The causes of food insecurity and vulnerability can be as diverse as poverty, inadequate marketing infrastructure, drought or civil strife. Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information and Mapping Systems (FIVIMS) are any systems that assemble, analyse and disseminate information on who the food insecure are, where they are located, and why they are food insecure, nutritionally vulnerable or at risk.
The World Food Summit Plan of Action (Rome, November 1996)1 recommended that such systems be established at the global, national and subnational levels in efforts to achieve Summit goals of reducing undernutition and achieving food for all.
The following short report provides an overview of the progress made in the establishment of the FIVIMS programme since the World Food Summit in November 1996.
Commitment 2 (Para. 20a): "Governments, in partnership with all actors of civil society ... will develop and periodically update ... a national food insecurity and vulnerability information and mapping system, indicating areas and populations, including at local level, affected by or at risk of hunger and malnutrition, and elements contributing to food insecurity, making maximum use of existing data and other information systems in order to avoid duplication of efforts."
In March 1997, FAO convened a Technical Consultation to (i) review existing methodologies and indicators for the assessment of food insecurity and vulnerability and make recommendations for their improvement; and (ii) propose a work plan for the development and establishment of FIVIMS at the national and international levels. The following short-term actions needed to be undertaken.
The Committee on World Food Security (CFS) approved these actions at its 23rd Session in April 1997.
In December 1997, the technical Inter-Agency Working Group on Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Mapping Systems (IAWG-FIVIMS) was set up as the mechanism to oversee the development of FIVIMS.
As of March 2000, a total of 29 entities were members of IAWG-FIVIMS, namely:
IAWG-FIVIMS has met four times since its establishment in 1997 and has focused on the following themes: Organisation of the IAWG FIVIMS (FAO, Rome, December 1997); Guidelines for National FIVIMS (IFAD, Rome, April 1998); Steps towards implementation of the FIVIMS Programme (World Bank, Washington, 11/98); and Lessons Learned in initial national FIVIMS work, especially in Asia (Helen Keller International, Bali, Indonesia, Febuary 2000).
A permanent IAWG-FIVIMS Secretariat has been established and is hosted by FAO. The Secretariat monitors FIVIMS activities at both the international and country level and provides information and project co-ordination services to members, countries, partner organisations and the general public. A tracking system is being established to monitor progress in the implementation of the IAWG work plan, maintain up-to-date information about country activities, ensure timely response to country requests and improve co-ordination at the regional and international level.
Four sub-working groups have been established under IAWG-FIVIMS, and these focus individually on: Indicators, Assessment and Mapping;Technical Materials; Key Indicators Database System; and Country Applications.
Each of these sub-working groups is co-chaired by a representative of the IAWG-FIVIMS Secretariat located at FAO, as well as a non-FAO representative.
The Sub-Working Group on Indicators, Assessment and Mapping has made considerable contributions to the new structure for the preparation of the assessment document for the Committee on Food Security (CFS), so that it can monitor the progress towards reducing the number of undernourished people. The group has also undertaken substantial work in reviewing current methods in food security and vulnerability assessment. In addition, the group is further developing and refining the approach for the identification and characterization of vulnerable groups and is investigating key vulnerability factors and associated indicators.
The Sub-Working Group on Technical Materials has prepared a substantial bibliography of relevant resource materials that will shortly be accessible via the FIVIMS website. Furthermore, a series of technical notes on issues relevant to the establishment of national FIVIMS is currently being compiled.
The Sub-Working Group on Key Indicators Database System has made good progress in operationalising the African Nutrition Database Initiative (ANDI), which is considered as the precursor to a more comprehensive international FIVIMS database. ANDI is supported by FAO, the World Bank, UNICEF, UNESCO and Italian Co-operation. In addition, FAO has developed a mapping system software, the Key Indicators Mapping System (KIMS), as a tool for national and international FIVIMS partners to support the presentation and mapping of key indicators of food insecurity and vulnerability. The software is currently in its testing phase and it is expected that it will be ready for distribution in July 2000.
The Sub-Working Group on Country Applications has thus far provided direct support to different countries for start-up FIVIMS work in the ongoing programmes of various IAWG members. Guidelines on the establishment of a national FIVIMS were completed and approved in June 1998 by the CFS. UNDP is sponsoring the printing and distribution of the Guidelines and other FIVIMS documents in five languages. The Sub- group is working towards expanding these Guidelines to provide additional in-depth and technical guidance.
An IAWG-FIVIMS Website has been designed and launched to contribute to information dissemination activities. It includes an introduction to FIVIMS and key concepts; news on work-in-progress at both the national and international level;relevant resource material; and contact details.
On-going and proposed FIVIMS operational activities are being undertaken by partners in 20 countries in Africa (Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Namibia, Senegal); Asia (India, China, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Viet Nam); Latin America and the Caribbean (Barbados, Ecuador, Haiti); Near East (Egypt, Jordan, Yemen).
Click here for a short account of FIVIMS activities in India.
The development of the FIVIMS programmes at the national level have also been supported by IAWG partners, FAO regional and sub-regional offices, and country representative offices, by the following means:
FIVIMS trust fund projects currently amount to approximately $3 million, with over $7 million in proposals currently being considered by international and bi-lateral partners.
Several other bilateral donors have expressed their interest in funding specific aspects of FIVIMS work at the country and regional level.
As of March 2000, 14 national ACC Network Thematic Groups were suppporting the development of FIVIMS in Africa (Eritrea, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe), Asia (Cambodia, China, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Viet Nam) and the Near East (Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen).
The ACC Network Secretariat, in collaboration with the IAWG-FIVIMS Secretariat, is currently exploring the possibility of organizing an e-mail conference on food security and poverty assessment methodologies in the near future. The e-mail conference would involve members of the ACC Network on Rural Development and Food Security and staff of IAWG member organizations interested in participating.Details will be posted on this site as soon as they become available.
For further information on FIVIMS, e-mail FIVIMS-Secretariat@fao.org