Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Fact Sheet & Update on Activities - November 2008

The IPC is a standardised scale that integrates food security, nutrition and livelihood information into a clear statement about the nature and severity of a crisis and includes implications for strategic response.
• It is primarily a tool for analyzing and classifying the severity of food security situations at the national and sub national levels (usually based on livelihood zones). All analysis is backed up by both quantitative (ex. mortality rates) and qualitative evidence (ex. widespread conflict, asset stripping). This ensures that the classifications and analysis are transparent, rigorous, and based on documented evidence.
• The IPC is also a process whereby key food security organizations and the national government literally sit together to look at the evidence and come to a common consensus on the severity of a crisis. This makes setting priorities and planning a well coordinated response easier.