In recognition of the right to food, and the increased vulnerability of households to food insecurity as a result of disasters, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is involved in food security programming to improve the availability, access to and utilisation of food.

Food security programmes span the relief to development continuum by reducing the risk of, mitigating against and where necessary, providing relief and recovery from disasters to the most vulnerable households. Food security programming can encompass many different interventions depending on the objective of the programme. Examples of food security interventions include water for irrigation, livestock or health, seeds distribution or seed bank development, cash or food for work projects and food aid.