'This paper examines the links between the risk of conflict and the production and trade of agricultural and marine commodities. It does so using a series of case studies: cocoa in Côte d’Ivoire, bananas and subsequently fisheries in Somalia, and cotton in Central Asia. Much like the traditional conflict resources (oil, diamonds, timber, minerals, etc.), there is strong evidence that fished and farmed commodities can also be (mis)used in such a way that their production and trade contribute t more...

The World Bank Group’s New Deal on Global Food Policy has been endorsed by 150 countries. The New Deal embraces short, medium and long-term responses: including safety nets such as school feeding, food for work, and conditional cash transfers; increased agricultural production; a better understanding of the impact of biofuels; and action on the trade front to reduce distorting subsidies and trade barriers. The Bank is taking action by:

The global economy is in a tough spot, caught between sharply slowing demand in many advanced economies and rising inflation everywhere, notably in emerging and developing economies. Global growth is expected to decelerate significantly in the second half of 2008, before recovering gradually in 2009. At the same time, rising energy and commodity prices have boosted inflationary pressure, particularly in emerging and developing economies.

'This briefing paper examines the modalities for the proposed climate investment funds (CIFs) and considers the impact these funds will have on existing global measures to tackle the causes and effects of climate change. In particular, the paper demonstrates how the World Bank’s role in climate change financing may create parallel frameworks of climate change governance which may undermine existing multilateral climate change regimes, despite claims to the contrary. '

This paper from the Regional Network on HIV/AIDS, Livelihoods and Food Security (RENEWAL) reviews the literature on migration, HIV and urban food security. The paper draws links between these three factors in the context of Southern and Eastern Africa. It outlines an action research agenda to inform policy and programming within these three interconnected sectors.

Recent research shows a change in the relationship between urban and rural households in this area. The direct transfer of food fr more...

This study reviews the practice of Emergency Needs Assessment (ENA) in Ethiopia as it relates to food security, with a view to informing efforts by the World Food Programme (WFP) to improve ENA practice globally. It considers the question of overall rigour in needs estimation, and explores the ability of assessments to analyse the role of markets, non-food response options, chronic and transitory needs and the impact of food aid.

The report finds that all actors - the Government of Ethiopia, more...

The objective of this paper is to highlight the contribution that inland and coastal small-scale fisheries can make to poverty alleviation and food security and to make practical suggestions on ways that this contribution can be maximised.

In particular the paper discusses:

* the concepts of poverty, vulnerability and food security, and how these concepts have evolved in recent years within the field of fisheries
* the actual and potential contribution of small-scale fisheries to more...

This report summarises the results of a study of the food security outlook for Southern Africa, highlighting the major threats to food security in the period October 2007 to March 2008. It incorporates the findings from six country outlooks, and aims to provide a basis for regional and global resource allocation and contingency planning, as well as in-country planning.

The following early warning priorities are highlighted:

* in Zimbabwe, food security has deteriorated in most of the c more...

This distance learning course provides guidance in assessing different kinds of information systems related to food security analysis. It is organised into three lessons:

* Food Security Information Systems (FSIS): introduces a basic framework for understanding FSIS' main objectives, key components in the system that support decision making processes, the main purpose for food security analysis, and key users of food security information products
* The Institutional Context: assists more...

This publication offers resources for trainers on Reporting Food Security Information and is based on distance learning courses being offered by the EC-FAO Programme. It is a course aimed at mid-level managers, technical staff, field personnel; and planners, policy formulators and programme managers.

The aim of the report is to provide guidance in designing, writing and increasing the impact of food security reports in different contexts and is comprised of four essons:

* Understanding more...