This comprehensive five-day training course is designed to equip humanitarian professionals with the essential knowledge and practical skills required to effectively address food security and livelihoods challenges in emergency contexts. The program provides a deep dive into the principles, tools, and methodologies for assessing, designing, implementing, and monitoring interventions that protect and restore food access and livelihood systems for affected populations. Participants will gain a holistic understanding of the complex factors that influence food insecurity during crises, from natural disasters and conflict to economic shocks, and learn how to develop appropriate and sustainable response strategies.
The course covers a broad range of topics, starting with foundational concepts of food security and livelihoods and moving into detailed modules on needs assessment, market analysis, and the selection of appropriate response modalities. The curriculum addresses both immediate, life-saving interventions and longer-term strategies for livelihood recovery and resilience-building. It also delves into the critical linkages between food security, nutrition, and public health. Furthermore, the training explores the importance of coordination, humanitarian principles, and the integration of disaster risk reduction into programming. Each module is designed to provide practical, hands-on experience, ensuring participants can apply their new skills immediately in the field.
Who Should Attend the Training
- Food security and livelihoods program officers
- Humanitarian aid workers and project managers
- Government officials and policymakers
- Researchers and academics
- Development practitioners transitioning to humanitarian work
- Monitoring and evaluation specialists
- Logisticians and supply chain professionals
Objectives of the Training
The primary objectives of this course are to enable participants to:
- Understand the core concepts of food security and livelihoods in diverse emergency contexts.
- Conduct rapid and in-depth assessments to identify the food and livelihood needs of affected populations.
- Select, design, and implement appropriate emergency response modalities, including cash, vouchers, and in-kind food assistance.
- Analyze market systems and their impact on food security during a crisis.
- Develop and manage monitoring and evaluation systems for food security and livelihoods programs.
Personal Benefits
- Enhanced Expertise: Gain specialized skills in a critical area of humanitarian response.
- Problem-Solving: Learn to analyze complex humanitarian situations and design effective interventions.
- Career Growth: Increase your value to organizations working in emergency response and development.
- Ethical Practice: Develop a deeper understanding of humanitarian principles and accountability.
- Networking: Build connections with fellow professionals and experts in the field.
Organizational Benefits
- Improved Program Quality: Ensure programs are needs-based, effective, and sustainable.
- Enhanced Decision-Making: Enable staff to make informed, evidence-based decisions in rapid-onset crises.
- Risk Mitigation: Proactively address food security risks to improve community resilience.
- Accountability: Strengthen accountability to affected populations and donors.
- Operational Efficiency: Streamline assessment and response processes for greater efficiency.
Training Methodology
- Interactive lectures and presentations to provide a strong theoretical foundation
- Group discussions and collaborative problem-solving exercises
- Case studies and real-world scenarios to bridge theory and practice
- Hands-on workshops for data collection, analysis, and response design
- Role-playing simulations to practice critical decision-making under pressure
- Peer-to-peer learning and knowledge sharing sessions
Trainer Experience
Our trainers are seasoned humanitarian practitioners with extensive field experience in food security and livelihoods programming across a wide range of emergency and protracted crisis settings. With over 15 years of practical experience, they have led assessments, designed and implemented large-scale food assistance programs, and advised on policy for major international organizations. Their expertise is grounded in the realities of humanitarian response, allowing them to provide practical insights, share lessons learned, and facilitate a highly engaging and relevant learning environment. They are deeply committed to building the capacity of the next generation of humanitarian professionals.
Quality Statement
We are committed to delivering high-quality training that is both relevant and impactful. Our course content is continuously updated to reflect the latest international standards, research, and best practices in the humanitarian sector. We ensure a superior learning experience through our expert trainers, interactive methodologies, and a strong focus on practical application. Our goal is to empower professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to save lives and protect livelihoods in times of crisis.
Tailor-made Courses
We understand that every organization has unique needs. This course can be customized to address specific challenges, geographical contexts, or organizational protocols. We offer tailor-made training solutions that can be adapted in terms of duration, content, and delivery format (online, in-person, or blended). Our team can work with you to develop a bespoke program that directly aligns with your organization's strategic objectives and operational requirements, ensuring maximum relevance and value.
Course Duration: 5 days
Training fee: USD 1300
Module 1: Fundamentals of Food Security and Livelihoods
- Defining food security and its four pillars: availability, access, utilization, and stability
- Understanding the concept of livelihoods and the diverse strategies people employ
- Differentiating between food security and livelihoods in emergency contexts
- Key humanitarian standards and frameworks (e.g., Sphere, Grand Bargain)
- Practical session: A group discussion and analysis of a case study on a recent natural disaster, identifying the immediate and long-term food security and livelihood impacts.
Module 2: Food Security and Livelihoods Needs Assessment
- Rapid assessment methodologies and tools (e.g., rapid household surveys, key informant interviews)
- In-depth assessment tools (e.g., Household Economy Approach - HEA, Integrated Food Security Phase Classification - IPC)
- Data collection techniques, including qualitative and quantitative methods
- Triangulating data from multiple sources for a comprehensive analysis
- Practical session: Designing a rapid needs assessment questionnaire and a data collection plan for a hypothetical conflict-affected area.
Module 3: Emergency Food and Livelihood Response Modalities
- Overview of in-kind food assistance: pros, cons, and logistical considerations
- Cash and voucher assistance (CVA): types, conditions, and suitability
- Livelihood-focused interventions: asset protection, agricultural support, and micro-grants
- Choosing the most appropriate response modality based on context and needs
- Practical session: A decision-making exercise where participants must select the best response modality for a given emergency scenario, justifying their choice based on provided data.
Module 4: Market Analysis in Emergency Contexts
- The importance of market analysis for humanitarian interventions
- Rapid Market Assessment (RAM) and other key market assessment tools
- Understanding market functionality, supply chains, and price volatility during crises
- Using market data to inform response modality selection and program design
- Practical session: Analyzing a simulated market assessment dataset to determine the feasibility of a cash transfer program.
Module 5: Livelihood Support and Protection Strategies
- Strategies to protect critical livelihood assets (e.g., livestock, seeds, tools)
- Designing and implementing programs for immediate livelihood restoration
- Supporting productive activities such as agriculture, fisheries, and small business
- The role of vocational training and skills development in post-crisis recovery
- Practical session: A group activity to design a livelihood support program for a population displaced by conflict, including a component for asset protection.
Module 6: Nutrition and Public Health in Emergencies
- The critical link between food security, nutrition, and health outcomes
- Understanding malnutrition and its different forms (e.g., acute, chronic)
- Integrating nutrition-sensitive programming into food security interventions
- Coordination with health and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) sectors
- Practical session: A case study review of a humanitarian response where participants identify missed opportunities for integrating nutrition and health considerations.
Module 7: Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)
- Developing a MEAL framework for food security and livelihoods programs
- Designing indicators to measure program output, outcome, and impact
- Methods for data collection and analysis, including post-distribution monitoring
- The importance of accountability to affected populations (AAP) and feedback mechanisms
- Practical session: Creating a simple MEAL plan for a food assistance project, including indicators and a data collection timeline.
Module 8: Disaster Risk Reduction and Preparedness
- Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) into food security programming
- Community-based DRR approaches and early warning systems
- Building household and community resilience to future shocks
- Developing contingency plans and a preparedness framework
- Practical session: A group workshop on developing a preparedness action plan for a community in a flood-prone area, focusing on food security measures.
Module 9: Coordination and Humanitarian Principles
- The global humanitarian architecture and the cluster system (e.g., Food Security Cluster)
- The importance of coordination with local and international actors
- Humanitarian principles: humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence
- Navigating political and security challenges in emergency response
- Practical session: A role-playing exercise where participants represent different humanitarian organizations and must coordinate a joint response plan for a sudden-onset crisis.
Module 10: Urban Food Security and Long-Term Livelihoods
- The specific challenges of food insecurity in urban emergency contexts
- Livelihood recovery strategies for urban populations (e.g., small business support, market linkages)
- Transitioning from emergency response to development and long-term resilience
- Sustainable agriculture and climate-resilient livelihoods
- Practical session: Analyzing a case study of a response to an urban crisis and developing a strategy for the transition from immediate food aid to long-term livelihood support.
Requirements:
- Participants should be reasonably proficient in English.
- Applicants must live up to Armstrong Global Institute admission criteria.
Terms and Conditions
1. Discounts: Organizations sponsoring Four Participants will have the 5th attend Free
2. What is catered for by the Course Fees: Fees cater for all requirements for the training – Learning materials, Lunches, Teas, Snacks and Certification. All participants will additionally cater for their travel and accommodation expenses, visa application, insurance, and other personal expenses.
3. Certificate Awarded: Participants are awarded Certificates of Participation at the end of the training.
4. The program content shown here is for guidance purposes only. Our continuous course improvement process may lead to changes in topics and course structure.
5. Approval of Course: Our Programs are NITA Approved. Participating organizations can therefore claim reimbursement on fees paid in accordance with NITA Rules.
Booking for Training
Simply send an email to the Training Officer on training@armstrongglobalinstitute.com and we will send you a registration form. We advise you to book early to avoid missing a seat to this training.
Or call us on +254720272325 / +254725012095 / +254724452588
Payment Options
We provide 3 payment options, choose one for your convenience, and kindly make payments at least 5 days before the Training start date to reserve your seat:
1. Groups of 5 People and Above – Cheque Payments to: Armstrong Global Training & Development Center Limited should be paid in advance, 5 days to the training.
2. Invoice: We can send a bill directly to you or your company.
3. Deposit directly into Bank Account (Account details provided upon request)
Cancellation Policy
1. Payment for all courses includes a registration fee, which is non-refundable, and equals 15% of the total sum of the course fee.
2. Participants may cancel attendance 14 days or more prior to the training commencement date.
3. No refunds will be made 14 days or less before the training commencement date. However, participants who are unable to attend may opt to attend a similar training course at a later date or send a substitute participant provided the participation criteria have been met.
Tailor Made Courses
This training course can also be customized for your institution upon request for a minimum of 5 participants. You can have it conducted at our Training Centre or at a convenient location. For further inquiries, please contact us on Tel: +254720272325 / +254725012095 / +254724452588 or Email training@armstrongglobalinstitute.com
Accommodation and Airport Transfer
Accommodation and Airport Transfer is arranged upon request and at extra cost. For reservations contact the Training Officer on Email: training@armstrongglobalinstitute.com or on Tel: +254720272325 / +254725012095 / +254724452588
