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1. Food Security Framework and Concepts ain FSTS Training on Food Security Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) 25 – 27 October 2010

2. What is Food Security? 70’s – 80’s • 1974, UN World Food Conference “Availability at all times of adequate world food supplies of basic foodstuffs to sustain a steady expansion of food consumption and to offset fluctuations in production and prices.” • 1983, UN FAO “Ensuring that all people at all times have both physical and economic access to the basic food that they need.” • 1986, World Bank “Food security is access of all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life”

3. What is Food Security? 90’s • 1990, USDA Food security means an access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life. Food security includes at a minimum (1) the ready availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, and (2) an assured ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways (that is, without resorting to emergency food supplies, scavenging, stealing, or other coping strategies).” • 1996, UN FAO “Food security, at the individual, household, national, regional and global levels is achieved when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.”

4. What is Food Security? • New Millennium • 2001, UN FAO “Food security is a situation that exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.” .

5. The Multi-dimensional Nature of FS Four main dimensions of food security: 1. Physical AVAILABILITY of food 2. Economic, social and physical ACCESS to food 3. Food UTILIZATION 4. STABILITY of the other 3 dimensions over time For food security objectives to be realized, allfour dimensions must be fulfilled simultaneously.

6. The Multi-dimensional Nature of FS Food availability addresses the “supply side” of food security and is determined by the level of food production, stock levels and net trade (including food aid). Food access refers to access by individuals to adequate resources (entitlements) for acquiring appropriate foods for a nutritious diet. Utilization is commonly understood as the way the body makes the most of various nutrients in the food. This food security dimension is determined primarily by people’s health status. Stability emphasizes the importance of having to reduce the risk of adverse effects on the 3 other dimensions.

7. Food Security vs. Self Sufficiency The concept of food self-sufficiencyis generally taken to mean the extent to which a country can satisfy its food needs from its own domestic production. Two fundamental differences between food self-sufficiency and FS objectives: 1. food self-sufficiency looks only at national production as the sole source of supply, while food security takes into account commercial imports and food aid as possible sources of commodity supply. 2. food self-sufficiency refers only to domestically-produced food availability at the national level, food security brings in elements of stability of supply and access to food by the population.

8. Food Insecurity “Food insecurity exists when people do not have adequate physical, social or economic access to food .” • The nature of food insecurity is determined by its duration and severity • The impact of food insecurity on people’s life varies significantly according to its duration and severity

9. Duration of Food Insecurity Transitory food insecurity • Short-term and temporary • Relatively unpredictable • Can emerge suddenly Inadequate food consumption may vary from a short-term experience to a life long condition. Inadequate food consumption may vary from a short-term experience to a life long condition. • Chronic food insecurity • Long-term & persistent • Results often from: • Chronic poverty • Lack of assets • Inadequate access to productive or financial resources

10. Duration of Food Insecurity • Seasonal food insecurity • Cyclical pattern • Associated with seasonal fluctuation in: • Climate • Cropping patterns • Work opportunities • Prevalence of disease Seasonality highlights times of the year when the food gap and food needs are likely to be greatest Avail / access to food Q Time

11. Severity of Food Insecurity The nature, extent and urgency of the assistance needed by affected population groups is determined by how severe food insecurity the term acute food insecurity is usually used to describe a severe and life threatening situation. The intensity of food insecurity may be measured in terms of levels of food intake. Famine describes the most extreme situation usually associated with substantial loss of life

12. Vulnerability to Food Insecurity • Vulnerability is defined in terms of the following three critical dimensions: • vulnerability to an outcome; • from a variety of risk factors; • because of an inability to manage those risks. People vulnerable to food insecurity are those who are able to maintain an acceptable level of food security today, but may be at risk of becoming food insecure in future.

13. Vulnerability to Food Insecurity Vulnerability Analysis • VA has implications for both emergency programming and for longer-term food security policies. • VA allows for a more precisely targeted response than a simple estimation of the aggregate food gap. VA suggests 2 main intervention options: either to reduce the degree of exposure to the hazard, or to increase the ability to cope.

14. Hunger – Malnutrition - Poverty Hunger Hunger is usually understood as an uncomfortable or painful sensation caused by insufficient food energy consumption. Scientifically, hunger is referred to as food deprivation. All hungry people are food insecure, but not all food insecure people are hungry, as there are other causes of food insecurity, including those due to poor intake of micro-nutrients.

15. Hunger – Malnutrition - Poverty Malnutrition • Malnutrition results from deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in the consumption of macro- and/or micro-nutrients. • The vast majority of malnourished individuals in the developing world experience undernutritionas opposed to overnutrition. • The consequence of malnutrition is poor infant and child growth and an excess of morbidity and mortality in adults and children alike.

16. Hunger – Malnutrition - Poverty Malnutrition • Nutritional status is determined by: • the quantity and quality of foods consumed; • the ability of the body to use them. These factors are influenced by the interaction of diet, care, and health status. Hence, malnutrition may be an outcome of food insecurity, or it may relate to non-food factors.

17. Food Insecure Malnourished Temporary food insecurity Malnourished and food insecure At risk of future food insecurity Hunger – Malnutrition - Poverty Malnutrition and Food Insecurity are overlapping domains Malnourished due to non food reasons Malnourished due to non food reasons

18. Hunger – Malnutrition - Poverty Poverty “Poverty encompasses different dimensions of deprivation that relate to human capabilities including consumption and food security, health, education, rights, voice, security, dignity and decent work.” (OECD) • Food insecurity and poverty are deeply interrelated phenomena. • Any attempt to define, measure, or combat them requires that the relationship between them should be explicitly taken into account.

19. Hunger – Malnutrition - Poverty Poverty • Althoughpovertyhas many dimensions, at an operational level it is most often defined in terms of income. • The most common measures of poverty are national income poverty lines and an individual income of less than US$1 per day.

20. Hunger – Malnutrition - Poverty Food Insecurity and Poverty: a vicious cycle Poverty Food insecurity, hunger and malnutrition Low productivity Poor physical and cognitive development

21. A modified FIVIMS Framework NATIONAL, SUBNATIONAL AND COMMUNITY LEVEL HOUSEHOLDS INDIVIDUALS Socio-economic, Political, Civil, Institutional and Cultural Environment Food Economy HOUSEHOLD LIVELIHOODSTRATEGIES, ASSETS & ACTIVITIES FOOD AVAILABILITYdomestic production import capacity food stocks, food aid FOOD CONSUMPTION Energy intakeNutrient intake HOUSEHOLD FOOD ACCESS CARE PRACTICESChild careFeeding practicesNutritional knowledgeFood preparationEating habitsIntra-household food distribution STABILITY weather variability price fluctuations political factors economic factors NUTRITIONAL STATUS FOOD UTILISATION BY THE BODY Health status ACCESS TO FOODpoverty purchasing power, income Transport and market infrastructure HEALTH & SANITATIONHealth care practicesHygiene, SanitationWater qualityFood safety & quality PopulationEducation Macro-economy including foreign tradePolicies and lawsNatural resources endowmentBasic servicesMarket conditionsTechnologyClimateCivil strifeHousehold characteristicsLivelihoods systemsSocial institutionsCultural attitudes and gender

22. Livelihoods ‘ A livelihood comprises the capabilities, assets (including both material and social resources) and activities required for a means of living.” “ A livelihood is sustainable when it can cope with and recover from stresses and shocks and maintain or enhance its capabilities and assets both now and in the future, while not undermining the natural resource base.’ (From: Sustainable Livelihoods Approach, DFID)

23. Livelihoods in Food Security Analysis • A livelihood zone(LZ) is a geographical entity that can be used for the analysis of spatial data, where the object of interest is human outcomes: how are people affected by risk, shocks, and trends in climate or economic processes. • The core assumption is that in any one LZ, people will share roughly the same socio-economic and cultural characteristics, and in particular, that the way of life, or livelihood, is similar. We do not assume that within a livelihood zone all people are the same.

24. Livelihoods in Food Security Analysis • The primary purpose of collecting and analysing datasets according to livelihood zone is to increase the statistical efficiency of sampling: People within a LZ are likely to be affected in similar ways to a shock or hazard than between LZs.

25. Livelihoods in Food Security Analysis • Different livelihoods are differentiated on the basis of a set of attributes such as: • Population numbers and demographic composition • Critical rainfall and other climate statistics (mean, variability, time-series) • Main sources of income and expenditure shares • Crop and livestock production variables • Land use • Elevation • Probabilities associated with certain risks (drought, flood, conflict, etc.)

26. DFID Sustainable Livelihoods Framework

27. SLF: Livelihoods Assets The Sustainable Livelihood Approach describes livelihoods according to livelihood Capitals: Natural Capital represents the natural resource stocks from which people derive their livelihood resources. Examples include rangelands, soil fertility, trees, fishing grounds etc. Physical Capital comprises the basic infrastructure and producer gods needed to support livelihoods, such as bridges, roads, markets and telecommunications. Human Capital represents the skills, knowledge (including education), ability to labour and good health that together enable people to pursue different livelihood strategies and achieve their livelihood objectives.

28. SLF: Livelihoods Assets Social Capital is the social resources upon which people draw in pursuit of their livelihood objectives. In general terms these are developed through networks and connectedness, membership of more formalised groups, and relationships of trust, reciprocity and exchanges (informal safety nets). This capital also includes political inclusion and voice. Financial Capital denotes the financial resources that people use to achieve their livelihood objectives. This can include flows as well as stocks and can contribute to both consumption and production. Commonly, this would comprise earned income, remittances and gifts, savings and access to credit. Livelihood Capitals are interchangeable in a highly dynamic system.

29. SLF: Transforming Structures and Processes • Understanding of structures and processes is crucial (laws, policies, societal norms, and incentives) because: • provides the link between the micro (individual, household and community) and the macro (regional, government, powerful private enterprise). • helps to identify areas where restrictions, barriers or constraints occur and explain social process that could impact on livelihood sustainability. • Access, control and use of assets are influenced by the institutional structures and processes.

30. SLF: Livelihood Outcomes • A focus on outcomes leads to a focus on achievements, indicators and progress. • An understanding of livelihood outcomes is intended to provide, through a participatory enquiry, a range of outcomes that will improve well-being and reduce poverty in its broadest sense.

31. SLF: Livelihood Strategies ‘Livelihood strategies are composed of activities that generate the means of household survival’ • Livelihood strategies change as the external environment over which people have little control changes. • Sometimes unsustainable and unproductive livelihood strategies continue because of tradition and habit • At other times livelihood activities are introduced as coping strategies in difficult times.

32. SLF: Vulnerability Context People’s livelihoods and their access and control of resources can be affected by events largely beyond their control. • The vulnerability context firstly frames the external environment in which people exist. ex: • trends in population growth, (inter) national economics, natural resources, politics, and technology, • sudden shocks or events such as health problems, earthquakes, floods, droughts, conflict, agricultural problems such as pests and disease, economic shocks. • seasonal vulnerability of prices, production, employment opportunities or health can impact on livelihoods • The vulnerability context is secondly about how people adapt to and cope with stresses and shocks.

33. Hazard • A hazard is a threatening event which has to be considered alongside vulnerability to understand the potential impact or risk of food insecurity resulting. Examples: • Floods • Drought • Insecurity • Economic shock (e.g. rising food prices)

34. Vulnerability • Vulnerability refers to the full range of factors that place people at risk of becoming food insecure, including those factors that affect their ability to cope. • Vulnerability brings in the elements of resilience and coping

35. Risk • Risk is a composite concept that incorporates exposure to a hazard together with vulnerability to that particular hazard. It is commonly expressed as: Risk = Hazard x Vulnerability Coping capacity • Risk= exposure to hazard x vulnerability • Note that vulnerability is specific to a particular hazard, rather than a generic condition.

36. Coping • Coping strategies are the adaptive element in systems that help them to absorb the effects of a hazard. They are generally divided into three types: • Insurance strategies: reversible and preserving productive assets; • Crisis strategies: irreversible, threatening future livelihood • Distress Strategies: no coping, starvation

37. Resilience • There are two aspects to resilience: • “Resistance” which is the ability of a system (commonly a household or LZ) to absorb the effects of a hazard and remain within a given state (this brings in coping...) • “Bounce back” the ability of a system to return to a pre-existing (or new) condition, which incorporates the rate and speed of recovery, and system flexibility/ adaptive capacity.

38. Resilience • Generally a resilient livelihood with abundant assets and ability to be flexible will be less vulnerable to a particular hazard (though there are exceptions) • Change is an opportunity to a resilient livelihood, but potentially disastrous to an un-resilient livelihood

39. Source: Turner, B. L., II et al. (2003) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 100, 8074-8079

40. Thank You