AMEND CONTENT

1. Introduction

As defined by the 2009 Declaration of the World Summit on Food Security: “Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food, which meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.” Based on this definition, four food security dimensions can be identified: food availability, economic and physical access to food, food utilization, and stability (vulnerability and shocks) over time. Each food security dimension is described by specific indicators.

  • Food Availability: Quantities and varieties of food available in the area may have been affected and not be sufficient. Food stocks, production, supply systems and markets may not be adequate or functioning optimally.
    • Average Dietary Energy Supply Adequacy.
    • Average Value of Food Production.
    • Share of dietary energy supply derived from cereals, roots and tubers.
    • Average protein supply.
    • Average supply of protein of animal origin.
  • Food Access: A household’s own production, income, purchasing power, transfer from other sources and livelihood assets may have been disrupted or eroded. Households may not be able to access sufficient food without losing productive assets, which will have long-term effects on their livelihoods.
    • Physical Access: Transport infrastructures
    • Economic Access:
      • Domestic Food Price Level Index
      • Prevalence of undernourishment
      • Share of food expenditure of the poor
      • Depth of the food deficit
      • Prevalence of food inadequacy
  • Food Utilization: People may have access to food but may not be able to utilize it efficiently and effectively due to several factors (for example, no fuel or containers to cook, illness prevents full absorption). People’s nutritional status may also be affected, as emergencies may change their food consumption and/or public health conditions and care practices.
    • Access to improved water sources
    • Access to improved sanitation facilities
  • Food Stability:
    • Domestic food price volatility index
    • Per Capita food production variability
    • Per Capita food supply variability
    • Political stability/absence of violence/terrorism