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Objectives
  • Raise awareness about food security
    Glossary: food security
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    A situation that exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.
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    FAO's Global Information and Early Warning System PDF Print E-mail
    giews.gifThe Global Information and Early Warning and Information System (GIEWS) continuously monitors the world food supply/demand situation and regularly provides the international community with timely and accurate information on crop prospects and the food security
    Glossary: food security
    Close
    A situation that exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.
    situation on a global, regional and country-by-country basis. In case of impeding food emergencies, the System dispatches rapid Crop and Food Supply Assessment Missions (CFSAM), often jointly with the World Food Programme (WFP). Findings of these missions have been instrumental in prompting timely interventions to avoid human suffering.

    Specifically, GIEWS:
    - Reports on world food markets developments and on the current and prospective food situation at the global, regional, national and sub-national levels through its publications Food Outlook, Crop Prospects and Food Situation and Sahel Report,  as well as GIEWS Web page. For countries/areas facing food insecurity
    Glossary: food insecurity
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    A situation that exists when people lack secure  access to sufficient amounts of safe and nutritious food for normal  growth and development and an active and healthy life. It may be caused  by the unavailability of food, insufficient purchasing power,  inappropriate distribution, or inadequate use of food at the household  level. Food insecurity, poor conditions of health and sanitation, and  inappropriate care and feeding practices are the major causes of poor  nutritional status. Food insecurity may be chronic, seasonal or  transitory. 
    , the System ensures timely dissemination of special alerts and provides information on food requirements, pledges and deliveries of food aid.
    - Identifies countries or regions facing impending food difficulties and assesses, jointly with WFP, the state of the economy, food production, food market conditions, total food import requirements, commercial import capacity and emergency food aid needs.  
    - Provides training and assists in building capacity in crop and food supply/demand assessment methodologies for national and regional early warning systems and for national food disaster insurance systems.

    In line with the latest information technologies, GIEWS has developed the GIEWS Workstation, a computerized information system using web-based technologies for managing and disseminating geographic and statistical data, country food situation updates, and early warning messages. Recently, GIEWS Workstation is also facilitating data sharing among national and international institutions for early warning and other food security related purposes. This new approach will allow GIEWS to have access to data generated and maintained by national institutions and to timely disseminate information to all members of the network.

    For further information: http://www.fao.org/giews/english/about.htm
     
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    Key Publications

    Handbook for Defining and Setting up a Food Security Information and Early Warning System (FSIEWS)
    Handbook for Defining and Setting up a Food Security Information and Early Warning System (FSIEWS)
    The aim of this handbook is to describe the FSIEWS (Food Security and Early Warning Information System) method for the benefit of the community of governmental and non-governmental actors engaged in the fight against hunger.
    Guidelines for Crop and Food Supply Assessment Missions
    FAOs Global Information and Early Warning System has undertaken periodic reviews of its methodology for Crop and Food Supply Assessment Missions (CFSAMs).

    Resources

    FEWS NET
    The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) is a USAID-funded activity that collaborates with international, regional and national partners to provide timely and rigorous early warning and vulnerability information on emerging and evolving food security issues.

    Relevant Links

    Contacts

    Fabio Grita
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    IRIN - Food Security

    GIEWS Updates

    IRIN - Early Warning