The demand for IPC is constantly increasing around the world. There is evidence that previous efforts have substantially improved the technical capacity of institutional stakeholders to utilize IPC tools and procedures. However, it is less clear how effective IPC information products and processes have been in positively influencing food security policies and programming among institutional partners, or what barriers must be overcome to ensure the longer-term effectiveness of the IPC.

In response, in October 2013 the IPC Global Steering Committee called for the completion of the IPC Baseline Use and Impact Study. The aim of the Study is to provide a basis for assessing use of the IPC among key decision makers and the impact that use has on the effectiveness of policy and programming in emergency and development contexts. Findings from the Baseline Study will also contribute to development of a monitoring and evaluation framework within the broader context of the IPC Decision-Maker Strategic Engagement Plans at the global, regional and national levels.

The Baseline Study is a key element of the Outcome 4 of the IPC Global Strategic Programme – Use and impact of the IPC at global, regional and national level - and will complement regular monitoring data collected by IPC Regional Coordinators and country focal points on other outcomes related to institutionalization, technical capacity and quality of analysis. Effective integration of this information will enable the IPC Global Support Unit to account for, and learn from, important differences in operating context at the regional and country levels.

Furthermore, the Use and Impact of IPC at the Global, Regional and Country Level is the main theme of the IPC Global Event, which this year will be held on 1-2 July 2014 at FAO HQs, in Rome. During the Event, the  preliminary findings of the Baseline Study will be shared with IPC Donors and Partners in order to engender discussion of strategic implications among key stakeholders and inform roll-out of the Global Strategic Programme at the regional and national levels. Review and discussion of preliminary findings among internal stakeholders will also inform finalization of the Baseline Use and Impact Study report. The final version of the Study is expected to be released by December 2014.

Process and Steps

The study team envisages three complementary approaches to gather information for the Impact Study. The first approach entails telephone and Skype interviews with senior-level decision makers among a range of donors, IPC partner representatives and relevant food security policy organizations at the global and regional levels. Second, the Baseline Use and Impact Study analyzed primary data collected through a uniform survey instrument circulated among a broader range of IPC Technical Working Group members, NGO representatives, government partners and other stakeholders at the regional and national levels. Finally, in order to collect primary qualitative data on key questions related to project objectives, the study team carried out field visits in the following IPC regions and countries:

Asia: Bangladesh, Nepal, Philippines
East and Central Africa: Kenya, Somalia
Latin America and Caribbean: Haiti, Honduras, Panama
Southern Africa: Botswana, Malawi, South Africa, Zimbabwe

The countries were selected for their diversity in terms of geographic location and phase of IPC development.

The secondary information and remote and physical interviews with IPC Users will be reviewed in order to define the preliminary findings of the Baseline Study to be presented at the IPC Global Partner and Donor Consultation in July.