Access to food in 2022: Filling data gaps

01/01/2023

This report presents the results of food insecurity assessments based on the food insecurity experience scale (FIES) data collected by FAO in seven countries facing food insecurity crises, between September 2022 and October 2022. The detailed results, presented at the subnational level, can support country-level decision-making and will also inform the monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets, specifically SDG Target 2.1

Panel Paper: Differentials in Food Insecurity Experience and its Determinants in the Arab Region

14/06/2016

Countries of the Arab region consistently face significant inequalities in wealth and education, as well as low female and youth participation in the labour force. Susceptibility to food insecurity likely follows similar patterns with differences in vulnerability to food insecurity within and across countries, and by gender and age. This study aimed to explore differentials in food insecurity experience and its socio-demographic determinants in the Arab region.

Assessing food insecurity in Latin America and the Caribbean using FAO’s Food Insecurity Experience Scale

20/07/2017

To overcome limitations in food security measurement, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations developed the Food Insecurity Experience Scale, which is the first survey protocol to measure people’s direct experience of food insecurity on a global scale. Using this new measure, our study contributes to the understanding of the food insecure by examining the determinants of food insecurity within and across countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

Validity of the Food Insecurity Experience Scale for Use in Sub-Saharan Africa and Characteristics of Food-Insecure Individuals

01/08/2018

The Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) is a UN FAO-Voices of the Hungry project (FAO-VoH) metric of food insecurity (FI). The FAO-VoH tested the psychometric properties of FIES with the use of global 2014 Gallup World Poll (GWP) data. However, similarities in its psychometric structure in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to allow aggregation of SSA results were untested.

Food Insecurity and Subjective Wellbeing Among Arab Youth Living in Varying Contexts of Political Instability

25/10/2018

To investigate associations between food insecurity experience and subjective wellbeing in Arab youth, across different political stability settings.

Profiles of Food Insecurity: Similarities and Differences across Selected CEE Countries

18/08/2018

Food security (FS) is influenced by primarily financial but also sociodemographic factors. Identification of correlates of food insecurity (FI) is a crucial issue in the context of achieving sustainable development goals. The aims of the study were: (1) to recognize FI in the selected Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, (2) to examine common socioeconomic and demographic characteristics for FI.

Liberal trade policy and food insecurity across the income distribution: an observational analysis in 132 countries, 2014–17

01/08/2020

Eradicating food insecurity is necessary for achieving global health goals. Liberal trade policies might increase food supplies but how these policies influence individual-level food insecurity remains uncertain. We aimed to assess the association between liberal trade policies and food insecurity at the individual level, and whether this association varies across country-income and household-income groups.

Food Insecurity Individual Experience: A Comparison of Economic and Social Characteristics of the Most Vulnerable Groups in the World

30/07/2018

Being at the core of sustainable growth, food insecurity is one of the most important issues in determining a country’s level of development. The first aim of this paper is to compare food insecurity in different subpopulations across countries. The second goal is to assess which factors affect individual food insecurity in the world, while taking into account the level of a country’s development.

Family policy and food insecurity: an observational analysis in 142 countries

01/08/2021

Levels of child malnutrition and hunger across the world have decreased substantially over the past century, and this has had an important role in reducing mortality and improving health. However, progress has stalled. We examined whether family policies (eg, cash transfers from governments that aim to support households with children) are associated with reduced food insecurity.

The economic condition and food security status: The study of European countries on 2015

28/11/2017

This article addresses the association between personal and community economic conditions and food insecurity status. The data from the 2015 Gallup World Poll were analyzed. Results for food insecurity status showed that Northern European countries had considerably lower food insecurity (4.4%) than Western European countries (6.2%), Eastern European countries (9.1%), and Southern European countries (9.9%). Food security status was positively associated with PCEC.

Use of the Food Insecurity Experience Scale to assess food security status in Ireland, 2014–17: a cross-sectional analysis

22/11/2018

Food poverty became an issue for many families in Ireland after the economic crash in 2007–08. This country started recovering from the crisis after 2009, and Ireland was ranked among the countries best able to feed their population. Even though economic recovery has begun in Ireland, it will take time for it to reach all families. We aimed to assess individuals' food security status and to determine the major drivers of food security in Ireland.

The Measurement of Food Insecurity among Children: Review of the Literature and Concept Note

01/09/2015

Prevalence and correlates of food insecurity among children across the globe

01/06/2017

The SDG framework has agreed to use the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) to measure moderate and severe food insecurity. The FIES is an experience-based metric that reports food-related behaviours on the inability to access food due to resource constraints. We present the first global estimates of the share and number of children below age 15, who live with a respondent who is food insecure.

The World’s Women 2015. Trends and Statistics.

01/01/2015

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Chapter 8

What explains gender differences in food insecurity?

14/01/2019

There is a rich literature devoted to the role women play in ensuring the food security of the household and other household members. However, relatively little attention has been paid to their own food security situation. The challenge with investigating the food security of women is that most surveys collect food security data at the household level making inferences about individual-level food security difficult.

Rural women: Most likely to experience food insecurity and poor health in low- and middle-income countries

01/05/2019

This study examines disparities in FIS and SRH in LMIC by gender and area of residence, the association between FIS and SRH, and gender gaps in development outcomes that may explain gender differences. If we are to effectively achieve the Sustainable Development Goal of zero hunger, an area where to date progress has been unacceptably slow and unequally realized, we must gain better insight into which population groups are most at risk and the factors contributing to these disparities.

Food Insecurity and Mental Health Status: A Global Analysis of 149 Countries

01/01/2017

This study sought to determine the association of individual-level food insecurity (FI) with mental health status across all global regions.

Does social support modify the relationship between food insecurity and poor mental health? Evidence from thirty-nine sub-Saharan African countries

05/11/2018

The present study aimed to determine the relationship among food insecurity, social support and mental well-being in sub-Saharan Africa, a region presenting the highest prevalence of severe food insecurity and a critical scarcity of mental health care.

Food insecurity as a determinant of international migration: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa

27/07/2019

In this paper, we examined how food insecurity can affect international migration aspirations and subsequent actions taken in preparation to move internationally from Sub-Saharan Africa. Drawing on a conceptual framework of the determinants of migration, we developed a three-stage regression model and tested it using data from the 2014 Gallup World Poll.

Indicators utilized by IPC

01/07/2021

This section of the IPC Resources provides more information on the indicators, in particular on direct evidence, i.e. indicators included in IPC Reference Tables, that are typically used in IPC Analyses. Each indicator included in IPC Reference Tables is explained in more detail in terms of its definition and analytical process, IPC cut-offs, key sources of evidence, limitations of use, and references.