|
THE STANDARD ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK FOR FOOD SECURITY &
VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT
The 'SAF' is a common conceptual framework developed by the
VAM Unit to provide a set of standard guidelines to use when carrying
out analyses of food security and vulnerability.
In early 2000, VAM-HQ used a Canadian Quality Improvement grant
to assess the usefulness of its products for WFP programme design
and management.
The review concluded that since WFP follows clearly defined decision-making
steps in drawing-up its programmes, VAM analyses should also create
a standard set of practices and information products. This would
help VAM analyses to meet specific requirements at each stage
of WFP's programming cycle in a more timely, consistent and cost-effective
way.
The quality assessment also indicated that VAM Officers and Focal
Points require assistance in identifying, and then learning about,
the best practices for analysing food security and vulnerability.
The Standard Analytical Framework (SAF) provides this assistance
and insight to VAM officers, Focal Points, and other WFP staff.
SETTING COMMON STANDARDS
The VAM Unit is defining a Standard Analytical Framework
which sets the following standards:
- SAF analyses should be directly linked to WFP information
requirements.
The content, format, timing, presentation and resources used
for VAM analyses should be consistent with the needs of WFP
decision-making.
- SAF analyses should be consistent with a common conceptual
framework of food security and vulnerability and use 'best practices'
in assessment.
To this end, VAM analyses should reflect a standard and shared
conception of food security and vulnerability, and utilise common
terminology.
The SAF should not specify which analytical techniques and methods
to use in VAM assessments, but should require the use of 'best
practices' in the way the analysis is structured, data manipulated
and results interpreted.
- SAF analyses should use both primary and secondary information,
as appropriate.
Some information needs - geographic targeting, sectoral problem
identification - are well-served by analysis of secondary data.
Others, such as beneficiary targeting and programme design,
may be better met using primary data collected directly from
the food insecure and vulnerable.
SAF encourages the development of a participatory primary data
collection and analysis process to complement and challenge
secondary data
- SAF analyses are designed to feed decision-making processes;
they should, therefore, be transparent and accessible to those
who produce and use this information.
The ultimate goal of the SAF process is to identify analytic
processes, information products and support materials (guidelines,
training modules etc …) that will allow food security and
vulnerability assessments to be undertaken and understood by
all WFP staff and its partners.
- SAF defines a core group of VAM analyses, which should be
undertaken in all WFP Country Offices.
These should provide both a country-wide and a community-specific
context for the following:
· understanding & measuring vulnerability
to food insecurity
· monitoring changes in food security
· identifying causes and plausible solutions
· planning for future food security and vulnerability
problems
|