Key Food Security Indicators Food Security Indicators Training Bangkok January 2009

Objectives Present key food security indicators Outline the Food Security & Nutrition Conceptual Framework (FSNCF) Suggest data collection modules Share experiences

Definitions Food security exists 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”. This is a function of: Food availability: the amount of food physically available to a household or at the national level; Food access: the physical (e.g. road network, market) and economical (e.g. own production, purchase) ability of a household to acquire adequate amounts of food; Food utilization: the intra-household use of the food accessible and the individual’s ability to absorb and use nutrients.

Definitions (cont’d) Food security is an outcome of the livelihood strategies adopted by a household. Livelihood activities are activities that households engage in to earn income and make a living Livelihood strategies are based upon the assets available: human, social, natural, physical and financial resources. A livelihood strategy 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.”

Vu l nerability is “the probability of an acute decline in food access, or consumption, often in reference to some critical value that defines minimum levels of human well-being”. Definitions (cont’d)

Food Security Analysis 1.First the human, social, natural, physical and financial assets are explored. 2.second, the livelihood strategies (and their sustainability) are analyzed, 3.Third, the livelihood outcomes are studied with a focus on food security outcomes (food access, food consumption, maternal and child nutrition).

Food and Nutrition Security Conceptual Framework

Questionnaire Modules 1.Demographics 2.Migration 3.Housing and facilities 4.Productive / non productive HH assets, access to credit 5.Agriculture and livestock, “net buyer/seller” module 6.Livelihoods 7.Expenditures 8.Food sources and consumption 9.Shocks and coping strategies 10.External assistance 11.Maternal and child health and nutrition

Demographics Household size Percentage of dependents Crowding index Child/elderly headed households Household head –Marital status –Sex –Age –Literacy Household with chronically ill/disabled members Net/gross enrolment rate, reasons for non- enrolment Level of schooling (head, spouse, members)

Migration Household with member migrating in/out Destinations Reasons Remittances / support HH Displacements

Housing and facilities Construction materials (roof, wall, floor) Ownership status Rent $ Toilet and sanitation Drinking Water source –Distance –Seasonal availability Source of light and cooking fuel Wealth index (contribution to)

Assets and access to credit Productive & non productive assets’ ownership Loss of assets Access to credit Source of credit Reasons for asking credit Reimbursement Amount of debts Wealth index (contribution to)

Agriculture & livestock Access to land / land ownership / ownership of kitchen garden Irrigation strategy Use of fertilizers / type of fertilizers used Crop storage Food stock Sources of seeds Production related indicators (e.g., size of cultivated area, main crops, etc.) Livestock UBT Loss, sell, reasons for selling

Size of the cultivated area (to understand the specifics of smallholders, key P4P indicator) Main Crops cultivated (max 3 or 4) Marketed surpluses: the value of HH sales adjusted by the value of HH purchases (for each of the main crops) Net benefit ratio for agriculturalists: for each crop, share of the value of production out of total yearly expenditures (indicator of the net seller/buyer status) Net benefit ratio for laborers: share of total wage income out of total expenditures (can be computed for landless laborers who receive labor wage). Marketable surpluses: production quantities adjusted by own consumption and losses. Agriculture: net seller/buyer section

Livelihoods Main livelihood activities Number of livelihood activities Contribution of each livelihood activity HH members involved in the activities Total cash income Livelihood groups

Expenditures % food expenditures Per capita expenditure Contribution of each type of expenditure (health, education, cereals) Expenditure quintiles

Food consumption and source of food Food consumption score Food consumption groups Main sources of food Contribution of each source of food Dependency on source (food aid, market, own production) Number of meals per day –Children and adults

Shock and coping strategy CSI Main shocks Coping strategies Ability to recover

Maternal and child health and nutrition MUAC BMI Stunting/wasting /underweight Diseases Feeding patterns

External assistance Type of assistance Source of assistance