Increasing the Resilience of the Food Systems
In Islamic States in Face of Future Food Crises
13
instances, the definitions used in this type of classification are descriptive, which limits valid
comparisons between food security situations across different settings and timeframes. An
example of this type of classification is FAO’s Global Information Early Warning System (GIEWS),
which classifies countries based on access to food and food supply deficits.30
The “specific aspect” classifications provide a categorization of food security situations referenced
against specific variables, such as conflict or coping strategies. These classifications allow for a
better understanding and analysis based on the interrelation of different variables. An example of
this type of classification is theMédecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Nutrition Guidelines, which uses
combines food insecurity stages with coping strategies from insurance, crisis and distress
strategies.
The “referenced threshold” classifications use measurable food security indicators, such as
malnutrition andmortality,and set a thresholdfor establishing thevariouscategories. This type of
classification usesmeasurableindicators that allow for comparisons of different settings and across
time. An example of this is the Food Insecurity Classification developed by Darcy and Hoffman,
which has four categories from “Chronic Food Insecurity,” “Acute Food Crisis,” “Long-term Food
Crisis,” to“Famine” thatare referenced against certain malnutrition and mortality threshold s.31
The Integrated Food SecurityPhaseClassification (IPC) is one of themostwidely used food security
classification to assess food security situations and crises. It integrates elements from various
classification systems, using “guiding definitions” and building on the “referenced threshold”
classification system by linking categories to impact on life and livelihoods. It uses several
measurable indicators, including crudemortalityrate,acutemalnutrition, food access/availability,
dietary diversity, water access, destitution and displacement, coping, and livelihood assets. 32 The
following table outlines the five phases of food security and select indicators used by the IPC.
Table 2: Integrated Food Security Phase Classification
Phase Select Key Outcomes
Generally, Food
Secure
Crude Mortality Rate < 0.5/10,000/day
Acute Malnutrition <3 % (w/h <-2 z-scores)
Food Access/Availabilityusually adequate (> 2,100 kcal ppp day), stable
Water Access/Avail. usually adequate (> 15 liters ppp day), stable
Moderately/
Borderline Food
Secure
Crude Mortality Rate <0.5 / 10,000 / day; U5MR<1/10,000/day
Acute Malnutrition <3 % (w/h <-2 z-scores)
Food Access/Availabilityborderline adequate (2,100 kcal ppp day); unstable
Water Access/Avail. borderline adequate (15 liters ppp day); unstable
Acute Food and
LivelihoodCrisis
Crude Mortality Rate 0.5-1/10,000/day, U5MR 1-2/10,000/day
Acute Malnutrition 10-15 % (w/h <-2 z-score), > than usual, increasing
Food Access/Availability lack of entitlement; 2,100 kcal ppp day accessed via
asset stripping
Water Access/Avail. 7.5-15 liters ppp day, accessed via asset stripping
Humanitarian
Emergency
Crude Mortality Rate 1-2 / 10,000 / day, >2x reference rate, increasing; U5MR
> 2/10,000/day
Acute Malnutrition >15 % (w/h <-2 z-score), > than usual, increasing
30 IPC Global Partners. (2008). Integrated Food SecurityPhase Classification - Technical Manual: Version 1.1. Retrieved from
31 IPC Global Partners. (2008). Integrated Food SecurityPhase Classification- Technical Manual: Version 1.1. Retrieved from
32 Ibid.