FAQ

1. Who is FSAU?

FSAU is Food Security Analysis Unit for Somalia

2. Where does FSAU sit within FAO?

FSAU began in 1994 with funding from USAID/OFDA and management by WFP, which was complimented by funding from the EC since 1995. Since 2000, the European Commission has provided core funding for the FSAU, with Technical and Managerial support by FAO.

3. What is the Mission of FSAU?

The Food Security Analysis Unit- Somalia (FSAU) seeks to provide evidence-based analysis of Somali food, nutrition and livelihood security to enable both short-term emergency responses and long-term strategic planning to promote food and livelihood security for Somali people.

4. What are components of FSAU?

Food Security Component
To ensure continued availability and access to information and analysis of Somali livelihoods, thereby enabling early and appropriate responses to food insecurity crises and the development of policies and strategies to address longer term food and livelihood security issues.
Nutrition Component
To ensure that relevant and accurate information on the nutritional status of populations throughout Somalia is available to decision makers.

5. What are the Core Analytical Activities of FSAU?

Baseline Livelihood Analysis
Reference understanding of livelihood strategies and assets (including description, quantities, and trends), nutritional trends and key issues

Seasonal Projections
Bi-annual crop and livestock production surveys generate the domestic cereal balance sheet and provide early warning of potential food and livelihood insecurity, estimation of food deficits, and identification of possible mitigation interventions

Emergency Assessments
Rapid field assessments of acute emergencies including nutritional status of populations, spatial and social group identification of populations in need of humanitarian assistance, estimated numbers of people in need, and problem identification, including immediate and underlying causes.

Key Indicator Monitoring
Key indicator trend monitoring at both macro and community levels; project intervention monitoring; database development for future longitudinal analysis

Nutrition Surveillance
Analysis of trends and causes of malnutrition; monitoring of factors influencing nutritional status

Applied Research
Analysis of underlying and longer-term dynamics of food and livelihood security; analysis of dynamics that will improve Food Security Analysis System (FSAS).

6. What Information Tools exist to support FSAU?

In order to make FSAU more accessible and dynamic for multiple users, and to promote the use of FSAU information, FSAU has developed a number of Information Management products:

The FSAU web site (www.fsausomali.org), which enables public access to FSAU data, reports, and updates on emerging issues
Online digital library (DILI) allowing searches and digital downloads of thousands of reference materials on food, nutrition, and livelihood security in Somalia
An integrated database system (IDS) to standardize and consolidate all data collected from Somalia
A Field Information Capture System (FICS) which uses the GPS and SMS functions in satellite phones to automatically map out the point location of field staff throughout Somalia (for security purposes) and other data (for continuous updating of basic data sets

7. How does FSAU carry out its research and analysis?

FSAU utilizes a wide range of research methods:
nutritional anthropometry and dietary assessments
satellite imagery and geographic information systems
market analysis

Household surveys, e.g. the Coping Strategies Index

crop and livestock production surveys
focus groups and key informants
review of secondary data and reports

FSAU has developed a Food Security Analysis System (FSAS) that holistically integrates both conceptual and analytical aspects of its work, and is underpinned by livelihoods analysis. Key aspects of livelihoods analysis include an understanding of:

livelihood strategies (Household Economy Approach)
livelihood assets (Sustainable Livelihoods Approach)
integrated sectoral analysis
multiple scales of analysis including macro to intra- household dynamics
proximate to underlying causes
resistance
resilience
risk management

8. Who is available to provide technical support or guidance in FSAU?

FSAU staff under the leadership of Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) are available to provide evidence-based analysis of Somali food, nutrition and livelihood security to enable both short-term emergency responses and long-term strategic planning to promote food and livelihood security for Somali people.

9. What Products and information exist in FSAU?

Special Food Security and Nutrition Brief

The Special brief contains periodical analysis of key food, nutrition, and livelihood security trends and emerging issues; humanitarian and local response and FSAU Advocacy for appropriate & timely action. There are 6 Special Briefs during the year which come out at the end of the months of January, March, May, July, September and November. Two of the briefs provide highlights of the seasonal assessments, two concentrate on risk factors, and two focus on early warning.

Monthly Nutrition Update

Monthly analysis of key nutrition trends and recent surveys, with causal analysis and problem identification

Monthly Climate Update

Monthly statistical summary of available datasets on rainfall, vegetation, and other climatic variables

Monthly Market Update

Monthly statistical summary of market prices for selected commodities

Technical Series

Technical reports of assessment findings, applied research and manuals

Maps

On-going development of GIS-produced maps illustrating key dynamics of food, nutrition, & livelihood security

Data Sets

On-going development of key indicator data sets (i.e. crop production, livestock exports, and market prices of selected commodities, nutritional trends, climate, & overall food security conditions

10. How can I get more information?

If you have specific questions, need more information, or would like to request copies of our products such as CDs or publications, maps, datasets, Baselines etc. Please send an email to fsauinfo@fsau.or.ke