News

Towards a Common Strategy for the Integrated Food Security and Humanitarian Phase Classification (IPC)
International Meeting in Rome, March 21-22, 2007

In the cross-cutting fields of food security and humanitarian response, there are increasingly strong calls for improved analysis and the effective use of available information to ensure more appropriate and need- based responses.

In this context, major agencies, NGO’s, academic and research institutions have recognised the strategic value of the Integrated Food Security and Humanitarian Phase Classification (IPC) framework for:

	reaching technical consensus; and
	giving a clear statement about the severity of a crisis and assessing implications for humanitarian response.

However, these organizations also realize that a common multi-agency strategy for refining and using the IPC approach is necessary and beneficial for all involved.

Thus, an International Meeting on the Integrated Food Security and Humanitarian Phase Classification (IPC) was held in Rome on March 21 and 22, 2007. Over 50 participants attended, including leading food security experts from FAO, WFP, OCHA, FEWSNET, FSAU, the EC, USAID , ICRC, ODI, Care, Save the Children UK, Oxfam, FEG and Tufts University.

Objectives

The objectives of the meeting were to identify:

	technical priorities and follow up processes for refining the IPC methodological approach; and
	a multi-agency strategy for developing a common approach for food security and analysis based on the IPC.

The IPC Online Global Forum

The technical discussions built upon a four week IPC Online Global Forum – which was open to a wider group of participants. Key technical issues were identified during the online forum and processes and working groups for clarifying them were set up during the meeting in Rome. Indeed, both the forum and meeting are key steps for preparing version two of the IPC manual which will be released in 2008.

Institutional Issues

The second phase of the meeting looked at institutional issues – in particular at how the different agencies present can work together to formulate a common strategy for developing and using the IPC. The cornerstone of this strategy would include:

	a learning process based on lessons learned from solid field experience at the country and regional level; and
	a global consortium of food security experts from participating organizations to support work at the country and regional level.

Donor Support

At the end of the International Meeting, representatives from participating organizations - in particular CARE International, FAO, FEWSNET, WFP, Oxfam GB and Save the Children US and UK - expressed their strong commitment to moving forward with the IPC approach. This commitment was reiterated at a subsequent meeting with major donors.