The economic and food crises have dramatically increased the number of chronically poor people globally, rendering many more vulnerable to destitution should they experience even small shocks to income and food supply. In response, Oxfam has extended its work on social protection, which includes a strong gender analysis component, from an initial focus on those living in food insecure geographical areas – subject to drought, for example – and is applying it in a wider context. This article focuses on the urban safety net programme, in Nairobi, Kenya, the aims of which are to improve access to food for the most vulnerable households in two informal settlements in Nairobi, and to develop more long-term food and income security initiatives.