FEWS NET Food Insecurity Severity Scale

FEWS NET is committed to developing comparable analysis to support clearer communication of food security conditions and support more equitable resource allocation and planning efforts. Not without significant challenges, FEWS NET applies international standards and the expert judgment of its staff and partners to provide the best analysis of regional and global food security conditions possible.

A main component of FEWS NET’s efforts a food insecurity severity scale based on an agreed international framework (see table below). FEWS NET is a leading participant in the development and global implementation of the Integrated Food Security and Humanitarian Phase Classification (IPC) system led by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

FEWS NET Food Insecurity Severity Scale
 
 
 Generally food secure
 
 Moderately food insecure
 
 Highly food insecure
 
 Extremely food insecure
 
 Famine
Summary Nearly all households have adequate access to sufficient food to maintain an active and healthy life, without depending on humanitarian assistance. This means that there is adequate food available; that households have adequate resources to obtain sufficient food; and that they are healthy enough to receive the nutritional value of the food. Some or all households are barely able to meet their basic food requirements on their own. To meet their requirements, they are relying on humanitarian assistance and/or coping strategies that begin to erode their asset base. Some or all households face shortfalls in meeting their basic food requirements. Negative household response strategies are prominent, including reduction in the quantity and/or quality of meals, and/or increased depletion or liquidation of assets. Rates of acute malnutrition are above normal. Some or all households face a severe shortfall in their basic food requirements. Reduced food intake is widespread, resulting in significantly increased rates of acute malnutrition and gradual destitution. Destitution and starvation become prominent, and populations face high mortality risk, due to an extreme lack of access to food and other basic needs.
FAO Integrated Food Security and Humanitarian Classification (IPC) System Reference Indicators
Crude mortality rate
(# deaths per 10,000 people per day)		 CMR ‹ 0.5 CMR ‹ 0.5
U5MR ‹ =1		 CMR 0.5-1, increasing;
U5MR 1-2		 CMR 1-2, increasing, or › 2x reference rate U5MR › 4
CMR › 2
Acute malnutrition (weight/height ‹ - 2 z-scores) ‹ 3% › 3% but ‹ 10% ; usual range, stable 10-15% ; › usual, increasing › 15%; > usual, increasing > 30%
Stunting (height/ age ‹-2 z-scores) ‹ 20% 20-40% NDC NDC NDC
Disease NDC NDC Epidemic outbreak; increasing Pandemic outbreak Pandemic outbreak
Food access/ availability Usually adequate, stable (2,100 kcal pppd) Borderline adequate, unstable (2,100 kcal pppd) Lack of entitlement (2,100 kcal pppd), meeting minimum needs through asset stripping Severe entitlement gap, unable to meet minimum needs Extreme entitlement gap; much below 2,100 kcal pppd
Dietary diversity Consistent quality and quantity of food Chronic deficit in dietary diversity Acute dietary deficit Regularly 2 to 3 or fewer main food groups consumed NDC
Water access/ availability Usally adequate, stable (› 15 ltrs pppd) Borderline adequate, unstable (› 15 ltrs pppd) 7.5-15 ltrs pppd; meeting minimum needs through asset stripping ‹ 7.5 ltrs pppd (human usage only) ‹ 4 ltrs pppd
Destitution/ displacement NDC NDC Emerging/ diffuse Concentrated/ increasing Large scale, concentrated
Civil security Prevailing and structural peace Unstable, disruptive tension Limited spread, low-intensity conflict Widespread, high-intensity conflict Widespread, high-intensity conflict
Coping NDC Insurance strategies Crisis strategies; CSI › reference, increasing Distress strategies; CSI significantly ‹ reference NDC
Hazard Moderate to low probability of, and/or vulnerability Recurrent, with high vulnerability NDC NDC NDC
Structural NDC Pronounced underlying hindrances NDC NDC NDC
Livelihood assets (5 capitals: human, social, financial, natural, physical) Generally sustained utilization Stressed unsustainable utilization Accelerated and critical depletion or loss of access Near complete and irreversible depletion or loss of access Effectively complete loss; collapse

Note: NDC = not a defining characteristic; pppd = per person per day; ltrs = liters; CSI = Coping Strategies Index developed by CARE and WFP

The IPC provides a systematic way to collect, analyze and present food security analysis, with a focus on ensuring comparable food security analysis and linking the analysis to strategic response options.

Achieving statistically comparable measures of food insecurity is not currently possible even with a major investment – nor necessarily required for early warning purposes. Therefore, the FEWS NET Food Insecurity Severity Scale aims to support the development of the most comparable analysis possible to support decision making and planning at different levels. FEWS NET fully recognizes the significant amount of judgment that underlies this type of analysis.

FEWS NET uses latest available assessment and monitoring data, as well as baseline and historical data, to conduct its analysis. A consensus-based process engaging relevant experts in each country is conducted to determine the appropriate level of food insecurity to assign to each area. IPC reference indicators are used as tools to guide this expert analysis and to facilitate consensus. The benchmarks also provide a minimum level of consistency across different areas and across countries.

The FEWS NET Food Insecurity Severity Scale uses the IPC reference indicators as benchmarks to estimate the level of food insecurity in an area. This scale is used in the analysis of current food security conditions and in the development of food security outlooks.

 

 
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