The global Food Security Cluster (gFSC) became operational in April 2011 and led jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) and represents a partnership of approximately 35 institutions from the UN, NGOs and International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

Over the year 2012, the gFSC global support team based in Rome consisted of 14 individuals drawn from FAO, GenCap, HelpAge, IFRC, ProCap and WFP. The vision of the global Food Security Cluster is that the specific food security needs of individuals and communities affected by or at risk of being affected by humanitarian crises (whether sudden onset or protracted) are met. Coordinated preparedness, response and recovery action at community, national and global levels result in saved lives, improved livelihoods and increased resilience of households and communities.

The gFSC aims to strengthen food security responses in crisis situations, mainstream early recovery approaches and to enhance national capacity to:

• deliver predictable and accountable leadership and coordination on food security responses;
• strengthen existing national and local humanitarian management and coordination systems, building on local capacities through the active participation of women and men from the affected populations; and
• optimize collaboration and partnerships with governments, UN agencies, NGOs, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, donors and other stakeholders to ensure holistic responses.

From the beginning of the cluster approach in 2005 to the end of 2012, there had been 50 countries that had established agriculture and/or food or food security clusters in response to complex and or sudden onset emergencies.

Since the inception of the gFSC in April 2010, many of the previously separated coordination mechanisms have come together to form national food security clusters. In December 2012, 36 countries had active food security cluster or sector coordination mechanisms: 30 countries have food security clusters or sectors; 4 countries have separate agriculture and food assistance clusters or sectors, but have strengthened inter-cluster collaboration to ensure more effective responses.

The gFSC focused on five core areas of work during 2012:

1. Operational and Surge Support to National Clusters
2. Capacity Development
3. Tools and Guidance
4. Information Management
5. Advocacy