IPC EVENTS

The IPC Global Technical Working Group (IPC TWG) has been working on an improved prototype for classification of severity and causes of chronic food insecurity. The first prototype, launched in the version 2.0 of the IPC Manual, has been considerably modified based on various pilots; including three pilots in Southern Africa conduced from 2011 to 2012.

The latest version of the prototype, which will be the basis for the tool to be launched in early 2014, was to be tested in four countries, including one from each main zone (Asia, East Africa, Southern Africa and Latin America). The choice of the country to be analyzed in Southern Africa was left for the SADC RVAC IPC TWG. The final decision was to select Malawi as the focus country but to do the workshop as a Regional initiative thus including members from key countries that have been involved in previous pilot exercises of the prototype tool and other IPC activities in the region. The Chronic pilot workshop took place in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 18 to 22 November 2013.

The IPC protocols and tools for classifying the severity and causes of chronic food insecurity analysis were discussed in great detail before, during and after the testing exercise. Focus was given to the following: (i) Analysis of Non-exceptional Years, (ii) Reference Tables for CFI Classification, (iii) Step 4 of Analysis Worksheet, (iv) Step 7, 8 and 9 of Analysis Worksheet.