---
title: "3.1 Introduction"
slug: "31-introduction"
updated: 2023-12-07T10:36:38Z
published: 2023-12-07T10:36:38Z
canonical: "handbook.fscluster.org/31-introduction"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://handbook.fscluster.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# 3.1 Introduction

![](https://cdn.document360.io/be292e4d-58a1-4b36-b738-174162fabafa/Images/Documentation/3254897.jpg)

Food security clusters aim to ensure a more coherent and effective response by mobilizing partner organizations to respond in a strategic manner to humanitarian food security needs.

This chapter focuses on the country-level cluster, the process for activating and deactivating an FSC, and the structure and composition of a typical FSC. It will also summarise the purpose and core functions at country level, the roles and responsibilities of:

- FAO and WFP as cluster lead agencies (CLAs);
- The FSC Coordinator (and team); and
- Cluster members.

Increasingly a key priority of the FSC, the capacity strengthening of local actors is also highlighted. *To understand how the FSC fits within the overall humanitarian coordination architecture at country level* *as well as the intersectoral context, see* [*chapter 4*](/cc/docs/chapter-4-the-humanitarian-coordination-architecture-and-inter-sectoral-coordination-at-country-level)*.*

Food Security Cluster

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation

World Food Programme

Cluster Lead Agencies