Protocol 3.1: Produce the IPC analysis report

If IPC Acute Food Insecurity and Acute Malnutrition analyses are conducted simultaneously, it is highly recommended that one report be produced combining the analyses results.

The IPC Modular Communication Template

The IPC Modular Communication Template provides a standard format and content guide for developing IPC Analysis Reports. The Template was developed to meet the different interests and needs of a variety of IPC stakeholders while ensuring that the minimum requirements for communicating IPC results are met. By using the Template, IPC Analysis Reports effectively communicate key findings in a clear, concise, accessible and consistent format.

The IPC Modular Communication Template for Acute Malnutrition consists in ten modules: (1) Key facts and messages; (2) Classification maps and estimated number of children acutely malnourished and in need of treatment; (3) Situation overview and key drivers; (4) Recommendations for action; (5) Detailed number of children who are acutely malnourished and in need of treatment; (6) Process, methodology and data sources; (7) Results in figures; (8) Summary of factors contributing to Acute Malnutrition; (9) Profile of the most-affected areas; and (10) Results of other IPC classifications.

General considerations for completing the IPC Modular Communication Template include the following:

• It is advised that all modules of the Template be completed. At minimum, the full IPC Analysis Report should include Module 1 to 6; Modules 7 to 10 are optional.
• Modules can be selected and combined to develop specific products that meet the needs of different stakeholders. See Box 90 for examples of a selection of modules for different audiences.
• Modules are designed to ensure consistent IPC branding as well as ownership. Key information should be provided, e.g. name of the country, contacts, institution hosting the IPC, resource partners and logos of others.
• An Integrated Food Security and Nutrition Modular Communication Template is available and should be used to produce a report combing Acute Food Insecurity and Acute Malnutrition results.
• The IPC Modular Communication Template can be developed in the ISS or offline in MS Word^TM.
• The use of the IPC Modular Template does not prevent countries from producing further documents or incorporating IPC results in other documents

Module 2: Classification maps and estimated number of children acutely malnourished and in need of treatment

Purpose: To provide large-scale, more detailed classification maps for both the current and projected situation, and the estimated number of children acutely malnourished and in need of treatment (Box 92).

Key information:

• Classification maps: Include and scale the classification maps to fit the dedicated space in the module. Use Module 2 specifically for current and projected maps. Insert a short text explaining the maps.
• Total number of acutely malnourished children in need of treatment: Develop a summary table with the total number of acutely malnourished children in need of treatment, specifically including the number of children under five. Provide a breakdown by total (GAM), moderate (MAM) and severe (SAM) categories. Aggregate findings at the most suitable level with the name of the administrative subdivision, bearing in mind that the table should not exceed ten areas (consider aggregating by regions if needed). Ensure numbers align with numbers provided in Modules 1, 5 and 7 (if developed).

Module 3: Situation overview and key drivers

Purpose: To provide a more detailed analysis of current and projected classification to answer the five key questions of how severe, how many, where, when, and why, already briefly answered in Module 1 (Box 93).

Key information:

A. Current situation overview, considering:

1. context, including relevant historical information and trends;
2. summary of classification results in terms of where, how many and how severe, focusing on worst-affected areas and children;
3. current conditions, focusing on reference to acute malnutrition;
4. why, focusing on keyd rivers, including identification of key shocks and vulnerabilities contributing to the situation;how different, providing a comparison with the previous IPC analyses to show any changeover time and with other areas.

B. Projected situation overview, considering:

1. Context, including seasonally andexpected usual impact of shocksduring the projected period;
2. Key assumptions for the projectedperiod, including:

• an assessment of past and forecastedshocks, diseases, and food consumption patterns that are most likely going to impact future acute malnutrition;
• critical reasoning for conclusionon likely changes in acute malnutritionlevels.

See Box 94 for an example of a situation overview.

Module 4: Recommendations for action

Purpose: To provide general recommendations for: (i) response priorities; (ii) situation monitoring and update; and (iii) data collection and information systems (Box 95).

Key information:

A. Response priorities:

1. Identify immediate and short- and long-term response objectives, focusing on the Acute Malnutrition levels as well as the major contributing factors to Acute Malnutrition.

B. Situation monitoring and update:

1. Identify IPC analysis plans to monitor the situation. Indicate timing of future IPC analysis.
2. Identify key risk factors to monitor that would trigger the need to update the analysis. Particular attention should be paid to factors such as conflict, possible disease outbreaks, and the food security situation, which inform key assumptions underpinning the phase classification.
3. Identify recommendations for data collection and information systems, i.e. timing, coverage and indicators as relevant to fill the data quality and other gaps faced during the analysis.

Module 6: Process and methodology 

Purpose: To describe the IPC approach, the analysis process, main data sources and key limitations (Box 97).

Key information:

A. Process and methodology

• Detail the analysis process, including reference to the national Technical Working Group, institutional arrangements, training, and activities undertaken before, during and after analysis.
• Include a list of main data sources used.

B. Limitations of the analysis

• Identify limitations of the analysis, including technical and process challenges, such as evidence gaps, institutional arrangements and participation.

Module 9: Profiles of the most-affected areas

Purpose: To present key findings and observations for each area or group of major concern (Box 100).

Key information:

• Provide an overview of the current and projected conditions, including references to evidence, and answer the five key questions (how severe, how many, why, when, where) specifically for that area/group. Provide recommendations for action as relevant
• Develop or cut the portion of the IPC map(s) focusing on the area for the current and projected period.
• Fill in the table with total number of children affected by GAM, SAM and MAM, and pregnant and lactating women if available.
• Insert icons representing two to four key driving factors for that area.

Module 10: Results of other IPC classifications (as applicable)

Purpose: contextualize the current classification in relation to relevant IPC Acute Food Insecurity and/or Chronic Food Insecurity analysis, presenting the linkages and complementarity between them, as well as providing trends over time (Box 101).

Key information:

• Provide a critical reasoning of linkages and complementarity between Acute Food Insecurity, Chronic Food Insecurity and Acute Malnutrition.
• Identify areas where conditions co-exist, such as different classification combinations (e.g. low Acute Food Insecurity and high Acute Malnutrition, high Acute Food Insecurity and low Acute Malnutrition), common drivers (contributing factors and denominators).
• Present historical maps (if possible) side by side, such as on trends of classifications and possible patterns, especially those of Acute Food Insecurity and Acute Malnutrition and possible patterns.