The IPC in West Africa continues to support the technical development and implementation of the CILSS Cadre Harmonisé (CH). Similarly, the IPC GSU remains actively engaged in the Technical Committee of the CH, which is leading technical consultations on the development of CH tools and procedures.

The CH Technical Committee last met in September 2013, in Niamey, to finalize the latest draft of the CH Manual, which is being used to guide the next round of CH Training and Analysis, taking place in 12 countries (Burkina Faso, Chad, Senegal, Mali, Mauritania and Niger, Togo, Guinea Republic, the Gambia, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Cape Verde) in October/November 2013. The analyses are scheduled to take place simultaneously in all 12 countries, although with some exceptions due to specific country programming needs. The aim of the exercise is to be completed by the second week of November, so that results can be used to inform the meeting of the PREGEC (Unit for the Prevention and Management of Food Crises in the Sahel), scheduled for 20-22 November 2013 in Lomé, Togo.

CILSS is aiming at introducing CH analysis in two further countries in the Region in 2014, so that CH can become a shared and harmonized tool for Food Security Analysis in West Africa, able to potentially trigger regional food reserve mobilization, if needed. Recent technical developments in the CH draft Manual have led to increased similarities and convergence between the IPC and the CH, although some differences remain. The Manual is currently in its final draft form, and will be tested in the next round of CH Training and Analysis, so that CH tools and procedures can be further refined and finalized.