1. WFP/Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (VAM) 25 November 2012

2. Purpose and Objectives of the FSMS Purpose: to regularly monitor the food security situation in Yemen and update the knowledge base in order to improve/adjust the ongoing and planned food security related humanitarian interventions in the country. Objectives: identify potential threats and risks to household food security; provide timely information to initiate contingency plans and trigger emergency food security assessments; facilitate resource mobilization efforts; and adjust ongoing food security interventions.

3. Key Indicators to be Monitored The FSMS will include the following indicators categorized at three levels: Governorate/market level: market prices for key food communities, wage labour and livestock, and other important market indicators; Community level: qualitative information on various food security related issues including security issues, changes in food security situation, highly vulnerable groups, livelihood constraints, etc.; Household level: Food Consumption Score and food sources, coping strategies, livelihoods and income changes, exposure to shocks, expenditure pattern, indebtedness, assets, etc.; and

4. Coverage and Methodology All of the most food insecure Governorates if not all the 19 governorates covered by the CFSS will be monitored. Quantitative and qualitative information from primary data collection and relevant secondary data sources will be used. For primary data, household sample survey representative at national and urban/rural levels will be conducted. Qualitative information will also be collected from areas to be covered by the survey. Information from the regular market monitoring will be consolidated and used as one of the secondary data sources.

5. Expected Outputs from the FSMS FSM Bulletin with all the required food security information; Comprehensive database on food security for each round of the FSM; and Various relevant maps showing changes on food security situation

6. Timeframe of the FSMS Activities The FSMS results will be produced twice in a year with equal interval. Each round is estimated to take 8-10 weeks (from designing of the study materials to publishing of the results). Timing will be adjusted on the basis of information needs for various purposes and initiatives such as the IPC.