Message-ID: <m0uj1SW-0002vwC@solx1.central.susx.ac.uk> Date: Wed, 24 Jul 1996 11:46:28 +0100 From: Peter Ferguson <mailto:P.Ferguson@SUSSEX.AC.UK> Subject: Food security planning in Africa course To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
FOOD SECURITY IN AFRICA: POLICY, PLANNING AND INTERVENTIONS a course for food security planners and practitioners6 May - 25 July 1997 (12 weeks)
Course Director: Stephen Devereux (with assistance from Bob Baulch Susanna Davies, Simon Maxwell, Chris Stevens, Jeremy Swift)
WHY FOOD SECURITY? Food insecurity has become the number one problem for many African governments. Chronic food insecurity, characterised by poverty, vulnerability and unemployment, is widespread in most African countries, often aggravated by unfavourable macro-economic conditions. Food security is now placed high on the agenda of development priorities for Africa. Aid donors often play a central role, by supporting long term food security programmes, and by providing increasing amounts of humanitarian relief for the worst case emergency situations.
This course, launched in 1991, aims to help food planners and practitioners to analyse the causes of food insecurity in Africa; take a critical look at plans, policies and interventions to alleviate food insecurity; and plan and prepare for attempts to tackle food insecurity in the future.
WHY IDS? The Institute of Development Studies has long experience of research and operational work on food security and related issues. A Food Security Unit was established at IDS in 1988. This course draws on the work of the Food Security Unit, particularly to emphasise links between theoretical approaches to food security and their practical application in countries within Africa.
WHO IS THE COURSE FOR? Planners, policy-makers and practitioners, working for government at national and sub-national level, working for donor agencies, for non governmental organisations, or for training and academic institutions. Countries are encouraged to send teams of participants working on different aspects of food security, and at different levels: for example, national and district level food security planners, early warning and relief personnel, food marketing and food production officers, nutritionists etc. This enables participants from the same country to work together, sharing experiences and perspectives, and relating the content of the course to their own country context. It helps to strengthen institutional capacity on food security within the country concerned in a coherent way.
TOPICS AND ISSUES These will include:
What is food security? * What are the different theories and definitions of food security? * What does food security mean at the individual, household, local and national levels?
How is food security measured? * Who is food insecure, when, where and why? * What are the best indicators and data collection methods for food security planning?
What are the policy options? * Is national food self-sufficiency necessary for food security? * Are cash crops good or bad for food security? * What are the implications of market liberalisation for food security? * How can the food consumption of vulnerable groups best be protected?
How can famine be prevented? * Is a good early warning system necessary and sufficient to prevent famine? * What are the best options for relief? * What are the links between conflict and famine?
What are the constraints to food security planning? * How should food security planning be organised as a multi-sectoral activity at national level? * What lessons can be learned from past experiences of food security planning in Africa and Asia?
FEES Course fees, accommodation (including breakfast), and all field and study visits: 8,165.
ACCOMMODATION All IDS study seminars and study courses are residential and single accommodation only is provided.
FURTHER INFORMATION on IDS courses is available from: The Teaching and Training Unit Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex Brighton, East Sussex BN1 9RE UK
Tel:(44 1273)606261 Fax:(44 1273)621202/691647 Email: mailto:ids.teaching@sussex.ac.uk WWW: http://www.ids.ac.uk
********************************************** Peter Ferguson British Library for Development Studies at Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9RE, UK
Email: mailto:p.ferguson@sussex.ac.uk Fax: 01273 621202 Tel: 01273 606261