Food security information systems aim to provide analyzed food security data to support decision making. They do this by collecting primary and secondary data, analyzing the data to create useful information for decision makers, and communicating this information through various reports and presentations to stakeholders across government, civil society, and international organizations. The goal is for the information to be assimilated and applied to policy and program decisions, thereby improving food security analysis, planning, and outcomes.

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Unit: Food Security Information Systems and Networks
Food Security Information Systems
The objectives, purposes and functions of
Food Security Information Systems and Networks
(FSIS/FSIN)
Magdi Latif
Regional Knowledge and Information Management Officer
Advocacy, Partnership and Capacity Development Department

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Unit: Food Security Information Systems and Networks
Food Security Information Systems
• This lesson will help you understand the objectives,
purposes and functions of food security
information systems (FSIS).
• It will also introduce a basic framework to
describe:
- the various components of an information
system, and
- how they combine to produce outputs that meet
the needs of decision makers.
INTRODUCTION

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Unit: Food Security Information Systems and Networks
Food Security Information Systems
Ensuring the food security of its citizens is an important
development goal for all governments.
Therefore, decision makers need to know:
who are the food insecure?
what are the nature and causes of their food insecurity?
FSIS AND THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS
The objective of a FSIS is to provide well analysed
food security information to decision makers.

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Unit: Food Security Information Systems and Networks
Food Security Information Systems
The principle objective of all information systems is to
support the decision making process.
FSIS AND THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS
The effectiveness of a food security information
system depends on:
the analytical and communication capacity of the
staff running the system;
good institutional support;
appropriate methods; and
adequate information technology, including
computer hardware and software.

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Unit: Food Security Information Systems and Networks
Food Security Information Systems
These users may need to apply this information
for a range of different decision making
purposes.
Food security is a complex subject:
FSIS AND THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS
Many different information systems may
contribute data and analysis for building a
comprehensive understanding of food security.
Food security information must be well
communicated to a wide range of potential
users.

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Unit: Food Security Information Systems and Networks
Food Security Information Systems
Analysts running a FSIS conduct a series of
steps resulting in improved decision making:
DATA
INFORMATION
KNOWLEDGE
ANALYSIS
COMMUNICATION
FSIS AND THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS
3. The information must be communicated
through appropriate reports. Information that
is assimilated by users becomes knowledge.
2. This data is analyzed to make it useful for
decision makers.
Analyzed data is called information.
1. Data is collected and managed using
appropriate survey and data management
techniques and software.

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Unit: Food Security Information Systems and Networks
Food Security Information Systems
Data is the raw material for an information
system. It consists of unanalyzed facts or
figures.
DATA
DATA COLLECTION AND DATA MANAGEMENT
Data needs to be carefully stored and
managed within an information system.
Data should be processed, quality controlled
and stored in an accessible format for future
analysis.

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Unit: Food Security Information Systems and Networks
Food Security Information Systems
People running an information system may be directly responsible
for collecting data. We distinguish between two kinds of data:
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY DATA
Secondary data
Data that have previously gathered by another system (for
purposes other than addressing the issue or problem currently
under study).
Primary data
Data collected by the system specifically for the research project.

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Unit: Food Security Information Systems and Networks
Food Security Information Systems
Food security can be measured in its four dimensions:
AVAILABILITY
ACCESS
UTILIZATION
STABILITY
Measures whether a wide variety of food is available
at farms and in local markets.
Measures whether people have enough money to
purchase a variety of foods.
Refers to the capacity of the human body to absorb
the food eaten in an environment that supplies
appropriate care, clean water, good sanitation and
health services.
Refers to the vulnerability context and risk factors
that impact negatively on food availability or access
to food.
DATA AND THE FOOD SECURITY DIMENSIONS

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Unit: Food Security Information Systems and Networks
Food Security Information Systems
Each factor or variable is measured by its corresponding
indicators.
Some variables such as food production may be measured or
estimated directly. However, other variables are measured
by the use of proxy or indirect indicators.
For example, it is extremely difficult to measure actual food intake.
Therefore, we may measure proxy indicators such as dietary diversity or number
of meals per day.
The assumption is that these proxies are closely correlated with the variable we
wish to measure.
Example: Using proxy indicators
DATA AND THE FOOD SECURITY DIMENSIONS

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Unit: Food Security Information Systems and Networks
Food Security Information Systems
ANALYSIS: TRANSFORMING DATA INTO INFORMATION
A good food security analyst will use the available data to answer a
series of questions, such as:
What is the current situation?
Is there a problem? What is it?
What is the evidence?
What can we say about underlying
causes?
What could be done about the
problem? Are there options?

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Unit: Food Security Information Systems and Networks
Food Security Information Systems
ANALYSIS: TRANSFORMING DATA INTO INFORMATION
Food security analysts transform the
mass of raw data into information,
to support managers in their decision
making.
DATA
INFORMATION
ANALYSIS
Information is analysed data put into
a meaningful and useful context.
!

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Unit: Food Security Information Systems and Networks
Food Security Information Systems
COMMUNICATION, USERS, APPLICATIONS
Only when the target audience understands
and assimilates the information, such
information becomes knowledge.
That is why an FSIS has to be very conscious
about how best to communicate the
analysis and information that they produce.
INFORMATION
KNOWLEDGE
COMMUNICATION
Formats and means of communication
include:
written reports,
verbal briefings and presentations, or
media (internet, news media).

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Unit: Food Security Information Systems and Networks
Food Security Information Systems
COMMUNICATION, USERS, APPLICATIONS
Often, too little of the analysis provided is utilized by decision makers.
How to solve this problem?
To improve the uptake of information, a FSIS must actively support
and publicise the recommendations made.
This requires effective communication and advocacy.
Also, the FSIS need ongoing monitoring of how and if information is
being used.

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Unit: Food Security Information Systems and Networks
Food Security Information Systems
Policy-makers
COMMUNICATION, USERS, APPLICATIONS
The information and reports generated by a FSIS will be
useful to several stakeholder groups in different sectors
of society. Users of FSIS products include:
Elected representatives
Government officials and technical staff
Local government authorities
Civil society
Private sector and parastatal organizations
The donor community
Researchers
Training institutions

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Unit: Food Security Information Systems and Networks
Food Security Information Systems
Often, the key objective of an FSIS is:
supporting the planning and targeted implementation of food
security programmes and projects.
Information is also needed for:
monitoring and evaluation, and
to help design, improve, or re-design ongoing programmes.
COMMUNICATION, USERS, APPLICATIONS

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Unit: Food Security Information Systems and Networks
Food Security Information Systems
Here is an example of an FSIS that provides information
relevant to programme design and implementation.
Example: Early Warning Systems
Recommendations on recovery or
rehabilitation interventions that rebuild
livelihoods and food security.
An Early Warning System (EWS) is a specific type of FSIS which provides
timely notice of impending acute food security crises. Depending on the stage
of the crisis, the EWS may provide recommendations:
In ‘normal’ conditions
As a crisis builds
As the crisis abates
Recommendations on how to build the
coping capacity and resilience of
communities before a ‘shock’ occurs.
Recommendations on preparedness and
possible disaster mitigation or emergency
response programmes.
COMMUNICATION, USERS, APPLICATIONS

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Unit: Food Security Information Systems and Networks
Food Security Information Systems
FSIS also have an important role in
assisting policy makers.
FSIS can support the various steps of
a policy making process.
MONITORING
& IMPACT
ASSESSMENT
POLICY
IMPLEMENTATION
POLICY
DIALOGUE
/ REVIEW
ANALYSIS
OF POLICY
OPTIONS
Policy
Change
Cycle
COMMUNICATION, USERS, APPLICATIONS
For more information, read the annex “Stakeholder Analysis”
In a number of countries, improved information has led to the
introduction of new legislation and specific programmes directed
towards food-insecure population groups.

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Unit: Food Security Information Systems and Networks
Food Security Information Systems
SUMMARY
To support decision making, food security analysts in charge of Food Security
Information Systems conduct the following activities:
• They collect and manage data which consists of unanalyzed facts or figures;
data is collected either directly or from secondary sources.
• The data is analyzed and interpreted to create information designed to
stimulate action.
• This information is disseminated and communicated to users. These users
may be located in different organizations and appropriate institutional
relationships are needed.
• When assimilated by decision makers and implemented, the information
becomes knowledge.

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Unit: Food Security Information Systems and Networks
Food Security Information Systems
At the end of this lesson you will be able to:
understand the main objectives of a food
security information system (FSIS);
understand how key components of food
security information systems support decision
making processes;
understand the main purposes for which food
security analysis is conducted; and
identify the main users of and applications
for food security information products.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES