For the Rwandan Red Cross (RRC), the starting point for support was severe food insecurity experienced in Bugesara and Umutara provinces in 1999. Subsequently, the RRC launched a national-level vulnerability and capacity assessment (VCA) to identify the main types and areas of vulnerability throughout the country. This information was intended to help the RRC to begin to better understand and anticipate problems of chronic food insecurity and other disasters. The VCA information was also used to identify which parts of the country could benefit from community-level disaster mitigation work. The district of Karaba was chosen as a starting point for a local-level VCA because of the chronic food insecurity problems in the area. This resource describes the intervention in Karaba, its impact and the lessons learned. Published in 2004.