All evidence and analyses need to be clearly and systematically documented in order to provide analysts with the body of evidence to support their classification. The documented evidence should be made available if requested for quality review purposes.
The IPC Analysis Worksheet
The IPC Analysis Worksheet supports systematic, transparent and consistent evidence-based analysis by guiding the analyst through the IPC Food Security Analytical Framework and linking evidence to the IPC Acute Food Insecurity Reference Table. The use of the Worksheet is a major advantage to IPC analyses and is highly recommended.
The IPC Analysis Worksheet is divided into steps (Box 17). While Steps 1 and 2 are common for current and projected classifications, Steps 3 to 7 apply only for classification of current conditions and are subsequently followed by Steps 8 to 11 for projection. If various projection periods are analysed, Steps 8 to 11 should be repeated. Procedures for completing the Analysis Worksheet are described below. It is highly advisable that parts of the Worksheet, especially Steps 1 and 2, 3, 5 and 8, be prepared before the analysis workshops and completed when the analysis team meets.
The Worksheet is best utilized in the web-based IPC ISS, but may also be completed in MS WordTM, which can be found in the IPC website.
Steps 1 and 2: Common to current and projected classifications
Step 1: Identify context and analysis parameters (for all classifications)
Purpose: To introduce the characteristics of the area and population of households within the area to allow for contextualization of evidence and livelihood-based analyses.
Approach overview:
Step 2: Populate evidence repository (for all classifications)
Purpose: To help organize wide-ranging evidence from multiple sources for ease of access and reference.
Approach overview:
Step 3: Analyse evidence (current classification)
Relevance: To analyse evidence following the IPC Food Security Analytical Framework and Reference Table considering the local context and reliability score, including reference to historical trends and socio-economic differences (Box 18).
Approach overview:
Step 4: Determine area classification and population estimations (current classification)
Purpose: To provide a critical review of supporting and contradictory evidence used to arrive at phase classification and an estimation of number and percentage of people in different phases.
Approach overview:
Step 5: Identify areas that received significant humanitarian food assistance (current classification)
Purpose: To enable decision-makers to identify areas that received significant humanitarian food assistance as this was incorporated in the analysis as a mitigating factor. Step 5 should not be considered an impact assessment of assistance or a monitoring and evaluation product to assess the impact of response and the achievements towards developmental goals.
Approach overview:
Step 6: Identify key drivers and the main factors limiting food security (current classification)
Purpose: To enable decision-makers to identify the key drivers triggering the current food security situation and the factors limiting food security so that action can be more strategically planned.
Approach overview:
Step 7: Develop assumptions for future shocks and ongoing conditions (projection classification)
Purpose: To provide analysts with an expected outlook of the key factors to be considered when projecting the severity and magnitude of future Acute Food Insecurity.
Approach overview:
Step 8: Analyse evidence (projection classification)
Purpose: To organize, evaluate and analyse evidence for the forecast of the most likely future conditions of food security elements, taking into account their current levels, historical trends, previous and most likely future impacts of shocks as guided by the IPC Food Security Analytical Framework and the IPC Acute Food Insecurity Reference Table.
Approach overview:
Step 9: Determine phase classification and population estimates (projection classification)
Purpose: To project the most likely phase classification and estimate the number and percentage of people in different phases, based on a critical review of the supporting and contradictory evidence available.
Approach overview:
Step 10: Identify areas where a significant amount of humanitarian food assistance has been planned and is likely to be funded and delivered
Purpose: To allow decision-makers to identify areas where the likely delivery of humanitarian food assistance will be significant, as this was incorporated in the analysis. Step 10 should not be considered an impact assessment of humanitarian food assistance or a monitoring and evaluation system to assess the impact of action and achievements towards developmental goals.
Approach overview:
Step 11: Identify risk factors to monitor
Purpose: To identify triggers for analysis updates and validity of projections.
Approach overview:
Step 12: Identify priority strategic response objectives
Purpose: To highlight to decision-makers and partners the key strategic response objectives that should be assessed during posterior response analysis.
Approach overview: