Latin American and Caribbean Household Food Security Scale (ELCSA)

Escala Latinoamericana y Caribeña de Seguridad Alimentaria (ELCSA)

The Latin American Household Food Security Measurement Scale (ELCSA) aims at standardizing the measurement of food insecurity in the entire region.

With funding from the EC/FAO programme, FAO’s Nutrition and Consumer Protection Division has helped standardize a version of the ELCSA for Mexico and Central America.  

A review of household food security scales in Latin America

In 2009-2010 FAO, under the EC/FAO Programme, reviewed household food security scales in Latin America and proposed a process for harmonizing the different scales used in Mesoamerica.  The review is available (in Spanish) at http://www.insp.mx/elcsa/materiales.php.

Regional Workshop – Harmonizing the ELCSA Scale for use in Mexico and Central America

In September 2010, The EC/FAO Programme sponsored a regional workshop at the Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública in Cuernavaca Mexico. Government officials and researchers from five countries (Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua) worked together to create a harmonized version of the ELCSA for the region.

Information about the workshop
http://www.insp.mx/elcsa/index.php. 

Ongoing work

The Regional FAO Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, in collaboration with the EC/FAO Programme, is providing technical assistance to Mexico and Central American countries in using the harmonized scale in their countries.

Any requests for information/materials on the HFIAS or the HHS may be addressed to leslie.amoroso@fao.org or terri.ballard@fao.org.