advanced efsa learning programme session 2.4. situation analysis step 2 food consumption & food...

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme

Session 2.4.

Situation Analysis Step 2

Food Consumption & Food Access Indicators


Learning ObjectivesAfter the session, participants should be able to: Explain the methodology of calculating the food

consumption score, and the limitations of the FCS in determining the status of food consumption

Explain the value - and limitations - of food access indicators and thresholds in determination of food security groups

Analyse a food consumption & food access cross tabulation table

2


Where are we?

3

EFSA Process

Adapt conceptual framework & objectives

Prepare analysis plan: indicators, data, sources

Collect, review secondary data

Collect primary data

Conduct situation analysis

Conduct forecast analysis

Analyse response options

Make response recommendations

Prepare report


HH FS: estimated from combination of food consumption and food economic access:

=

Food Consumption

Poor? Borderline? Acceptable?

Food Access

Poor? Average? Good?

Food (In)Security

Severe? Moderate? Adequate?

+


Food consumption indicator: Dietary Diversity and Food Consumption Frequency score Apply thresholds to define ‘poor’, ‘borderline’ and ‘acceptable’ food

consumption patterns

Food access indicator : Simple or combined Indicator(s) and thresholds are context-specific Selection of indicator(s) and thresholds should be based on:

Type of crisis Hypotheses made on the effects of crisis on food access Pre-crisis information (baselines, previous surveys) Key informants’ and experts’ judgement

Creating Food Security Groups


Food consumption score (1)

Ideally detailed food consumption surveys are used to measure caloric intake.

Limitations – sample size (cost & time), expertise

Alternatively, food consumption scores (dietary diversity & food frequency) are used in HH surveys

Approach - widely adopted to analyze food consumption & assess shortfalls


Proxy indicator reflecting quantity (kcal) & quality (nutrients) of people’s diet

Based on 7-day recall of food types & frequency of consumption

Data are collected at HH level

Additional information on food sources is collected to understand better HH food access

Food consumption score (2)


Example – Darfur HH questionnaire

Food item/groupDAYS eaten in past

week (0-7 days)Primary source of food

(use code)

a Sorghum

b. Millet

c. Other cereals (wheat, maize)

d. Groundnuts, legumes

e. Meat/chicken, bush meat, etc.

f. Cooking oil

g. Vegetables

h. Fruits

i. Milk, yogurt, cheese, etc.

j. Eggs

k. Sugar

l. Wild foods (including leaves)


Calculating food consumption scores (1)

Each food group is assigned a weight reflecting its nutrient density and expected quantity

For each HH, food consumption score is calculated by:

Merging food items into 8 food groups

Note: the maximum frequency for each food group is 7

Multiplying each food group frequency by food group weight, and then

Summing these scores into one composite score


Calculating Food consumption scores (2)

Food item

Food group

Weight (A)

Days eaten in past 7 days

(B)

Score A x B

Maize, rice, sorghum, millet, bread and other cereals Cassava, potatoes and sweet potatoes

Cereals and tubers

2 7 14

Beans, peas, groundnuts and cashew nuts

Pulses 3 1 3

Vegetables, relish and leaves

Vegetables 1 2 2

Fruits Fruit 1 0 0 Beef, goat, poultry, pork, eggs and fish

Meat and fish

4 0 0

Milk, yoghurt and other dairy Milk 4 1 4 Sugar and sugar products Sugar 0.5 4 2 Oils, fats and butter Oil 0.5 2 1

Composite score 26


Interpretation of FCS (1) HH score is compared with pre-established HH score is compared with pre-established thresholdsthresholds that that

indicate the status of HH’s food consumptionindicate the status of HH’s food consumption

21 scores is the minimum thresholds:21 scores is the minimum thresholds:7 days cereals/tubers = 14 7 days cereals/tubers = 14 + 5 days pulses/beans = 5 + 5 days pulses/beans = 5 + 4 days oils/fat = 2+ 4 days oils/fat = 2= 21= 21

Any HH or group of HHs falling below this minimum level of Any HH or group of HHs falling below this minimum level of consumption can be viewed as having consumption can be viewed as having poor food poor food consumptionconsumption


Interpretation of FCS (2)

Poor food consumption: 0 to 21 (0 to 28)

Borderline food consumption: 21.5 to 35 (28.5 to 42)

Good food consumption: > 35 (>42)

Note: Thresholds can be adjusted if there is clear justification for doing so, e.g. small amounts of oil & sugar consumed daily


Interpretation of FCS (3)

FCS Interpretation

< 21 Quantity and quality inadequate

21.5 - 35 Quality inadequate (quantity?)

> 35 Adequate diet


Example: frequency and diversity

Household 1

Maize = 4 days Tubers = 3 days Rice = 1 day Beans = 5 days Meat = 1 day Cooking oil = 7 days Leaves = 3 days

Household 2

Rice = 7 days Tubers = 2 days Meat = 5 days Cooking oil = 7 days Vegetables = 3 days

1.What are the scores for each household?2.Who enjoys better food intake and why?

Household 1 = 41.5 scoresHousehold 2 = 44.5 scores


Analysis of Food Consumption (1) Example

7.0

1.6 1.41.8

5.2

0.5 0.4

1.4 1.2

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

num

ber

of d

ays/

wee

k

Average number of days per week households consumed certain food items (7 day recall)

38.6 scores = adequate food consumption


Analysis of Food Consumption (2) Example


Limitations

Is only a snap-shot of one week food consumption

Does not:

capture seasonal changes

quantify the food gap

capture intra-HH food consumption

show how food consumption has changed as result of crisis, unless previous FCSs for same HHs are available

Thus, in an emergency, MORE ANALYSIS IS NEEDED to understand changes in HH food consumption


Food Access

The measure of a population’s ability to acquire available food for the given consumption period through:

its own stockshome productionmarket transactionsother forms of transfers


Food access indicators (1)

People’s access to food varies widely among & within areas

Indicators must be tailored to the livelihood strategies employed by the assessed population

e.g. purchasing power: HHs depend upon daily labour for their income & buy almost all their food at the market

Wage income

Prices (terms of trade – wage income/staple food)

Seasonality

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Examples: Food access indicators

Sources of food and income Consumption of “famine foods” Purchasing power Terms of trade Food self-sufficiency Asset ownership Remittances


What would you choose as food access indicators? Why?

In a community, households keep about 1/2 of their harvested crops for own consumption.

This does not cover all their food needs, so they need to purchase food.

Income comes from sale of crops as well as fishing and livestock sales

Food access indicators:

Food stock duration Income source

(reliability)


Food sources

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Food access indicators (2) Food access indicators are rated as poor/average/good using

context specific indicators

The key criteria for such a value judgement are:

Reliability: continuous & predictable supply of food / income

Sustainability: source is not dependent on temporary or unpredictable systems (such as food aid)

Quantity: Food or income sources provide sufficient quantity to cover needs

Quality: Food sources cover nutrition requirements; income sources are socially acceptable.


Poor, average or good food access? (1)

A HH has recently moved to an IDP camp and acquires most of its food from relief assistance provided by an international humanitarian organisation.

The household has no income source.

Poor food access because of poor food and no income source


Poor, average or good food access? (2)

Another HH in the camp receives most of its food from relief. This HH retains access to some of its fields and is able to harvest and sell some cash crops.

In addition, the HH receives regular remittances from a relative working in the capital.

HH’s income sources are good. Combination of poor food sources with good income sources leads to

average food access.


2006 Darfur assessment :

Most people in area under study depend primarily on their own agricultural production for food and income

According to FAO/WFP references, average individual in Darfur needs 150 kg of cereal / year for consumption

According to 2005 EFSA, ave. yields of cereal are 450 kg/ha

Therefore, to produce enough food, HH must cultivate at least 0.33 ha of cereal / HH household member

Darfur food access indicator -establishing thresholds (1)



On the basis of this analysis, simple thresholds can be established:

< 0.3 ha / HH member = poor access

0.3 to 0.4 ha / HH member = average

> 0.5 ha / HH member = good


Note of caution:Analysis within broader context. e.g. HH with 0.5 ha / HH member might have problems if

rains were less than usual, or if conflict restricted access to fields

Variations in the data. Average yield is estimated at 450 kg/ha, but perhaps half

the farms yield 750 kg/ha while the other half yield only 150 kg/ha.



Combining food access indicatorsFood source

Poor Average GoodIncome source

PoorPoor food access

Poor food access

Average food access

AveragePoor food access

Average food access

Good food access

GoodAverage food access

Good food access

Good food access


Malawi – Food access indicators (1)


Malawi – Food access indicators (2)


Food consumption Poor Borderline Good

Food access

Poor Severely food-

insecureSeverely food-

insecureModerately

food-insecure

AverageSeverely food-

insecureModerately

food-insecureFood-secure

GoodModerately

food-insecureFood-secure Food-secure

Creating Food Security Groups (1)


Creating Food Security Groups (2)


Exercise 2.4.a. Food Access & Food Security Indicators

Construct a food access indicator

Estimate proportions of food insecure HHs

Use Exercise 2.4.a Worksheet


Exercise 2.4.b. Cross-Tab: Food Consumption & Food Access

Calculate the number and proportion of HHs in:severe food insecuritymoderate food insecurityfood security


In EFSAs in your countries…

What food access indicators have been used?

Why were these chosen?

What other indicators might help determine food access levels?

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advanced efsa learning programme session 2.4. situation analysis step 2 food consumption & food...

Documents

food groups

food sources

food consumption poor

status of food consumption

food access poor

food economic access

food group frequency

food group weight