All evidence and analysis needs to be clearly and systematically documented so that analysts have 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 analysis through the IPC Food Security Analytical Framework and linking evidence to the IPC Reference Table. The use of the Analysis Worksheet, preferably in ISS or in MSWord™, is a major advantage to IPC analysis. The Analysis Worksheet is divided in seven steps (Box 57) that, if completed, will meet all analysis requirements, as detailed in protocol 2.5 (Box 56). Procedures for completing the Analysis Worksheet are briefly described below. It is highly advisable that parts of the Worksheet, especially Steps 1, 2 and 3, are completed by analysts before the analysis workshop. The order of the steps is not pre-determined, and analysts may complete them in any order as well as edit previous steps during the analysis.
Step 1: Conduct a context analysis
Purpose: To support the contextualization of evidence and livelihood-based analyses of food security by providing information on livelihood strategies and assets, including a review of the seasonal calendar and key characteristics of population living in the area.
Approach overview:
In order to characterize each area to be analysed, analysts will utilize Step 1 of the Chronic Food Insecurity Analysis Worksheet. In addition, they should carry out the following:
Step 2: Document evidence in repository
Purpose: To help organize wide-ranging data from multiple sources for ease of access and reference.
Approach overview:
Step 3: Identify periods with non-exceptional circumstances
Purpose: To identify periods within the previous ten years during which the area did not suffer or benefit from the impacts of unusual shocks. Identification of periods of non-exceptional circumstances is key to correctly using quick-changing indicators against the Chronic Food Insecurity Reference Table cut-offs, which are set for the lean season of periods with non-exceptional circumstances. If evidence on quick-changing indicators was collected in a lean season with non-exceptional circumstances, the cut-offs in the Reference Table can be directly applied. However, if evidence was collected during exceptional circumstances, the evidence has to be inferred against the Reference Table and may not be granted even R1- but can still be used to support the analysis, especially if evidence collected over exceptional circumstances is scarce. Box 58 details concepts and an approach for the identification of non-exceptional circumstances.
Approach overview:
Step 4: Analyse evidence
Purpose: To analyse evidence by following the IPC Analytical Framework and Reference Table considering the local context and evidence reliability score, including reference to historical trends and socio-economic differences.
Approach overview:
Step 5: Perform area classification and population estimations
Purpose: To provide a critical review of supporting and contradictory evidence used to arrive at level classification and estimation of populations.
Approach overview:
Step 6: Identify key drivers
Purpose: To enable decision-makers to identify key factors driving existing levels of chronic food insecurity so that action can be more strategically planned.
Approach overview:
Step 7: Identify limiting factors
Purpose: To enable decision-makers to identify limiting dimensions of food security so that the response can target areas of interventions (availability, access, utilization and stability).
Approach overview: