Improving Food Security Analysis and Decision-making:

New Version of the IPC Manual Released

September 1, 2008

Thanks to lessons learned using the IPC in many countries and after extensive technical consultations, the IPC Technical Manual has been revised. Version 1.1 includes many new clarifications and IPC users are encouraged to adopt the revised version.

> Manuel Technique IPC Version 1.1 (pdf, 2.2 Mb)

What have been the main revisions?

• The name has been changed from the ‘Integrated Food Security and Humanitarian Phase Classification’ to the ‘Integrated Food Security Phase Classification’
• Phase 1 now includes an optional division into two phases: 1A and 1B. This is a provisional solution towards the future development and insertion of another Phase between the current Phase 1 and 2.
• The name of Phase 2 has been changed from ‘Chronically Food Insecure’ to ‘Moderately/Borderline Food Insecure’
• ‘Early Warning Levels’ has been changed to ‘Risk of Worsening Phase’
• The Analysis Templates have been changed
• The Cartographic protocols have been changed

Which items have been clarified?

• The IPC’s main focus
• The IPC’s Analytical process
• Data adequacy and reliability
• When and how often to do IPC analyses
• Timescale for IPC analysis
• Early Warning dimension of IPC statement
• Use of ‘imminent outcomes’ in the Phase Classification
• Spatial scale of analysis
• Under 5 mortality rate
• Institutional ownership and process
• Core elements of an ‘IPC analysis’

Where are the main revisions in the text of version 1.1?

• Revisions are highlighted by call-out boxes entitled “Revision”, and readers are advised to go to Appendix H for further explanations.
• Section 3 of the IPC Manual has new sections which clarify key issues.
• Appendix H explains the rationale for and how to use revisions introduced in Version 1.1.

What is the rationale for Version 1.1? What was the process for revising it?

Several food security-oriented agencies have formed an initial global partnership for the further development and roll-out of the IPC. These include: FAO, WFP, USAID-funded FEWS NET, Oxfam GB, CARE, Save the Children UK and US, and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. They have also been collaborating with national governments, other international agencies and regional and national organizations.

The IPC is meant to be used in a wide variety of country and institutional settings. Innovative ideas on how to improve the rigour and user-friendliness of the IPC come up each time the IPC is applied. Thus, Version 1.1 has been revised based on extensive feedback from technical experts using the IPC in many countries.

In addition, revisions came out of technical discussions held during the IPC On-Line Forum (a web based discussion on the IPC from February-March 2007), the IPC International Technical Workshop in Rome (March 2007), direct feedback from IPC global partner agencies, and consultations with the Greater Horn of Africa Regional Food Security and Nutrition Working Group. Numerous technical experts in the nutrition and food security community have also contributed.

All revisions have been made in consultation with and endorsed by the IPC Global Partners, national governments and other partner agencies. Members of the global IPC Technical Working Group coordinated the revision process on behalf of the Global IPC Steering Committee.

Future Plans and Version 2

More consultations and further revisions will take place in 2008/2009 and will lead up to Version 2 of the manual. Visit www.ipcinfo.org for a list of priority revisions and an action plan for Version 2.