The Arab Spatial knowledge platform made up of an online Atlas and an Arab Food Security Blog has the following objectives: 1. Improving access to quality information on the Arab World 2. Learning from monitoring and evaluation 3. Supporting decision and policy making through a mix of information and analytical tools.

1. Arab Spatial Development and Food Security Information ToolBetter information for better lives
CFS Meeting in Rome, October, 17, 2014
Perrihan Al-Riffai and Clemens Breisinger

2. •Launched in January 2013
•Since then, presentations in 10+ countries, including Egypt, Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Qatar, USA, UK, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Ethiopia…
•More than 13,000 page views from 113 countries
•Rationale for developing Arab Spatial:
–Arab region is the most under-researched region in the world
–Access to data is difficult
–Scope for improving evidence-based decision making and monitoring and evaluation of projects
•To address these issues, IFAD and CGIAR-PIM financed the development of Arab Spatial
•In 2014, development of several country-specific tools, including for Yemen, Iraq and Palestine
A brief history of Arab Spatial

3. Objectives
•Improve access to quality information
–on food security and related development data
–interactive mapping experience and analytical tools
•Learn from monitoring and evaluation
–development progress
–policies and projects
•Support decision and policy making
–for policy makers, analysts, media and the public
–through a mix of information and analytical tools

4. •ATLAS (online) for mapping and charting
–Monitoring and evaluation
–Tracking changes in development and food security outcomes
•BLOG
–Sharing evidence-based analysis and recommendations to enliven and enrich the debate on food security in the Arab Region
–Contribute to the implementation of solutions on the ground and to their evaluation.
Arab Spatial

5. www.arabspatial.org

7. Demand for country-specific Spatials, for example Yemen, Iraq, Palestine

9. Arab Spatial Atlas

10. Arab Spatial Atlas

11. Mapping Tool

12. Identify Areas Vulnerable to Food Insecurity
ChildmalnutritionratesareparticularlyhighinYemenandSomalia.
Linktomap:http://www.arabspatial.org/?ll=Stunting,Country|2012&bm=Worldlightgray(Note: Selectthe“Latest”functiononthetimeline)

13. Even at the Sub-national Level
ChildmalnutritionratesareparticularlyhighinYemenandSomalia.
Linktomap:http://54.194.1.33/?ll=Stunting,Governorate|2012&bm=Worldlightgray(Note:Selectthe“Latest”functiononthetimeline)

14. Investment in Infrastructure and Access to Cities
Displayphysicalinfrastructurethatenablespopulationstohaveaccesstolocalandinternationalfoodmarketssuchasports,airports,railroads, grainstoragefacilities.
Linktoleftmap:http://www.arabspatial.org/?ll=Railroads&ll=Grainstorages&ll=Ports&ll=Airports&bm=Worldlightgray
Displayaccesstosmallcities(traveltimeexpressedinhours).
Linktorightmap:http://www.arabspatial.org/?ll=Accesstosmallcities&bm=Worldimagery

15. Closing Yield Gaps
Displaythespatialdistributionofwheatyieldsatthepixellevel(expressedinkg/hectares),andvisualizeindetailwhichareashavethehighestandlowestwheatyieldsacrosstheregion.
Link to map: http://www.arabspatial.org/?ll=Yield -wheat&bm=World light gray

16. Compare Multiple Indicators
Users can visually analyze how long term changes in precipitation relate to spatial patterns of conflict in Sudan and Somalia.
Link to maps:http://www.arabspatial.org/?ll=Violent conflicts, 1997 -2010&ll=Precipitation variability&bm=World light gray

17. Zoom-in to Specific Points of Interest
The zoom-in function and World Imagery base layer to visualize areas and points of interest in fine detail.
Link to map: http://www.arabspatial.org/?ll=Grain storages&bm=World imagery

18. A Valuable Tool for Targeting
Visualize whether interventions are situated in areas which are most vulnerable to food insecurity.
Link to leftmap: http://www.arabspatial.org/?ll=Ongoing IFAD development projects&ll=Stunting, Governorate|2012&bm=World light gray(Note: Select the “Latest” function on the timeline)
Link to right map: http://www.arabspatial.org/?ll=Ongoing IFAD development projects&ll=Yield - sorghum&bm=World imagery

19. Charting Tool

20. Visualize indicators in a chart: GDP per Capita
The “Analytics” functions allows users to visualize the selected indicators in a bar, line or scatter chart.
Link to chart: http://www.arabspatial.org/?ll=GNI per capita|2012&bm=World light gray(Note: Select the “Analytics” function at the bottom of the screen)

21. Link to chart http://54.194.1.33/?ll=Stunting, Governorate|2012&bm=World light gray(Note: Select the “Analytics” function at the bottom of the screen)
Visualize indicators in a chart: Child stunting by governorate, Yemen

22. ECONOMY AND STATE
Macroeconomy
Public finances
Production and Prices
GDP
Employment
External sector
Exports
Imports
Governance
POLICIES AND INTERVENTIONS
Government expenditures
Subsidies
SUMMARY OUTCOME INDICATORS
National level
CRISES AND SHOCKS
Conflicts
Displaced populations
As of today, manyindicatorshave been updatedto 2013

23. www.arabspatial.org