REMINDER: The four different types of strategies to addressing food insecurity are inter-related and often build on one another.
For example, strategies that address short-term relief can be designed to also develop individual capacity, which in turn can lead to increased community capacity.Each approach has advantages and disadvantages and each requires different capacities and resources.What will be possible and appropriate for one community or organization at any given time may not be right for another.One way to start is to take a look back at the definition of food security and think about how effective a short-term relief strategy such as a food bank may or may not be in addressing food insecurity.Everyone is familiar with food banks and using a familiar example can be a good way to lead into a complex discussion.
Once you or your group has identified a food security issue that you would like to address in your community, get together and brainstorm about the pros and cons of each approach in terms of your own issue, resources and abilities.Think about what you would like to accomplish and what it will take for you to get there.It may be that your ultimate goal will require policy change, but in order to do this work, you will first have to build both individual and community capacity.
Think of a short-term relief strategy to address food insecurity.
- What are some pros of this approach?
- What are some cons of this approach?
Think of a skill building strategy to address food insecurity.
- What are some pros of this approach?
- What are some cons of this approach?
Think of a community building strategy to address food insecurity.
- What are some pros of this approach?
- What are some cons of this approach?
Think of a system change strategy to address to food insecurity.
- What are some pros of this approach?
- What are some cons of this approach?
Activity 3.2
Facilitators Guide 3.2