1. Food Consumption Score

1. Food Consumption Score

VERSION

V5.0 - 2026.03 — Existing

INDICATOR CODE

1

TECHNICAL OWNER

Assessments and Targeting Unit (PRG-FA)

INDICATOR TYPE

Country Level Outcome Indicator

INDICATOR CLASSIFICATION

Mandatory

INDICATOR SCOPE

Programme specific

APPLICABILITY

The selection of this indicator is mandatory against the following sub-activities in CSPs logframes. Selection of the below sub-activities will trigger the mandatory selection of this indicator:

1. General Distribution (GD);

2. Food assistance for assets (FFA);

3. Food assistance for training (FFT)

The selection of this indicator is also recommended against the following sub-activities in CSPs logframes. Selection of the below sub-activities will NOT trigger the mandatory selection of this indicator:

1. Prevention of micronutrient deficiencies (PMD)

2. Prevention of stunting (STUN)

3. Prevention of acute malnutrition (PREV)

4. HIV Care and Treatment (HIV/TB_C&T)

5. School Meals Programme Take Home Incentives (SF_THI)

6. Forecast-based anticipatory actions (FBA)

7. Macro-Insurance (MAI)

8. Micro/meso Insurance (MMI)

9. Other Climate Adaptation and Risk Management Activities (CAR)

10. Smallholder Agricultural Market Support (SMS)

11. Climate Adapted Assets and Agricultural Practices (CAP)

UNIT OF MEASUREMENT & ANALYSIS

• Percentage of households with poor food consumption score

• Percentage of households with borderline food consumption score

• Percentage of households with acceptable food consumption score

DEFINITION

This indicator aims to measure the proportion of households with acceptable, borderline or poor food consumption using a seven-day recall tool.

The Food Consumption Score (FCS) indicator is a composite score based on households’ dietary diversity, food consumption frequency, and relative nutritional value of different food groups. The FCS aggregates household-level food consumption data, in terms of frequency over the previous seven days and weights the data according to the relative nutritional value of the consumed food groups. The FCS is a proxy indicator of households’ food intake or caloric consumption.

RATIONALE

The FCS was developed by WFP to measure household food consumption, using a method that is flexible enough to account for different needs and contexts, standard enough to have equally applicable analysis techniques and equally interpretable results, and can be implemented in the field in a reasonable data collection and analysis timeframe.

DATA COLLECTION TOOL

Representative household surveys conducted either face-to-face, or by phone calls. In most cases, the FCS module is collected through post-distribution monitoring or food security outcome monitoring questionnaires.

Information on the Food Consumption Score indicator can be collected using the standard food consumption module available here as well as in the CARI technical guide here (page 15). This XLSForm will help to simplify authoring forms in Excel which can be converted to an ODK form, a popular open-source data collection software. The form can also be generated by selecting the sub-module Food Consumption Score (FCS) in the module Food Consumption in WFP Survey Designer.

The standard food consumption module contains eight food groups plus condiments. The analysis of the FCS only requires eight food groups (Table 2), and the condiments food group is mainly included to help capture foods consumed in very small quantities as ‘condiments’ and avoid inclusion of these foods under nutritious food groups. It is important that small quantities of the main food groups (e.g., a sprinkle of fish powder on top of a dish) are not considered, but are categorised under ‘condiments,’ a point which needs to be also stressed during the enumerators’ training. Find a detailed list on what is considered small quantities here.

Note: This module focuses on the foods consumed by the majority (50%+) of household members, regardless of whether the food was prepared inside or outside the home. It is important to record the number of days in which food groups were consumed, instead of the number of times.

Table 2: Food Consumption Score Module

It is the responsibility of the technical focal point to apply the joint Monitoring and VAM Data Quality Guidance principles when collecting this indicator. If in doubt, please contact the Assessments and Targeting Unit in HQ (PRG-FA) at global.assessmentandtargeting@wfp.org.

SAMPLING REQUIREMENTS

Sample size: The recommended sample size is 270 per stratum per round of data collection, with consideration given to the parameters below:

• Population size (beneficiaries per stratum): at least 20,000³

• Desired level of confidence: 90%

• Acceptable margin of error: 5%

• Response distribution: 50%

• Simple random sample (design effect): 1

If cluster sample is employed, sample size should increase by at least 50% (at least 405 households).

If the prevalence is lower or higher than 50%, or the beneficiaries per stratum less than 20,000 then sample size could be lower than 270, use the sample size tool for calculation.

Mandatory stratification:

• Programme activity

• Transfer modality

Optional stratification:

• Beneficiaries/non-beneficiaries (when relevant)

Guidance on sampling is available here.

Sample size tool: Raosoft sample size calculator

INDICATOR CALCULATION FOR REPORTING

This indicator is calculated by using the following steps:

1. Use the standard VAM 7-day food frequency data to group all the food items into specific food groups (see 8-groups in table below).

2. Multiply the value obtained for each food group by its weight (see food group weights in table below) and sum the weighted food group scores, thus creating the food consumption score (FCS).

III.  Using the appropriate thresholds (acceptable, borderline, poor), recode the variable food consumption score, from a continuous variable to a categorical variable.

IV.  Repeat steps II and III for every household (HH) in the dataset. Sum the total number of HHs in each threshold and express as a percentage (out of 100%).

% HHs with acceptable FCS =

% HHs with borderline FCS =

% HHs with poor FCS =

For more information on how to calculate FCS, refer to the tools posted on the VAM Resource Centre.

An example of a food consumption score collected and calculation for a single household:

FCS of the above household example is “acceptable”.

Note that if more than eight food groups such as the FCS-N module (7 additional sub-groups) are collected, then the main eight food groups must be asked in an aggregated way before disaggregation. FCS must be calculated from the direct answers on the consumption of the aggregated eight food groups (above). This is done to reduce the risk of overestimation of food consumption that would derive from calculations made on the sum of every single food item comprised under the respective food groups.

Standard scripts for SPSS, Stata and R are available on Github.

DATA ENTRY AND DISAGGREGATION IN CORPORATE SYSTEMS

Values are recorded in the logframe. Each value has a reporting combination which is created based on:

• Sub-activity

• Location

• Beneficiary Group

Follow-up value is reported as:

• One number (representing a percentage) for each category of the following:

  1. Poor food consumption score

  2. Borderline food consumption score

  3. Acceptable food consumption score

Recommended disaggregation (when sample size allows):

• Sex of household head

• Transfer modality

• Rural/urban

• Admin and livelihood zone

• Displacement status

For COMET reporting: If the sample size is not representative of the mandatory disaggregation groups, please include a note indicating that the results are indicative for that specific group in both the COMET and ACR note sections.

For regular reporting: Ensure that the reporting accurately reflects categories with a representative sample size.

BASELINE

Baselines are set only once, at one of the following points:

1. At the beginning of the CSP, or

2. When the indicator is selected for reporting after the commencement of the CSP, or

3. When there is a change in target, location and/or modality that triggers a new reporting combination (target, location and modality) for an existing indicator.

Baseline values should be established within three months before and no later than three months from the start date of activity implementation. However, it is strongly recommended to collect baseline values within one month before the start of the activity implementation. The baseline could also be determined from a relevant WFP assessment conducted within the three months prior to the start of programme activity.

For the sake of comparability, baselines, follow-ups and end-line surveys must be conducted using the same sampling frames and disaggregation/stratification criteria.

Setting a solid baseline is a key factor in measuring the impact of the programme. Additionally, when designed accordingly, it can enable factor analysis which can be used to measure the impact of potential future funding cuts. Get more information about this here.

TARGET SETTING

Annual targets:

Reduced prevalence of households with poor food consumption

OR

Reduced prevalence of households with poor and borderline food consumption (SUM).

End of CSP target:

Reduced prevalence of households with poor food consumption compared to the pre-assistance baseline value.

OR

Reduced prevalence of households with poor and borderline food consumption (SUM) as compared to the pre-assistance baseline value.

FREQUENCY OF DATA COLLECTION

Minimum: twice/year

It is strongly recommended that data collection for one of the follow-ups happens in the same period to the baseline. In addition, all follow-ups are to be conducted within the same period/number of days after food distributions. The data collection must take place between 7 to 21 days after food/cash distributions take place.

For years when a baseline is conducted, only one follow up is required.

INTERPRETATION

Provides recommendations on how best to evaluate and apply findings.

The FCS is a proxy of households’ food access and a core WFP indicator used to classify households into three different groups: household with poor consumption, borderline consumption, and acceptable consumption. Following the provision of assistance, it is expected that the proportion of households with poor and borderline consumption decreases and the proportion of households with acceptable consumption increases. Besides the three food consumption groups, it is recommended to present the average number of days different food groups are consumed. If relevant for the context, the main source of food for the household can be calculated using the standard syntax on Github.

REPORTING EXAMPLE(S)

“Analysis results of the FCS indicate that one in three households have inadequate food consumption levels.

A higher proportion of male-headed households have inadequate food consumption, a 5-percentage point difference compared to female-headed households (39% and 34%, respectively).”

INDICATORS COLLECTED & ANALYSED AT THE SAME TIME

The following indicators may be reported along with this indicator:

Household level indicators:

• 2. Food Consumption Score-Nutrition (FCS-N)

• 3. Reduced Coping Strategies Index (rCSI)

• 4. Livelihood Coping Strategies - Food Security (LCS-FS)

• 5. Livelihood Coping Strategies - Essential Needs (LCS-EN)

• 6. Economic Capacity to Meet Essential Needs (ECMEN)

Individual level indicators: 10. MAD, 11. MDD-W (if applicable).

COMPLEMENTARY QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

Focus group discussions can be conducted in addition to the household level data collection to triangulate the qualitative information about dietary habits with quantitative information on the regular consumption of the 8 food groups. In addition, while the FCS does not consider the quality of the foods consumed, quality aspects can be discussed during FGDs. For example, “in an area of Country X, 97% of households consumed fruits in the last 7 days, however, qualitative data explained that the consumed fruits were rotten or nearly spoiled.”

Here are some example questions for a focus group discussion:

• Can you describe the typical foods consumed by households in your community? What are the 3 main staple food commodities consumed in your community?

• What are the 3 main sources of food in your community in the last 7 days? In your opinion, how do households in your community make decisions about what foods to purchase or consume?

• Are there any specific challenges or barriers people in your community face in accessing and consuming a diverse range of foods?

• On average how many meals do people consume a day? What factors influence this practice? Are there any cultural or traditional practices that influence the food consumption choices in your community? Can you provide examples?

• Can you share any changes or shifts you have observed in the food consumption patterns of households in your community over time? What factors do you think have influenced these changes?

• What is the general perception of the assistance that people are receiving in your community?

DECISIONS DATA CAN INFORM

The FCS is used for programme activity monitoring to determine the outcomes of the provision of WFP assistance. When the FCS is monitored over time, for each activity and modality of assistance, it can provide insight into the effectiveness of the interventions and evaluate their appropriateness for the targeted or assisted households. By tracking this indicator over time, consider contributing factors such as seasonality, various shocks as well as programme activity design and assistance levels, FCS can provide informative details for improving interventions. In addition to examining stratified results, disaggregated results are important as they help us to understand the effectiveness of WFP interventions for households with different socioeconomic situations.

The FCS indicator plays a part in classifying households according to their level of food security, through Consolidated Approach for Reporting on food Insecurity (CARI), and likely targeting decisions.​ The prevalence of households with poor and borderline food consumption provides essential information on people’s current diets and is helpful in deciding the most appropriate type and scale of food security intervention as well as the right target group for the assistance.

​The FCS is also one of the food security outcome indicators in the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) acute food insecurity reference table.

VISUALIZATION

Note: always add dates of baseline and follow-ups in the graph. Use colours as recommended in the Data Visualization Guidance.

LIMITATIONS

FCS reflects the current food consumption status and does not provide an indication of the households’ ability or capacity to remain food secure over time. It is a household-level indicator that does not provide information about intra-household differences and does not make the link between household access to food, individual dietary intake and nutritional outcomes – stunting, wasting and micronutrient deficiencies. For nutrition-sensitive programmes, it is recommended to measure the FCS-N.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Refer to the indicator page on the VAM Resource Centre or contact the Assessments and Targeting Unit in HQ (PGR-FA) at global.assessmentandtargeting@wfp.org.