1. Local partners are critical and keeping databases of these partners is a key tool for activating during a crisis. They are often from affected communities and know who needs help and can navigate complex urban and societal systems on the ground in a way that a large organisation is unable to.
2. Food parcels are less desirable than vouchers due to ease of use and lack of logistics needed to distribute relief. Vouchers can be spent within neighbourhood economies supporting the ongoing economic activity within communities, rather than further destabilising these systems by introducing external inputs.
3. Partners with intimate, detailed knowledge of food systems at localised level are critical for informing appropriate interventions. Our partnership with a group of research advisors supported decision-making that enabled sensitive and informed interventions that would not damage sensitive local dynamics.

We are actively working to systematise social infrastructure into the City structure to improve our responsiveness to future shocks. Lessons to other cities is the importance of specialist advisors, data and tools for communicating and coordinating data for planning and response.