IPC Certification Programme - Process and Levels

The IPC Certification Programme aims at qualifying IPC practitioners professionally. It is relevant for food security experts who are or want to be involved in IPC activities at global, regional and country levels.

The IPC Certification Process is designed to ensure that applicants acquire and prove:

• Understanding and knowledge of IPC technical standards, protocols, and guidelines;
• Skills to apply the IPC approach and engage in IPC Analysis; and
• Relevant level of capacity and experience to lead IPC Trainings and Analyses.

There are three IPC certificates and related credentials:

1. “Level 1 Certificate (IPC Analysts)” that certifies an individual to use the IPC tools and procedures professionally;
2. “Level 2 Certificate (IPC Advanced Analyst and Co-Facilitator)” which allows an individual to act as resource persons to support IPC Level 1 Trainings and Country Analysis Workshops, by facilitating small-groups works; and
3. “Level 3 Certificate (IPC Lead Trainer and Analysis Facilitator)” which allows individuals to act as IPC global experts who can lead IPC training and analysis facilitation across countries and regions.
   All Level 3-certified individuals or candidates on the way to Level 3 certification will become members of the IPC L3 Community of Practitioners to be able to communicate directly with other practitioners, request support and benefit from trainings and other events.

Each level of certification includes specific requirements, what the certification qualifies the person to do, and the process for certification registration. Levels 1 and 3 are available for all three IPC scales (Acute Food Insecurity, Chronic Food Insecurity and Acute Malnutrition), while Level 2 is currently only available for the Acute Food Insecurity scale.

To ensure the continued availability and capacity of IPC practitioners to support global IPC analyses particularly for the two scales: Acute Food Insecurity (AFI), and Acute Malnutrition (AMN), the IPC Global Support Unit IPC (GSU) updated the IPC Certification process. Since January 2020, it is mandatory that IPC Training and Analysis are led by IPC Level 3 Lead facilitators.

Level 3 certified practitioners can lead IPC analyses and trainings, and are responsible for all phases of implementation, from preparation to publication. L3 certified practitioners ensure the adherence to protocols, the technical integrity and the neutrality of IPC analyses. Beyond the technical expertise that will be expected of IPC Level 1 and Level 2 practitioners, Level 3 practitioners will be trained and expected to demonstrate good facilitation and negotiation skills. IPC Level 3 certified practitioners will belong to a roster and – upon their supervisor’s approval - can be asked to lead IPC trainings and analyses in any country or region in which the IPC is active. The candidature to IPC Level 3 certification follows a special process and demands special commitment also in terms of participation to learning events to follow up on IPC technical developments. 

It is important to note that for those that are already certified in IPC v2.0, no one will lose their certification. However, all certified personnel are required to attend (either face to face or virtual) on the IPC Technical Manual and to successfully pass the IPC v3.1 Level 1 online test. It is also highly recommended, although not mandatory, that AFI Level 2 practitioners who were certified or trained under previous versions (v2.0 or v3.0) attend a Level 2 training course based on IPC v3.1

In the framework of the Certification Programme, the IPC Global Support Unit has implemented the Cross-Country Learning Exchange Programme (CCLE). This aims at facilitating the IPC Certification process, allowing food security experts who are engaged in IPC activities to meet the requirements and be certified as IPC Advanced Analysts and Co-Facilitators (IPC Level 2) or as IPC Lead Trainers and Analysis Facilitators (IPC Level 3). Moreover, these cross-country fertilization experiences will allow IPC practitioners to compare procedures, learn and share country practices through participation in IPC analysis and lessons-learnt workshops, and gather cross-border information. Participation to the CCLE programme is a requisite to obtain IPC L3 certification.

To see the Certification Programme privacy policy, please click here.