Vulnerability Analysis & Mapping - VAM
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DETECTING CHANGES

Comprehensive Vulnerability Analysis provides an understanding of the basic causes of food insecurity and vulnerability by geographic location and social group.

The risks which vulnerable households face in food production, income generation and consumption are always changing.

Thus the monitoring of these changes in food security and vulnerability are an important part of the Standard Analytical Framework since they build upon the findings of the baseline vulnerability analyses.

Zimbabwe - 2002  © WFP/Thomas Gabrielle
Vulnerability monitoring activities are used to identify changes in food security conditions in geographic regions or social groups identified by the comprehensive vulnerability analysis.

The main functions of vulnerability monitoring are to provide:

  • Inputs for local early warning systems that could assist in identifying potential emergency situation within a country

  • Timely information on the food security status of current WFP beneficiaries and other vulnerable groups

  • Regular food security situation updates to WFP, government counterparts and implementing partners in the form of food security and vulnerability bulletins or newsletters.
VAM input into Early Warning
Early warning systems are the best known vulnerability monitoring strategies. They usually focus on tracking the status of regularly occurring hazards to food security such as drought, floods, El Nino and market prices over time

This information helps to predict the potential onset of a crisis that could affect the food security status of groups of people within a country or region

Where there is no organized early warning capability within a country or region, WFP and partners (Governments, NGOs, or regional organizations) may have to work to establish such a mechanism. VAM may play a key role in assisting with the design and implementation or data collection or reporting for early warning activities through monitoring activities

 




Standard Analytical Framework
Comprehensive Vulnerability
Analysis
Monitoring Food Security & Vulnerability
Vulnerability monitoring activities
Emergency Programming

Glossary


Zimbabwe - 2002  © WFP/Thomas Gabrielle