screen 1 of 28 baseline food security assessments selecting a baseline assessment method learning...

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Baseline Food Security Assessments

Selecting a Baseline Assessment Method

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to:

• compare the various food security baseline assessment methods; and

• understand the criteria for defining an appropriate method, building on the options available.

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INTRODUCTION

All baselines:

help understand livelihoods, risk/hazards and vulnerability/ resilience;

establish a benchmark from which to analyse similar issues under various food security contexts.

What are the features of different baseline assessment methods?

What are the features of different baseline assessment methods?

How to determine the most appropriate methods for your particular circumstances?

How to determine the most appropriate methods for your particular circumstances?

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INTRODUCTION

... To reduce the incidence or severity of shocks and/or increase the resilience of communities and households to these shocks, through planning ‘development’ or longer-term interventions.

Baseline assessments can be used in three main decision-making contexts:

... As a benchmark for understanding the impact of programme responses (either short- or long-term) on food security, and informing the adjustment/re-targeting of ongoing interventions.

... As a benchmark for understanding how a specific shock or hazard has impacted on the food security of a specific population and so helping to plan short-term humanitarian assistance.

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Major types of baseline methods used by different agencies include:

BASELINE ASSESSMENT METHODS

POVERTY AND VULNERABILITY BASELINE ASSESSMENTS (WORLD BANK)

POVERTY AND VULNERABILITY BASELINE ASSESSMENTS (WORLD BANK)

LIVELIHOODS ASSESSMENTS (e.g. CARE, OXFAM)

LIVELIHOODS ASSESSMENTS (e.g. CARE, OXFAM)

THE HOUSEHOLD ECONOMY APPROACH (e.g. SAVE THE CHILDREN UK, FEWS-NET, FOOD ECONOMY GROUP)

THE HOUSEHOLD ECONOMY APPROACH (e.g. SAVE THE CHILDREN UK, FEWS-NET, FOOD ECONOMY GROUP)

COMPREHENSIVE VULNERABILITY FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENTS (WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME - WFP)

COMPREHENSIVE VULNERABILITY FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENTS (WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME - WFP)

PROGRAMME- AND PROJECT-SPECIFIC BASELINE ASSESSMENTS (e.g. C-SAFE SOUTHERN AFRICA)

PROGRAMME- AND PROJECT-SPECIFIC BASELINE ASSESSMENTS (e.g. C-SAFE SOUTHERN AFRICA)

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Poverty and Vulnerability Assessment (PVA) methods are designed to guide macro policy choices, which influence the overall levels of

poverty and food insecurity.

Objectives of the PVA:

to make a thorough diagnosis of the prevailing situation,

to understand the underlying causes of poverty and vulnerability

of both rural and urban dwellers,

to define constraints and opportunities in order to draw policy

recommendations at a macro level for decision-making.

Poverty and Vulnerability Baseline Assessments (World Bank)

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Some of the features of Poverty and Vulnerability Baseline Assessments:

Survey methodSurvey method

Skills and time requiredSkills and time required

Frequency of updatingFrequency of updating

Example of baseline productExample of baseline product

UsageUsage

A combination of secondary and primary sources of information.

Different types of expertise are needed at various steps.

Is variable and depends on several factors including available

resources.The executive summary of the

Zambian 2005 PVA.

The Zambian PVA as a main input in the preparation of the Fifth National

Development Plan.

BASELINE ASSESSMENT METHODS Poverty and Vulnerability Baseline Assessments (World Bank)

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Their main objective is:

to understand the nature of livelihoods strategies and outcomes of the different categories of households, and

to identify the principal constraints and opportunities that could be addressed through policies and programmes.

Livelihoods baseline assessments are centred on people and individuals.

BASELINE ASSESSMENT METHODS Livelihoods Assessments (e.g. DFID, CARE, OXFAM)

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Some of the features of Livelihoods Assessments:





UsageUsage

A combination of secondary and primary data, quantitative and

qualitative information.

A substantial amount of time and skills.

Is variable, and depends on the needs and available resources.

The Kanai Nagar Community in the Mongla region in Bangladesh.

For programme design and monitoring (CARE) or as a context in emergency

assessments (OXFAM).

BASELINE ASSESSMENT METHODS Livelihoods Assessments (e.g. DFID, CARE, OXFAM)

See page 7 in the Learner Notes to read Extracts of livelihood outcomes from a livelihoods baseline for the Kanai Nagar Community in the Mongla region in Bangladesh

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An HEA baseline assessment is used as a reference to identify the impact of a shock on household access to food and non-food income, in order to calculate a food gap.

A type of livelihoods-based analysis centred on the different ways a given population

obtains food and non food income, in order to make a living.

BASELINE ASSESSMENT METHODSThe Household Economy Approach (HEA)

(E.G. Save The Children UK, FEWS-NET, Food Economy Group)

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This approach follows several steps:

Characterization of a food economy zone;

definition of what a “normal year” is;

identification of different wealth groups and the livelihood strategies of a typical household in each wealth group.

Characterization of a food economy zone;

definition of what a “normal year” is;

identification of different wealth groups and the livelihood strategies of a typical household in each wealth group.

Analysis of the extent of the encountered problem.Analysis of the extent of the encountered problem.

Identification of the impact of the problem on households’ access to food (including the sustainability of their coping strategies).

Identification of the impact of the problem on households’ access to food (including the sustainability of their coping strategies).

Assessment of the outcome of households’ strategies.Assessment of the outcome of households’ strategies.



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Some of the features of the Household Economy Approach: Some of the features of the Household Economy Approach:





UsageUsage

Secondary sources, primary data, mainly quantitative information

Skills required for an HEA analysis are quite demanding

Is variable, but every 4-5 years is the average

The Wolayita (Ethiopia) baseline assessment

One of the most frequent uses:to identify the food gap to be filled

See page 9 in the Learner Notes to read more on the Wolayita (Ethiopia) baseline assessment.



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The CVFSA assessments also provide:

development of programming responses tailored to areas with the greatest prevalence of food-insecure households (through the categorization of the populations into different vulnerable groups).

essential information on risks and their potential impacts on different population groups (for disaster mitigation and contingency planning efforts).

The CVFSA assessments also provide:

development of programming responses tailored to areas with the greatest prevalence of food-insecure households (through the categorization of the populations into different vulnerable groups).

essential information on risks and their potential impacts on different population groups (for disaster mitigation and contingency planning efforts).

CVSA assessments provide an understanding of:

chronic food insecurity and vulnerability conditions, and

how food aid can be used as an appropriate response.

CVSA assessments provide an understanding of:

chronic food insecurity and vulnerability conditions, and

how food aid can be used as an appropriate response.

BASELINE ASSESSMENT METHODS Comprehensive Vulnerability Food Security Assessments (WFP)

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The first steps in the CVFSA:

To identify the vulnerable and where they are located.

To identify the vulnerable and where they are located.

To collect primary data in order to understand:

why, when and how many people are chronically food-insecure; and

to what degree, and how to address their food insecurity and vulnerability.

To collect primary data in order to understand:

why, when and how many people are chronically food-insecure; and

to what degree, and how to address their food insecurity and vulnerability.

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UsageUsage

Both secondary data analysis and primary data collection

Usually conducted by international experts; time required is around 18

months.

About 4-5 years

WFP conducted a CVFSA in Niger in 2005

Better targeting and contingency planning.

Some of the features of CVSA:Some of the features of CVSA:


See page 11 in the Learner Notes to read more on the CVFSA conducted by WFP in Niger.

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Baselines can be constructed around a specific programme or project.


See page 12 in the Learner Notes to read a case study (Consortium for Southern-Africa Food Emergency) which illustrates the use of baseline assessments applied to specific programmes.

These assessments help to: understand the context of the programme or project, and

identify benchmarks against which expected achievements can be compared and impact assessed.

Programme-and Project-specific Baseline Assessments (C-SAFE)

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The common characteristics of the methods illustrated by the C-SAFE case studies:

The common characteristics of the methods illustrated by the C-SAFE case studies:



Example of product (1)Example of product (1)

Example of product (2)Example of product (2)

An approach based on a formal sample survey.

Usually conducted by international consultants; time required is

approximately 6 months.

C-SAFE Zimbabwe

The C-SAFE in Iraq has been used by WFP for better targeting and

contingency planning.

See page 13 in the Learner Notes for more information on the examples.

BASELINE ASSESSMENT METHODS Programme-and Project-specific Baseline Assessments (C-SAFE)

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STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF EACH METHOD

Planning long-term responses to reduce vulnerability and poverty.

Planning long-term responses to reduce vulnerability and poverty.Context/PurposeContext/Purpose

Examines effects of macro-level policies and governance on welfare.

Strong analysis of risk and vulnerability.

Large and representative sample data which other analyses can utilize.

Examines effects of macro-level policies and governance on welfare.

Strong analysis of risk and vulnerability.

Large and representative sample data which other analyses can utilize.

StrengthsStrengths

LimitationsLimitations

Emphasis on national-level conclusions and lacks disaggregated analysis.

Complex and expensive, requiring international expertise.

Emphasis on national-level conclusions and lacks disaggregated analysis.

Complex and expensive, requiring international expertise.

Poverty and Vulnerability Baseline Assessments (World Bank)Poverty and Vulnerability Baseline Assessments (World Bank)

Let’s see the purpose, strengths and limitations of each method.

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Organizing and empowering communities for providing responses to poverty and chronic food

insecurity. Providing a context for emergency

assessments.

Organizing and empowering communities for providing responses to poverty and chronic food

insecurity. Providing a context for emergency

assessments. Comprehensive livelihoods analysis including ethnicity, customs, religions, gender, institutions.

Empowers local populations for long-term development goals.

Comprehensive livelihoods analysis including ethnicity, customs, religions, gender, institutions.

Empowers local populations for long-term development goals.

Detailed local analysis cannot be easily scaled up to the national level.

Difficult to standardize within and across countries and regions for comparison purposes.

Detailed local analysis cannot be easily scaled up to the national level.

Difficult to standardize within and across countries and regions for comparison purposes.

Livelihoods Assessments (CARE, OXFAM)

Context/PurposeContext/Purpose

StrengthsStrengths


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Mainly providing a context for emergency assessment of food needs.Mainly providing a context for emergency assessment of food needs.

Transparent method for analysing food access and developing quantitative estimates of food gaps.

Analysis disaggregated by livelihood zones and wealth groups.

Transparent method for analysing food access and developing quantitative estimates of food gaps.

Analysis disaggregated by livelihood zones and wealth groups.

Inadequate framework for linking community-level and macro-level analysis.

Does not analyse intra-household dynamics, e.g. how gender affects access.

Inadequate framework for linking community-level and macro-level analysis.

Does not analyse intra-household dynamics, e.g. how gender affects access.

Household Economy Approach (SC UK, FEWS-NET, Food Economy Group)


StrengthsStrengths


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Examines causes of chronic vulnerability and food insecurity.

Provides a basis for targeting and contingency planning.

Examines causes of chronic vulnerability and food insecurity.

Provides a basis for targeting and contingency planning.

Provides a rationale for internal policies and programmes of the implementing agency.

Provides a rationale for internal policies and programmes of the implementing agency.

Weak ownership of results by the wider humanitarian community.

Requires substantial financial resources for survey implementation and high technical skills for data analysis.

Weak ownership of results by the wider humanitarian community.

Requires substantial financial resources for survey implementation and high technical skills for data analysis.

Comprehensive Vulnerability Food Security Assessments (WFP) Comprehensive Vulnerability Food Security Assessments (WFP)


StrengthsStrengths


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Assesses impact and allows fine tuning for implementation of project and programme.

Assesses impact and allows fine tuning for implementation of project and programme.

Geared to the needs of decision-makers in a specific project or programme context.

Integrated with arrangements for regular monitoring.

Geared to the needs of decision-makers in a specific project or programme context.

Integrated with arrangements for regular monitoring.

Limited relevance to the broader food security and development community.

Limited relevance to the broader food security and development community.

Programme- and project-specific baseline assessments (C-SAFE South Africa)


StrengthsStrengths


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BLENDING METHODS

Example of sources of secondary information:Example of sources of secondary information:

The baseline approaches often combine or blend similar analytical methods and information sources.

National surveys, like the World Bank surveys, Living Conditions and Monitoring Surveys, Population Census, and Demographic and Health Surveys.

National surveys, like the World Bank surveys, Living Conditions and Monitoring Surveys, Population Census, and Demographic and Health Surveys.

Formal surveys or semi-structured interviews at focus group, key informant and household levels.

Formal surveys or semi-structured interviews at focus group, key informant and household levels.

Secondary information is complemented and triangulated with data

collected through:

Secondary information is complemented and triangulated with data

collected through:

They also utilize a combination of secondary and primary data sources.

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BLENDING METHODS

The baseline approaches often blend quantitative and qualitative data.

The baseline approaches often blend quantitative and qualitative data.

Enable to systematically measure the food security situation and

provide a representative snapshot.

Enable to systematically measure the food security situation and

provide a representative snapshot.

Quantitative dataQuantitative data

Enable to capture the processes and interactions between social,

political, institutional and economic factors

(which determine vulnerability to food insecurity over time).

Enable to capture the processes and interactions between social,

political, institutional and economic factors

(which determine vulnerability to food insecurity over time).

Qualitative dataQualitative data

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Example

If HIV/AIDS and socio-cultural constraints are critical issues in your particular environment, the strengths of the C-SAFE methodology could be combined with those of CARE HLS, in order to come up with an adequate baseline assessment method.

BLENDING METHODS

to identify the approaches with the most appropriate strengths, and incorporate them into your specific baseline assessment methodology

(according to your circumstances).

Another possibility:

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DEFINING AN APPROPRIATE METHOD

The choice may also be based on the following criteria:

The information gap which should be analysed, to identify the best methodology to provide the missing data.

The information gap which should be analysed, to identify the best methodology to provide the missing data.

The institutional capacity to implement and sustain the selected method (including staff skills and logistical and financial resources).The institutional capacity to implement and sustain the selected method (including staff skills and logistical and financial resources).

The existing food security information system, on which the methodology should rely.

The existing food security information system, on which the methodology should rely.

Constraints in accessing local populations (for example, due to security reasons).

Constraints in accessing local populations (for example, due to security reasons).

Different institutional settings and objectives, which lead to adopting different options.

Different institutional settings and objectives, which lead to adopting different options.

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Buy-in of main institutionsBuy-in of main institutions

DEFINING AN APPROPRIATE METHOD

Finally, some issues to consider when selecting an appropriate methodology include:

Finally, some issues to consider when selecting an appropriate methodology include:

Maintain a balance between compromise and dogma

Maintain a balance between compromise and dogma

Building local capacity for sustainability and ownership

Building local capacity for sustainability and ownership

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SUMMARY

Baseline assessment methods differ in scope and purpose but they all provide a means to establish a benchmark from which to analyse similar issues under various food security contexts.

Five main examples of food security baseline approaches have been identified:

• Poverty and Vulnerability Baseline Assessments (World Bank)• Livelihoods Assessments (e.g. DFID, CARE, OXFAM)• Household Economy Approach (e.g. Save the Children UK, FEWS-NET, Food Economy Group)• Comprehensive Vulnerability Food Security Assessments (WFP)• Programme- and project-specific baseline assessments (e.g. C-SAFE, CARE, WFP)

In practical terms, baselines often use a combination or blend of methods. One way to blend methods is to use an appropriate combination of secondary and primary data sources. Quantitative and qualitative data can also be blended to complement each other.

A second way may be to identify within the different methods those which have the most appropriate strengths and could be incorporated into your specific baseline assessment methodology according to your circumstances.

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IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE...

Online resources

•The Food Economy Approach: A Framework for Understanding Rural Livelihoods. Boudreauwww.odihpn.org/pdfbin/networkpapers026.pdf.

•WFP Iraq food security baseline http://www.womenwarpeace.org/webfm_send/508

•Young H., S. Jaspars, R. Brown, J. Frize, H. Khogali, Food security assessments in emergency: a livelihoods approach. Humanitarian Network Paper 36, ODI, June 2001. http://www.odihpn.org/documents/networkpaper036.pdf

Additional readings•Shoham J., Food Security Information Systems supported by Save the Children U.K., a review. 2005. London.

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