SECTION ONE
Percentage of total cash expenditure spent on food
Definition/RATION/ALE - what does it measure? (max 2 lines)
Share of cash expenditure spent on food is an indicator of food security. Vulnerable households typically spend more of their cash expenditure on food than better-off households, and high share of food expenditure typically indicates lower availability of resources for other purposes, as well as increased susceptibility to food insecurity e.g. in case of food price increases.
Methodology for collection – How to collect information for indicator (max 4 lines).
Conduct interviews with a representative sample of households (one respondent per household) asking detailed questions on household food and non-food expenditure over a given recall period. For food items the recall period is typically 30 days, whereas for non-food items the recall period is normally 3 or 6 months.
Methodology for analysis – How to analyse (Max 4 lines). Visual demonstrations for thresholds.
How to interpret: Urban v. rural, gender
- 1. Answers concerning purchase of each food or non-food item over a given recall period are recorded (no = 0, yes = 1).
- 2. Monetary value of purchase is recorded for each purchased item in local currency
- 3. Total food expenditure is calculated by summing up all cash expenditure spent on food, whereas total expenditure is calculated by summing up all cash expenditure spent on food and non-food items. As the recall period between the items varies, the total for non-food items needs to be divided by the number of months included in recall period in order to make the result comparable to that of food expenditure.
- 4. Percentage of total cash expenditure spent on food is calculated by dividing cash expenditure spent on food by total cash expenditure and by multiplying the result by 100 [(expenditure on food/total expenditure) X 100]
- 5. In IPC this indicator is included in IPC Chronic Food Insecurity Reference Table, and has the following cut-offs: <40% Level 1, 40-50% Level 2, 50-70% Level 3, and >70% Level 4.
Notes on indicator –
What does the indicator not tell us.
How long is it reliable for?
- • This indicator includes only cash expenditure, and therefore does not take into account the monetary value of food received and consumed through own production, or for example any food or non-food items received through gifts or assistance. As a result food expenditure may be underestimated.
- • If data on monetary value of food produced and consumed at home, as well as on amount and value of any gifts or assistance received is available, the analysis can be strengthened by including these items in the analysis.
- • Time validity of data depends on seasonal changes and possible shocks, especially on potential price shocks that are likely to change the share of food expenditure of affected households.
When to use it/when not to use it:
Appropriate for assessing vulnerability to food insecurity in stable situations. If used in volatile situations frequent data collection is required to monitor possible changes in expenditure patterns.
IPC Categories:
Hazards and vulnerability
M&E: IMPACT, OUTCOME, OUTPUT, PROCESS
Impact
