• Impact

• Disaster Risk Reduction and Natural Resources Management

Change in the number of months that households are struggle to meet their minimum daily food requirements in a calendar year from either own production or accessing the market. In many places the lean period is a commonly-recognized component phenomenon of food insecurity, and it is measured in terms of the specific months of the year that a household is forced to alter the quantity and quality of food that it consumes. More food secure households have a reduced lean period or none at all, while severely food insecure households may constrict consumption all year long. A means of assessing the food security of a specific household, as well as comparing spatially and temporally. A reduction in the number of hungry months indicates that food security has improved through either own production or cash income; improved adaptation to hazards and changes, proxy for improved household and livelihood resilience. - Includes seasonal or regular hunger and social safety nets, this can be in form of food, cash, income/employment support, etc. Main underlying objective should always be nutrition, food and livelihood security.

Geography/Livelihoods zone; Head of household’s gender, age, disabilities, chronic diseases, dependency ratio, and any other relevant criteria, such as urban/rural context, religious, ethnic or political identities; Wealth groups; Livelihoods group (e.g. pastoralist, farmers, traders); Period to achieve the objective;

• Decrease (distance)

Both secondary and primary data collection can be used according to context. Baseline/Endline. If multiyear programme depending on comparison requirements between lean season and other seasons, consider an interim reporting/evaluation Secondary data. Reliable/relevant sources from other actors, clusters or government. Data Collection methods: Secondary data analysis; Households Survey, Focus Group Discussion; Ministry records; Observation; Market assessment; Stakeholder records

• Economic Security
• Livelihoods and Natural Resources Protection

> Length of lean season for households/communities relative to baseline > Number of months of household production/MAHFP relative to baseline > Importance and proportion of households food and income sources adjusted to hazard calendar relative to baseline > Change in households expenditure pattern adjusted to hazard calendar relative to baseline If asking households on the number of months they do not have food, need to be very clear on the distinction between having no food available and not having the preferred staple available as these are recording two very different issues. If we ask for opinions, rather than utilizing actual measurements, the results may be over or under estimated. Needs to link to other thematic monitoring indicators e.g. for livestock, nutrition, cash and food assistance, safety net and DRM/NRM programmes Needs to consider linkages with MAHFP/DD, income and food sources, expenditure pattern and MUAC Needs to consider various levels of surveillance systems, e.g. household level surveillance, community surveillance, nutrition surveillance, GIS surveillance, ground water surveillance, etc. (early warning surveillance)