Publication

This paper describes the theory and practice of Oxfam GB’s livelihoods approach to assessing food security in emergencies. The first part of this paper describes the key concepts that make up food security theory and relates them to a livelihoods approach. The second part describes how Oxfam assesses food security. The third part uses case studies to illustrate how Oxfam has applied its livelihoods approach in practice, and how that approach has been adapted depending on the types of livelihoods in question, and the nature of the external shock. The authors end by highlighting the key challenges posed by a livelihoods approach to assessing food security in emergencies.