Income-Generating Activities - Action Against Hunger

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APPENDIX 2: GLOSSARY OF KEY TERMS
Alternatives to food aid: Actions to ensure that food products and primary needs (in
areas of health, hygiene, water, clothing, etc) can be covered through an increase
in access of a determined population, to prevent underlying or direct causes of
malnutrition.
Baseline: The result of collection and analysis of information that offers a detailed
view of the situation of the population and the zone before starting the work.
Later comparisons can be made between these initial levels and those achieved
during and at the end of the intervention to be able to evaluate the changes that
have taken place.
Basic family basket: Collection of goods and services of primary necessity that represent
the basic consumption of an average family.
Coping strategies or adaptation mechanisms: Behaviour adopted by the vulnerable
population before a crisis, or unfavourable event, to reduce risks and threats to
subsistence. When these strategies are not sustainable they may endanger the food
security of the population.
Debt capacity: Concept that reflects the ability of an individual, family unit or production
unit to make monthly payments. This is used in the process of granting
loans to evaluate the total amount that can be given without putting at risk the
future productive and economic capacity of the borrower.
Exit strategy: Strategy that establishes the different stages that will lead to a gradual
end to the support of the organisation and the subsequent closure of the mission.
Food Aid: Making foodstuffs available and accessible to a given population, in terms
of quality and quantity, in such way as to avoid malnutrition and diseases.
Food needs: Quantity and quality of minimum necessary food required by the human
body for complete development.
Food Security: Food security is ensured when all people, at all times, have access
economically, socially and physically to sufficient, safe, and nutrition food that
satisfies their nutritional needs and dietary preferences, allowing them to live active
and healthy lives. Food security of households corresponds to the application
of this concept on the family level, with the centre of attention focusing on the
individuals making up the household (FAO, 1996).
Impact evaluation: A study that measures the realisation of the fixed quantitative
and qualitative objectives and determines the positive and negative effects of the
activities.
Income: Monetary resources or in kind that an individual, or family unit, gains as a result
of productive activities.
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INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITIES: A KEY CONCEPT IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SECURTIY