The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification was originally developed in the context of Somalia in 2004, by the Food Security Analysis Unit (FSAU)/FAO Somalia.
Owing to the collapse of the Somali state in the early 1990s, FSAU was created to provide overall food security analysis, as well as key information on livelihoods, crop production, market prices, nutrition, and others. FSAU conducts primary data collection in a number of sectors and analyzes that information in an integrated manner so as to inform both short and longer-term food, nutrition, and livelihood security interventions. FSAU is composed of both a food security project and a nutrition project.
Since 1994, FSAU has invested considerable energy in improving the rigor of the unit’s food security, nutrition, and livelihoods analysis, and its relevance for decision making. To help meet these goals of rigor and relevance, since February 2004, FSAU has been developing and using the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).
In addition to consistently improving analysis and facilitating effective response in the context of Somalia, the IPC is now being adapted to other (crisis or non crisis) contexts, with the aim of becoming a ‘common currency’ for food security situational analysis within and across countries.
In addition to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), FSAU developed the Food Security Analysis System (FSAS), which is an integrated conceptual, analytical and operational framework for understanding food security through a livelihoods-based analysis. The IPC, within this framework, is the tool used for linking information and analysis to action.
Owing to the collapse of the Somali state in the early 1990s, FSAU was created to provide overall food security analysis, as well as key information on livelihoods, crop production, market prices, nutrition, and others. FSAU conducts primary data collection in a number of sectors and analyzes that information in an integrated manner so as to inform both short and longer-term food, nutrition, and livelihood security interventions. FSAU is composed of both a food security project and a nutrition project.
Since 1994, FSAU has invested considerable energy in improving the rigor of the unit’s food security, nutrition, and livelihoods analysis, and its relevance for decision making. To help meet these goals of rigor and relevance, since February 2004, FSAU has been developing and using the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).
In addition to consistently improving analysis and facilitating effective response in the context of Somalia, the IPC is now being adapted to other (crisis or non crisis) contexts, with the aim of becoming a ‘common currency’ for food security situational analysis within and across countries.
In addition to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), FSAU developed the Food Security Analysis System (FSAS), which is an integrated conceptual, analytical and operational framework for understanding food security through a livelihoods-based analysis. The IPC, within this framework, is the tool used for linking information and analysis to action.
