Food Insecurity: Could School Food Supplementation Help Break Cycles of Intergenerational Transmission of Social Inequalities?

This rapid review summarises the evidence on the ways in which social inequalities and discrimination affect the risk of famine or severe food insecurity. Looking at the risk at the national and sub-national level, gender and other horizontal inequities can affect a society’s risk of violent conflict and therefore food insecurity, while fragile livelihoods associated with ethnic marginalisation can impact regional food security. At the individual and household level, there is a lack of disaggregated data on people’s social characteristics and famines. There is a broader literature on the impact of systemic discrimination (based on gender, age, disability, sexuality, and ethnic identity) on individuals’ and households’ livelihoods and assets, thereby increasing their vulnerability to food insecurity. A key finding from the literature is the gender gap, with women more at risk of being food insecure than men. Also, some ethnic groups are highly vulnerable particularly in conflict-related famines; starvation is used as a warfare tactic in political and ethnic conflicts. There is evidence of how social inequalities heighten individuals’ risks during food crises and famines, including through exposure to protection threats, while limiting their access to essential services and humanitarian assistance. A broad range of measures seeks to address the multi-dimensional ways in which social inequalities affect vulnerability and resilience to food insecurity.

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The Drivers of Acute Food Insecurity and the Risk of Famine

10.19088/k4d.2021.132 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Evert-jan Quak

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Social Inequalities ◽

Food System ◽

Critical Role ◽

National Level ◽

Analytical Framework ◽

Food Prices ◽

Acute Malnutrition ◽

Rapid Review ◽

Key Dimensions

This rapid review synthesises the literature from academic, policy, and knowledge institution sources on the drivers of acute food insecurity and famines with a focus on key FCDO-partner countries. This review builds further on evidence already collected in other K4D helpdesk reports. The main conclusion of this rapid review is that the drivers of acute food insecurity are complex, often involving multiple and interrelated factors. The drivers for chronical food insecurity and acute food insecurity cannot be separated entirely from each other, as the evidence shows that slow-onset determinants of food insecurity could play a critical role during an event (or multiple events) that could trigger a food emergency. The literature shows that the political economy (e.g. food system governance or preparedness of institutions to disasters) and socioeconomic dynamics (e.g. shaping demand and supply of food) have become more relevant factors in any analysis on the drivers of acute food insecurity, acute malnutrition, and famine. This coincides with a shift in the literature away from global drivers of food insecurity and malnutrition toward localised dynamics on the national and sub-national level. The analytical framework of Howe (2018) that captures this complexity distinguishes pressure, hold, and self-reinforcing dynamics as key dimensions that explain potential pathways for famine. These could be political-induced, natural-induced, economical-induced, or socially induced, but most often a combination. Based on this framework and supported by the evidence from the literature, this rapid review assesses conflicts and protracted crises; climate change and pressure on natural resources; social inequalities; and economic shocks and food prices, as the key drivers of acute food insecurity and famine. Importantly, from the literature it seems clear that acute food insecurity is the result of changing vulnerabilities that link with different coping mechanisms of households and communities.

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Procurement and delivery of food at holiday provision clubs

Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development ◽

10.5304/jafscd.2021.111.009 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-13

Author(s):

Emily Mann ◽

Clara Widdison ◽

Zeibeda Sattar ◽

Margaret Anne Defeyter

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Free Food ◽

Healthy Food ◽

Nutritional Intake ◽

National Program ◽

School Food ◽

Food Standards ◽

Procurement Strategies

While school food initiatives across England support children’s nutritional intake during school term time, there is no universal state provision during the school holidays to reduce the risk of children experiencing food insecurity. In the absence of a national program of holiday provision, community organizations in disadvantaged communities have established holiday clubs offering free food and activities to children. This paper examines how these holiday clubs source food and the challenges of procuring food and delivering healthy meals that adhere to UK School Food Standards. Results indicate that holiday clubs adopt a variety of procurement strategies including relying upon donated food. While club leaders have sought opportunities to source food cost-effectively, the findings suggest significant challenges for these clubs to achieve their aim of delivering healthy meals. Findings point to needs for sustainable funding and the developing healthy food procurement policies and processes that align with a wider food strategy.

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Time and regional perspectives of food insecurity during the economic crisis in Portugal, 2011-2013

Saúde e Sociedade ◽

10.1590/s0104-12902014000400001 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 23 (4) ◽

pp. 1127-1141 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Maria João Gregório ◽

Pedro Graça ◽

Andreia Costa ◽

Paulo Jorge Nogueira

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Economic Crisis ◽

Social Inequalities ◽

Global Financial Crisis ◽

Social Economy ◽

Regional Disparities ◽

Assistance Program ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

Regional Strategies ◽

The Global Financial Crisis

Food insecurity (FI) has received much attention in recent years, even in high-income countries, due to the increasing trend of poverty and social inequalities indicators, as a result of the global financial crisis. The establishment of a monitoring system of FI becomes a priority for food and nutrition policies. Our study aims to evaluate FI trends during the economic crisis in Portugal and to identify regional disparities throughout the country. Data derived from three surveys conducted by the Portuguese Directorate-General of Health, concerning FI of the Portuguese population, during the period that Portugal was under the International Monetary Fund financial assistance program (2011–2013). Data were collected by face-to-face interviews and FI was evaluated using a psychometric scale. Logistic regression models were used to identify regional disparities in FI. The prevalence of FI was relatively unchanged at national and regional levels, during the analysis period. Data from 2013 indicates a high prevalence of FI (50.7%), including 33.4% for low FI, 10.1% for moderate FI and 7.2% for severe FI. Disparities according health region were also found for household FI. Algarve, Lisboa and Vale do Tejo were the two regions with the highest levels of FI, even after controlling for other socioeconomic variables. High levels of FI found in Portugal and the different regional profiles suggest the need for regional strategies, in particular in the most affected regions based on a broader action with different policy sectors (health, social security, municipalities and local institutions in the field of social economy).

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Early participation in a prenatal food supplementation program ameliorates the negative association of food insecurity with maternal-infant interaction

SciVee ◽

10.4016/48107.01 ◽

2012 ◽

Author(s):

Amy Frith ◽

Ruchira Naved ◽

Lars Persson ◽

Kathleen Rasmussen ◽

Edward Frongillo

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Negative Association ◽

Food Supplementation

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