The Integrated Phase Classification approach as an example of comprehensive system approaches

One of the key challenges in food security analysis and evaluation is the coherency of approaches across multiple contexts for both acute and chronic food insecurity contexts. This chapter presents an example of a tool that brings together the various contributing factors, impacts and outcomes of food security for comparing food security situations and providing a traceable, transparent basis for food security classifications, allowing for informed classification of food security phase for area and population. This chapter focuses on two key tools developed in the Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) – the Analytical Framework and Reference Tables. The IPC Analytical Framework builds on existing conceptual frameworks for sustainable livelihoods, nutrition and food security analysis. The reference tables place an individual within a continuum.