VAM INPUTS TO EMERGENCY PROGRAMMING

VAM analytic activities aim to assess the food security and vulnerability situation in a country before, during and after a crisis and to provide a framework for targeting food assistance temporally, geographically and by social group.

In emergencies as well as for development programming, WFP needs to know not only the numbers of potential beneficiaries but also more detailed information on who is affected, where they live, how long will they require assistance and how best to use food aid to improve their lives.

BEFORE THE CRISIS

The Comprehensive Vulnerability Assessment (CVA) can provide essential information of risks and their potential impacts on different population groups for disaster mitigation and contingency planning efforts. In addition, CVA attempts to identify the coping capacity of these at-risk populations. Vulnerability and food security monitoring helps WFP to identify emerging trends and eventual threats to household food security.

VAM inputs into Emergency Needs Assessments

Baseline vulnerability and food security assessments and the subsequent vulnerability monitoring activities provide essential information for planning emergency needs assessments.

In many cases, the local VAM unit is the main source of this information which is often used by multi-sectoral assessment teams to identify not only the geographic locations affected by the emergency but also some of the underlying factors which can exacerbate the levels of vulnerability in disaster-affected populations.

Main activities include:
	Provision of baseline vulnerability and food security assessment findings to emergency assessment planning team
	Assistance in analysis and interpretation of vulnerability monitoring indicators such as rainfall, river levels, market prices, etc.
	Preparation of spatial maps for sampling assessment locations
	Participation in emergency assessment field activities and subsequent analysis and interpretation
	Technical and information support for preparation of EMOP

DURING THE CRISIS

At the initial stages of an emergency, there is an urgent need for information about the number of beneficiaries and quantity of food needed. Standard WFP "emergency needs assessments" inform this decision.
After initial emergency assessments are completed, there is an opportunity to more systematically develop profiles for targeting beneficiary groups and estimating the extent of their need for food assistance. Emergency Vulnerability Analysis also helps to assess non-food needs as well as the most appropriate way to program food assistance to affected populations.

Emergency Vulnerability Analysis

As a complement to the initial emergency assessment activities, Emergency Vulnerability Analysis (EVA) should be planned and carried out in order to determine the varying types and levels of vulnerability among the affected populations.

In addition, EVA can also provide information to better understand the complex nature of an emergency and thus, help to identify non-food needs and most appropriate methods to program emergency food assistance.

The EVA can be conducted simultaneously alongside the emergency assessment or can be planned as a series of rolling assessments after the EMOP has been approved. These assessments can be conducted in communities as well as in camp settings in order to provide essential information to identify issues to be monitored during the course of the EMOP.

Main activities include:
	Work with key WFP staff and counterparts to identify goals and objectives of the EVA activity
	Develop appropriate methodologies that include sampling, use of qualitative and quantitative techniques, an analysis strategy, and logistics plan. WFP staff in the country office, VAM regional and HQ staff as well as local assessment and food security experts can provide assistance for this activity
	Select and train a team of experts to conduct EVA activities that include field testing of the strategy and instruments. Feedback and experiences can help to refine the selected approach
	Participation in data collection and lead the analysis and interpretation for use in geographic and temporal targeting and beneficiary monitoring.

AFTER THE CRISIS

Vulnerability Monitoring helps WFP to shift the focus of it's operations from relief to recovery by tracking changes in food security conditions of those receiving emergency food assistance.

Emergency Vulnerability Monitoring

Similar to regular Vulnerability Monitoring, the Emergency Vulnerability Monitoring (EVM) will help to provide information not only on beneficiaries but also on the changing physical, social and political environments, which always accompany emergency situations. As the needs of the beneficiaries (in both community and camp settings) change, so should the work of WFP and its partners.

In addition, EVM helps to provide vital information on beneficiary targeting, level of assistance, and timing of recovery and rehabilitation activities.

Main activities include:
	Regular collection, analysis and interpretation of data on food security status of beneficiary groups and possible effects of emergency food assistance. The type of information collected should be based upon the key issues and indicators identified in the EVA and can be conducted through implementation partners and government counterparts
	Continued acquisition and analysis of secondary data on the physical, economic and political environment by the VAM office to support the primary monitoring activities
	Preparation of regular (quarterly) monitoring reports that describe and/or quantify the changes in food security status of different beneficiary groups and provide additional information on leakage and undercoverage of food assistance. Reports would essentially provide updates on the overall performance of the EMOP in addressing the food security needs of the affected populations.