1. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Session 2.4. Situation Analysis Step 2 Food Consumption & Food Access Indicators

2. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Learning Objectives After the session, participants should be able to:  Explain the methodology of calculating the food consumption score, and the limitations of the FCS in determining the status of food consumption  Explain the value - and limitations - of food access indicators and thresholds in determination of food security groups  Analyse a food consumption & food access cross tabulation table 2

3. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Where are we? 3 EFSA Process Adapt conceptual framework & objectives Prepare analysis plan: indicators, data, sources Collect, review secondary data Collect primary data Conduct situation analysis Conduct forecast analysis Analyse response options Make response recommendations Prepare report

4. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme HH FS: estimated from combination of food consumption and food economic access: = Food Consumption Poor?Borderline?Acceptable? Food Access Poor?Average?Good? Food (In)Security Severe?Moderate?Adequate? +

5. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Food consumption indicator:  Dietary Diversity and Food Consumption Frequency score  Apply thresholds to define ‘poor’, ‘borderline’ and ‘acceptable’ food consumption patterns Food access indicator :  Simple or combined  Indicator(s) and thresholds are context-specific  Selection of indicator(s) and thresholds should be based on: Type of crisis Hypotheses made on the effects of crisis on food access Pre-crisis information (baselines, previous surveys) Key informants’ and experts’ judgement Creating Food Security Groups

6. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Food consumption score (1) Ideally detailed food consumption surveys are used to measure caloric intake. Limitations – sample size (cost & time), expertise Alternatively, food consumption scores (dietary diversity & food frequency) are used in HH surveys Approach - widely adopted to analyze food consumption & assess shortfalls

7. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Proxy indicator reflecting quantity (kcal) & quality (nutrients) of people’s diet Based on 7-day recall of food types & frequency of consumption Data are collected at HH level Additional information on food sources is collected to understand better HH food access Food consumption score (2)

8. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Example – Darfur HH questionnaire Food item/group DAYS eaten in past week (0-7 days) Primary source of food (use code) a Sorghum b. Millet c. Other cereals (wheat, maize) d. Groundnuts, legumes e. Meat/chicken, bush meat, etc. f. Cooking oil g. Vegetables h. Fruits i. Milk, yogurt, cheese, etc. j. Eggs k. Sugar l. Wild foods (including leaves)

9. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Calculating food consumption scores (1) Each food group is assigned a weight reflecting its nutrient density and expected quantity For each HH, food consumption score is calculated by:  Merging food items into 8 food groups  Note: the maximum frequency for each food group is 7  Multiplying each food group frequency by food group weight, and then  Summing these scores into one composite score

10. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Calculating Food consumption scores (2)

11. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Interpretation of FCS (1) HH score is compared with pre-established thresholds that indicate the status of HH’s food consumption HH score is compared with pre-established thresholds that indicate the status of HH’s food consumption 21 scores is the minimum thresholds: 21 scores is the minimum thresholds: 7 days cereals/tubers = 14 7 days cereals/tubers = 14 + 5 days pulses/beans = 5 + 5 days pulses/beans = 5 + 4 days oils/fat = 2 + 4 days oils/fat = 2 = 21 = 21 Any HH or group of HHs falling below this minimum level of consumption can be viewed as having poor food consumption Any HH or group of HHs falling below this minimum level of consumption can be viewed as having poor food consumption

12. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Interpretation of FCS (2) Poor food consumption: 0 to 21 (0 to 28) Borderline food consumption: 21.5 to 35(28.5 to 42) Good food consumption:> 35 (>42) Note: Thresholds can be adjusted if there is clear justification for doing so, e.g. small amounts of oil & sugar consumed daily

13. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Interpretation of FCS (3) FCSInterpretation < 21Quantity and quality inadequate 21.5 - 35Quality inadequate (quantity?) > 35Adequate diet

14. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Example: frequency and diversity Household 1 Maize = 4 days Tubers = 3 days Rice = 1 day Beans = 5 days Meat = 1 day Cooking oil = 7 days Leaves = 3 days Household 2 Rice = 7 days Tubers = 2 days Meat = 5 days Cooking oil = 7 days Vegetables = 3 days 1.What are the scores for each household? 2.Who enjoys better food intake and why? Household 1 = 41.5 scores Household 2 = 44.5 scores

15. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Analysis of Food Consumption (1) Example 38.6 scores = adequate food consumption

16. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Analysis of Food Consumption (2) Example

17. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Limitations Is only a snap-shot of one week food consumption Does not: capture seasonal changes quantify the food gap capture intra-HH food consumption show how food consumption has changed as result of crisis, unless previous FCSs for same HHs are available Thus, in an emergency, MORE ANALYSIS IS NEEDED to understand changes in HH food consumption

18. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Food Access The measure of a population’s ability to acquire available food for the given consumption period through: its own stocks home production market transactions other forms of transfers

19. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Food access indicators (1)  People’s access to food varies widely among & within areas  Indicators must be tailored to the livelihood strategies employed by the assessed population e.g. purchasing power: HHs depend upon daily labour for their income & buy almost all their food at the market  Wage income  Prices (terms of trade – wage income/staple food)  Seasonality

20. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme 20 Examples: Food access indicators  Sources of food and income  Consumption of “famine foods”  Purchasing power  Terms of trade  Food self-sufficiency  Asset ownership  Remittances

21. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme What would you choose as food access indicators? Why? In a community, households keep about 1/2 of their harvested crops for own consumption. This does not cover all their food needs, so they need to purchase food. Income comes from sale of crops as well as fishing and livestock sales Food access indicators: Food stock duration Income source (reliability)

22. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Food sources

23. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme 23 Food access indicators (2)  Food access indicators are rated as poor/average/good using context specific indicators  The key criteria for such a value judgement are:  Reliability: continuous & predictable supply of food / income  Sustainability: source is not dependent on temporary or unpredictable systems (such as food aid)  Quantity: Food or income sources provide sufficient quantity to cover needs  Quality: Food sources cover nutrition requirements; income sources are socially acceptable.

24. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Poor, average or good food access? (1) A HH has recently moved to an IDP camp and acquires most of its food from relief assistance provided by an international humanitarian organisation. The household has no income source.  Poor food access because of poor food and no income source

25. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Poor, average or good food access? (2) Another HH in the camp receives most of its food from relief. This HH retains access to some of its fields and is able to harvest and sell some cash crops. In addition, the HH receives regular remittances from a relative working in the capital. HH’s income sources are good. Combination of poor food sources with good income sources leads to  average food access.

26. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme 2006 Darfur assessment :  Most people in area under study depend primarily on their own agricultural production for food and income  According to FAO/WFP references, average individual in Darfur needs 150 kg of cereal / year for consumption  According to 2005 EFSA, ave. yields of cereal are 450 kg/ha  Therefore, to produce enough food, HH must cultivate at least 0.33 ha of cereal / HH household member Darfur food access indicator - establishing thresholds (1)

27. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Darfur food access indicator - establishing thresholds (2) On the basis of this analysis, simple thresholds can be established: < 0.3 ha / HH member = poor access 0.3 to 0.4 ha / HH member = average > 0.5 ha / HH member = good

28. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Note of caution: Analysis within broader context.  e.g. HH with 0.5 ha / HH member might have problems if rains were less than usual, or if conflict restricted access to fields Variations in the data.  Average yield is estimated at 450 kg/ha, but perhaps half the farms yield 750 kg/ha while the other half yield only 150 kg/ha. Darfur food access indicator - establishing thresholds (3)

29. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Combining food access indicators Food source  PoorAverageGood Income source  Poor Poor food access Average food access Average Poor food access Average food access Good food access Good Average food access Good food access

30. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Malawi – Food access indicators (1)

31. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Malawi – Food access indicators (2)

32. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Food consumption  PoorBorderlineGood Food access  Poor Severely food- insecure Moderately food-insecure Average Severely food- insecure Moderately food-insecure Food-secure Good Moderately food-insecure Food-secure Creating Food Security Groups (1)

33. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Creating Food Security Groups (2)

34. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Exercise 2.4.a. Food Access & Food Security Indicators Construct a food access indicator Estimate proportions of food insecure HHs Use Exercise 2.4.a Worksheet

35. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Exercise 2.4.b. Cross-Tab: Food Consumption & Food Access Calculate the number and proportion of HHs in:  severe food insecurity  moderate food insecurity  food security

36. Advanced EFSA Learning Programme In EFSAs in your countries…  What food access indicators have been used?  Why were these chosen?  What other indicators might help determine food access levels? 36