Food Security

More than 1 billion people worldwide live in chronic hunger—endangering the health, mental capacity, economic productivity and well-being of people in the world’s poorest nations. The causes of hunger are complex and include low agricultural yields; high food prices; poor nutrition and health status; inequality among community members; natural resources depletion; and humanitarian emergencies. Hunger remains among the world’s top public health challenges. UNICEF estimates 60 percent of child deaths in developing countries are from malnutrition, and those that survive hunger in the early stages of life are at risk from irreparable physical and mental health issues.

Mercy Corps believes that the human capital exists to eradicate chronic hunger and malnutrition. Mercy Corps currently operates 45 programs focused on food security, worth more than $250 million, in more than 20 countries. These projects work with communities and households to develop and implement sustainable approaches to meeting their own food needs and improve food availability, access and utilization, as well as the ability to withstand shocks.

Download our Food Security Approach below to read more about our strategy.

Mercy Corps believes that partnership is critical to achieving deep impact, sustainability, and amplifying reach. We collaborate with a diverse range of partner agencies and institutions at all levels of the public, private and civil society sectors to address the global challenges that drive our work. See the list at the right for a few of our current international partners.