1.2 Why it is needed

Within the inherently complex, multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral fields of food security and nutrition, there was a widespread need for an analytical approach that would be robust and transparent, comparable and applicable across locations, and relevant for decision-making. To meet this challenge, the IPC has become a global reference for classification of food insecurity and increasingly for Acute Malnutrition because it is:

  • generic enough to be utilized in an array of food security and nutrition situations and contexts;
  • simple enough to be practical and understandable at the field level, making it useful for multiple stakeholders; 
  • rigorous enough to become an international standard.