes to reducing deforestation, erosion, and overuse of natural resources. This is crucial, as climate change is already affecting and reducing productivity in many areas.
- Linking emergency aid and long-term development: NCA works to build resilient food systems that can withstand shocks and invests in preparedness and early action to reduce the need for future humanitarian aid.
Did you know that…
- Food security means that everyone has access to sufficient and safe food, even in times of crisis.
- In African countries, a large share of the population - often 70–80% - has agriculture as their main source of income.
- The World Bank states that growth in the agricultural sector is more than twice as effective in reducing poverty as growth in other sectors.
- NCA works closely with local faith-based and civil society organizations, the local private sector in supply chains, and international companies that can contribute with technology, innovation, and knowledge. We also collaborate closely with research institutions.
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