CRS' Food Security Programming Objectives

In recognition of the complex factors that cause food insecurity, the objectives of Catholic Relief Services' food security programming are twofold.

1. To alleviate immediate hunger through increased consumption.
2. To encourage sustainable food security by changing the conditions under which hunger develops and persists.

CRS' programming objectives focus on household food security in the short, medium and long term.

Short Term Programming Objectives

Short-term programs provide for the immediate consumption of sufficient food for those individuals and households who are highly food insecure. In most cases, these programs target victims of man-made emergencies (i.e. war) and natural disasters (i.e. hurricanes, earthquakes) in addition to vulnerable populations.

Short-term food security programs are usually one of two types: emergency programs, which provide food aid and medical and agricultural supplies to victims and refugees; and safety net programs, which distribute basic food and food supplements to vulnerable populations, such as children, the elderly and the mentally ill.

Medium Term Programming Objectives

Medium term programs focus on consumption needs and investments in food security and more closely fit into the traditional food security components of availability, access and utilization. Programs focus on three main sectors:

Agriculture (availability)

In the agricultural sector, CRS' programs aim to improve household food availability by increasing staple food and livestock production, home gardening, improving storage facilities and investing in agricultural infrastructure.

Income generation (access)

In income generation, programs aim to improve household access to food by increasing non-farm income and savings. To achieve this objective, interventions include microfinance programs and increased cash crop production.

Health (utilization)

Health sector projects aim to improve the individual's ability to utilize food. Health programs typically revolve around four main areas: child survival, maternal and child health, improved sanitation infrastructure and HIV and AIDS education.

Long Term Programming Objectives
Long-term programs focus on building a foundation for sustainable food security. These programs seek to change the conditions under which long-term hunger and poverty develop and persist. Programs focus on areas such as education, natural resource management, peacebuilding, advocacy and human rights.

In education, CRS seeks to develop human capital by providing literacy and math skills for adults, encouraging school enrollment and attendance among children, especially girls, and by improving educational infrastructure. In natural resource management, CRS promotes agricultural sustainability through projects in soil and water conservation, reforestation, and improved agricultural practices. In peacebuilding, CRS promotes justice through peace and reconciliation programming.