The IPC Global Support Unit (IPC GSU) successfully concluded an external Real-Time IPC Quality Review of the current IPC Acute Food Insecurity Analysis in Yemen which was conducted by the National IPC Technical Working Group (IPC TWG) from 25 May to 02 June, 2015. 

The Yemen IPC Technical Working Group (TWG) has requested the IPC GSU to carry out a real-time quality review as an added quality assurance step in the validation process of the current round of the Yemen IPC Acute Analysis. This support was required in light of indications of rising levels of acute food insecurity and the need to update the acute food security situation in the country, based on high quality analysis and technical consensus, in order to adequately inform response. 

The IPC GSU-led Quality Review Team including the IPC GSU pool of food security experts and two additional experts from global partners, WFP and FEWS NET, took up the call and conducted an external real-time quality review from 4 to 8 June 2015, immediately following the finalization of the IPC Analysis by the Yemen IPC TWG. 

Key Highlights:

• The results of the Real-time IPC Quality Review show that the Yemen IPC Acute Food Insecurity Phase Classification is mostly plausible based on well-articulated analysis of trends and contributing factors to support the inference of the current situation, updating the IPC Analysis of February 2015. However, it should be considered only as an “Indicative IPC Analysis”, because it is not substantiated by the minimum evidence required for a rigorous IPC analysis, mainly due to the lack of access to reliable and up to date outcome data.  
• Because of the missing evidence, the Real-time IPC Quality Review could not corroborate the IPC Population estimates, therefore these should be considered produced outside of the IPC analysis process.  
• The Yemen IPC TWG effectively engaged in a full IPC Process and followed IPC Protocols. They adopted most of the recommendations made by the IPC GSU-led Quality Review Team, and released the results as “Indicative IPC Analysis” officially on 17 June, 2015.  

Learning from this experience, the IPC GSU has launched the piloting of a new IPC protocol for "Indicative IPC Analysis", precisely to allow IPC classification in exceptional contexts, like Yemen, where conditions of conflict, civil insecurity or humanitarian access lead to the absence of or access to reliable and up to date outcome evidence, which are necessary to conduct high quality IPC analysis.

IPC Quality Review Strategy and Process