Food security
Food security — when all people at all times have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food — is both a fundamental human right and the foundation of healthy, productive societies. RMI provides food security research, surveys, monitoring, and evaluation for WFP, FAO, USAID/FEWS NET, bilateral donors, Ministries of Agriculture, and food security INGOs and NGOs across Southern and East Africa.
Southern and East Africa regularly experiences food crises driven by climatic shocks (droughts, floods), economic shocks, and conflict. Despite this, the region also has significant agricultural potential that remains underutilised due to structural barriers. Food insecurity affects household welfare, child nutrition, school attendance, and long-term economic productivity. The four pillars of food security — availability, access, utilisation, and stability — each require distinct analytical and programmatic approaches.
RMI provides the following consulting services to regional bodies, UN agencies, donors, INGOs, NGOs, and government ministries:
- Emergency food security assessments (IPC methodology)
- Household food security surveys (FCS, HFIAS, HDDS, rCSI, FIES)
- Seasonal food security monitoring rounds
- SMART nutrition surveys combined with food security modules
- School feeding programme evaluations
- Food market assessments (EMMA, MVM methodology)
- CARI-based food security classification studies
- Food assistance programme endline evaluations
- Agriculture-nutrition linkage studies
- Food systems assessments
- Annual WFP/FAO food security programme reviews
