Programme Activities

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC)

The IPC is an innovative tool for improving food security analysis and decision-making. In Kenya, the IPC has been adopted by the government and is implemented through the following institutions:

- the Kenya Food Security Meeting (KFSM) - the main food security coordination body;

- the Kenya Food Security Steering Group (KFSSG); and

-the Data and Information Subcommittee of the KFSSG (DISK), which focuses on improving food security and disaster management information.

In 2007, over 115 food security analysts from Kenya, representing 9 organizations, received IPC training. In February 2008, 80 food security analysts (including district officers) from 13 organizations were trained. Several IPC maps for Kenya have been produced and are being used by a wide variety of stakeholders and decision-makers. In particular, the government has been using the IPC as part of its national food security information system which includes the Arid Lands Resource Management Project (ARLMP) Early Warning System.

For more information, including links to the most recent IPC maps and food security classifications for Kenya, please see the IPC website at: www.ipcinfo.org

Innovative Nutrition Tools for Rapid Assessments

The tools, called the Household Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) and the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), can rapidly highlight emerging food security problems before severe malnutrition crises develop. They are also useful for monitoring the impact of national nutritional policies and education programmes.

In March 2007, an international workshop called “Simple Tools for Measuring Household Access to Food and Dietary Diversity” was held in Nairobi. The workshop aimed at identifying ways to integrate the tools into food security information systems. Lessons learned from using the tools in various countries were also discussed. Nutritionists from the Ministry of Health and the University of Nairobi received training in using the tools.

Furthermore, FAO nutritionists worked closely with national counterparts to adapt the tools to local contexts. This activity was particularly relevant for fine-tuning food security and nutrition aspects of the ALRMP Early Warning System.

> Nutrition tools
> Summary of the Programme's Nutrition Activities in Kenya
> International Workshop on simple tools for measuring household access to food and dietary diversity (Nairobi, March 2007)

The Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS Workstation)

The workstation is a reliable means for managing a wide variety of food security and early warning information such as maps, satellite images, crop calendars, market data, etc. It allows national institutions to maintain ownership of their data, while easily exchanging data with national and international databases.

In Kenya, the GIEWS Workstation has been installed in the office of the President (Arid Lands Project), the FEWSNET representation in Kenya, and in the FAO Regional Emergency Coordination office.

> GIEWS Workstation

Food Security Statistical Training and Analysis of 2005/06 Kenya Integrated Household Budget Survey (KIHBS)

Statisticians from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and other ministries received training in:
- analyzing food security and food consumption data collected from the 2005/06 Kenya Integrated Household Budget Survey (KIHBS); and
- estimating food security statistics at national and sub-national levels.

Furthermore, at the EC-FAO Food Security Programme’s full day event at the Fourth International Conference on Agriculture Statistics (ICAS-4), Mr. Josiah Kaara from Kenya’s National Bureau of Statistics presented the paper “Food data collected using acquisition and consumption approaches with a 7-day recall method in the Kenyan 2005/6 KIHBS”.

The paper will be included in a book called “Deriving Food Security Information from National Household Budget Surveys” to be published by FAO.

> Related news article