Global food security assessment guidelines: A step-by - International ...

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent SocietiesFood insecurityExamplesInadequate foodavailability■ Severe drought can depleteharvests or kill livestock.■ War or conflict can impedefood imports.■ Heavy flooding can damageroad networks and disruptfood trade.■ Avian influenza can affectperi-urban poultry farmingif birds die, or are culled aspart of national containmentpolicy.■ Increased fuel prices maylead to reduced activity inmills, thereby affecting thequantity of flour availablefor sale.■ Locust infestations candiminish food stocks or ruinharvests.■ The agricultural workforcemay be depleted due to theprevalence of HIV/AIDS,leading to a reduction inprimary food production.■ Shortages of seeds orfertilizers can reduce yields.Inadequate foodaccess■ Loss of employment may resultin reduced household incomeand a lower budget for food.■ Seasonal price fluctuationscan reduce a household’sability to buy certain foods atspecific times of the year.■ Economic recession maystop local shopkeepers fromextending credit to theircustomers.■ High medical fees or funeralcosts can reduce a household’sbudget for food.■ Lack of education and/orskills may reduce job opportunitiesand have an impact onfamily income.■ A broken bridge can hamperaccess to local markets forselling or buying food.■ Low prices for livestock canreduce availability of cashto purchase food.■ Conflict may ruin a socialwelfare system or hindercharitable donations.Inadequate foodutilization■ Frequent power cuts canhamper food storage andlead to deterioration of food.■ Chronic diseases, such asHIV/AIDS and tuberculosis,may increase nutritional needs.■ Unsafe drinking water cancause chronic diarrhoea andresult in decreased absorptionof nutrients.■ Strong cultural beliefs mayprevent people from eatingcertain healthy food products.■ Social customs may dictatesetting aside nutritious foodsfor certain members of thefamily and/or visitors, therebymaking them unavailable toother household members.■ People with mobility oreconomic problems mayresort to monotonous dietsrequiring little preparation.■ Lack of nutritional knowledgecan lead to inadequate dietsor extensive vitamin lossduring food preparation.■ Lack of cooking utensils orfuel may hinder adequatefood preparation.Regional/local level Household level Individual level8Vulnerability to household food insecurityoccurs at a specific moment intime, and is directly related to a household’scomposition, its assets and thecommunity to which it belongs. Foodinsecurity results from a combinationof the following three components:■ External hazards, over which acommunity has no control. Theseinclude: exposure to climatic hazardssuch as cyclones, droughts andflooding; economic recession; socialunrest and political upheaval. All ofthese can disrupt daily livelihoodactivities and lead to a loss of assets.■ Underlying vulnerabilities: thesecannot be changed by the individualand relate to factors such asDefinitionVulnerabilityVulnerability refers to a household’s or community’slevel of risk to threats to their lives and livelihood*.A household’s vulnerability is determined by itsability to cope with risks and shocks, such as drought,flooding, adverse government policies, conflict, andthe HIV/AIDS crisis. The magnitude, duration andtiming of the shock are important factors.In order to minimize the impact of such shocks andmaintain adequate food access, households andcommunities employ coping strategies.Vulnerability is not the same as poverty, althoughunderlying poverty contributes to increased vulnerabilityin most emergencies; the effects of disasters areworsened when superimposed on a situation of widespreadstructural poverty.* See page 10 for definition of livelihood.