The Sahel crisis of 2012 is likely to dramatically increase the “resilience deficit” and the extent of vulnerability. Addressing this deficit calls for a major paradigm shift in how chronic hunger crises are addressed. In the Sahel, there are few examples of communities in high risk-prone areas that have managed to protect and increase resilience of the most vulnerable households, in terms of reducing chronic hunger and shocking levels of child malnutrition. The existing system for promoting resilience has to change. Business as usual will continue to fail the people of the Sahel. A different approach, one that includes social transfers designed to directly help the poorest and most vulnerable families with food programmes sourced from local small-scale farmers and other steps, is essential. The specific needs of the chronically food insecure populations, and chronically malnourished children, must become a long-term priority within integrated humanitarian and development action, not just during crises. In light of this, the repor t presents recommendations for national governments, regional structures, UN agencies, donors, international organisations, and civil society, to overcome the resilience deficit.