Working Together to Improve Information Systems on Food and Nutrition Security: Examples of Recent Policy and Technical Advances

Presented by: Joyce Kangyangwa Luma from World Food Program and Tim Frankenberger from TANGO International

In 2010, FAO and WFP developed individual corporate strategies to guide their work in Information Systems for Food and Nutrition Security (ISFNS). These strategies were prompted in part by the findings and recommendations of the Joint Thematic Evaluation of Information Systems for Food Security of FAO and WFP (2009). The evaluation called for both agencies to strengthen their leadership in ISFNS; promote ISFNS that respond to specific needs of decision makers; promote long-lasting, national multi-stakeholder partnerships; and develop and apply an ISFNS communication and advocacy strategy. The evaluation also recommended that WFP and FAO develop a joint strategy with operational plans for complementary and shared ISFNS support. The Joint Strategy is directly aligned with the individual work of WFP and FAO and takes advantage of their established leadership roles on the global food security stage, with the aim of facilitating unified and coordinated advocacy as well as complementarity of efforts of multiple partners.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) was initiated in Somalia in 2004 as a means of providing meta-analysis of available food security data for informing policy response and the allocation of resources to address widespread food insecurity. It has since developed into a standardized scale that integrates food security, nutrition and livelihood information to create information products for use in decision making at the global, regional and national levels. The IPC process draws on the technical experience and strategic strengths of eight institutional partners (WFP, FAO, CARE, Save the Children UK, Save the Children US, Oxfam, FEWSNET, and the Joint Research Centre (European Commission) to build consensus on appropriate protocols for food security analysis.

This session discussed the joint work to be carried out by FAO and WFP in food and nutrition security information systems, and the technical work being carried out by the IPC Global Support Unit to inform Title II NGOs regarding FSN activities being carried out by institutions outside Title II programs.