New thinking about resources for food security and development has been prompted by a global decline in development assistance to an all-time low level, an increase in private resources for select developing countries, and by shifting roles among government, civil society, and market institutions. These have set in motion processes of government downsizing and decentralization, which have given greater emphasis to local level governance and development. The actual and potential assets of poor people themselves are recognized increasingly as the cornerstone of development and food security.