What is the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES)?
The Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) is an internationally comparable metric designed to measure the severity of food insecurity by directly asking people about their personal experiences over a 12-month period. Developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) through its 'Voices of the Hungry' project, the FIES was created to standardize how food insecurity is measured across different countries and cultures. Unlike older metrics that relied on food supply estimates, the FIES focuses on the human dimension of food access, capturing psychological and behavioral aspects that precede severe physical deprivation.
The Eight Questions of the FIES
The FIES survey module consists of eight specific questions that relate to a person's or household's food situation. The questions are designed to cover a range of severity, from mild worries to experiencing severe hunger. Respondents answer 'yes' or 'no' to each question based on their experiences in the last year because of a lack of money or other resources. The questions are:
- Worried: You were worried you would not have enough food to eat?
- Healthy: You were unable to eat healthy and nutritious food?
- Few Foods: You ate only a few kinds of foods?
- Skipped Meal: You had to skip a meal?
- Ate Less: You ate less than you thought you should?
- Ran Out: Your household ran out of food?
- Hungry: You were hungry but did not eat?
- Whole Day: You went without eating for a whole day?
Interpreting the FIES Scale and Levels of Severity
The FIES methodology is based on the idea that food insecurity exists along a continuum of severity. Responses to the eight questions are analyzed together to place individuals or households on this statistical scale, which is rooted in Item Response Theory. The analysis determines an individual's level of food insecurity, which is then used to calculate prevalence rates for a population. The FAO defines two main thresholds for global monitoring:
- Moderate or Severe Food Insecurity: This includes people who have been forced to compromise on the quality and variety of their diet, and at times, have also reduced the quantity of food they consume. This threshold is set at the severity level corresponding to the item 'ate less than you should'.
- Severe Food Insecurity: This group includes those who have likely run out of food and, at the most extreme level, gone without eating for an entire day or more. This threshold is defined by the severity level of the item 'went without eating for a whole day'.
FIES vs. Alternative Food Insecurity Metrics
Several tools exist for measuring food security, each with a different focus. The FIES, however, offers unique advantages.
| Feature | Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) | Prevalence of Undernourishment (PoU) | Household Consumption/Expenditure Surveys |
|---|---|---|---|
| Measurement Focus | Individual/household experiences of food access difficulties. | Access to dietary energy, measuring if caloric intake is sufficient. | Household consumption patterns and expenditure data. |
| Data Source | Direct, self-reported survey responses from individuals or households. | National food balance sheets and household consumption data. | Detailed household surveys. |
| Coverage | Captures psychosocial and behavioral aspects (e.g., worry). | Does not capture psychosocial distress or compromised diet quality if caloric needs are met. | Can detail food habits and preferences but not individual experience. |
| Comparability | High comparability across countries through a global reference scale. | Comparable at global and regional levels but less precise at sub-national levels. | Can be challenging to compare across countries due to different survey designs. |
| Actionability | Identifies specific, vulnerable groups and the severity of their experience. | Primarily used for global monitoring, less detailed for targeting specific interventions. | Can guide program targeting based on consumption patterns. |
Informing Policy and Monitoring Progress
Data collected using the FIES is crucial for effective policy-making and monitoring progress towards the UN's Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, which aims to end hunger. By identifying populations and geographic areas most affected by food insecurity, policymakers can better target resources and interventions. The FIES provides actionable information that links food security with broader sectors like agriculture, nutrition, and social protection. The comparable nature of the data allows for tracking changes in food insecurity over time and evaluating the impact of programs and policies. The global standard also allows for reliable cross-country comparisons, highlighting regions most in need of support.
Conclusion
In conclusion, when food insecurity is based on the FIES, it means the measurement is derived from a standardized set of eight questions about people's lived experiences with limited food access. This approach provides a nuanced understanding of food insecurity beyond simple caloric intake, capturing the continuum of severity from worry to outright hunger. The FIES serves as a vital tool for the international community, producing reliable, timely, and comparable data to guide policies and monitor progress toward eradicating hunger and achieving food security for all. For more information, the Food and Agriculture Organization provides comprehensive resources on the FIES.
