In an emergency context, humanitarian assistance is critical to meet immediate needs, but it can’t solve the underlying factors that contribute to food insecurity on its own – nor will development activities be able to deliver positive outcomes in the absence of humanitarian assistance to meet immediate needs. This is when a nexus approach is beneficial. A nexus approach includes at least two areas of focus, such as providing access to emergency food while also providing long-term livelihood support. An approach that has the potential to meet immediate needs, while creating new pathways for increased resilience to reduce vulnerability to hunger in the future.
Innovating our response to crisis recovery
When violent conflict broke out in North Kivu province of Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sarah Bemeyenga, her husband, and their children fled their home. After walking for several days, Sarah’s family arrived in the village of Shasha. They took refuge in a displacement camp, but just months later, the camp closed.
“It was a difficult time because we had to work hard to be able to eat,” says Sarah.
After fleeing war in their village, displaced couple Sarah Bemeyenga, her husband Mizabibu Mitungura, and their children, were welcomed to stay with Benjamin’s family. It was like a “weight off my shoulders,” said Sarah. (Photo: Esther N’sapu)
Thankfully, another family living in Shasha welcomed Sarah’s family into their home – 50-year-old Benjamin Muhabura, his wife, and their nine children. Benjamin’s family is one of 135 families who have hosted war-displaced people in Shasha.
“Since they don’t have a field, I gave them a space to grow, and we share the crops,” says Benjamin. “We grow together and sometimes we can share the meal… we became like a family.”
Both the displaced families and host families received food assistance in the form of rations from ECC-MERU, partner of Mennonite Central Committee Canada. As part of longer-term resiliency training, both families also participated in their local Village Savings and Loan Association, learning how to save money and start small businesses.
Last year, we approved funding of nexus programming for 117,634 people in 10 countries around the world. Click here to learn more about the Humanitarian, Early Recovery, and Development program and watch a video filmed in DR Congo.
This story was originally published in the 2024 Summer edition of Breaking Bread.
