Safety nets and the right to food. Directives from the FAO

This paper analyses the role safety nets are likely to play, and particularly food security safety nets, in making the right to food a reality. The first part presents the obligations of governments in terms of the right to food. Then the concept of safety nets is analysed from a rights-based approach. The last part is a discussion on the main criteria that need to be considered in designing and choosing food security safety nets. Particular attention is given to choosing between cash transfer or food based programmes.

FAO - 2006