Vulnerability reduction must form a priority with the government bodies, the non-governmental agencies and the community. A security umbrella covering food, water, shelter and health security is a precondition for vulnerability reduction. The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) has launched the " Urban Challenges to Food and Nutrition Security " Programme to provide information to policy makers, programme administrators, development practitioners and other vested audiences to make sound policy and programme decisions to seduce food insecurity and malnutrition in urban areas. City governnlents.must pay attention to the potential of urban agriculture. Even in crowded areas, people can often find space to grow vegetables or raise animals to supplement the food they buy.

Policy makers must examine the interlinkages between urban and rural areas. In many cities, people depend on agricultural production for their livelihoods, indirectly as vendors, processors, transporters, ,wholesellers and retailers. Many city dwellers still own land in rural areas, and may fall back on relatives over