Months of Adequate Household Food Provisioning

Outcome

average number of months in the past 12 months when target households reported having enough food to meet their members' needs

Months of Adequate Household Food Provisioning (MAHFP) measures the average number of months during the past year when households report having enough food to meet their needs. It is a proxy indicator of the continuity of household food access and is particularly useful for understanding seasonal food shortages. It does not measure the severity of food shortages, dietary quality or differences in food access between household members.

Collect the following data from a representative sample of households. In each household, interview an adult who knows the household's food situation over the past 12 months, preferably the person primarily responsible for food preparation. If this person is a child, interview a knowledgeable adult instead:

  

RECOMMENDED SURVEY QUESTIONS (Q) AND POSSIBLE ANSWERS (A)

Q1: In the past 12 months - starting from [specify the month or an event which everyone knows] until now - were there months in which you did not have enough food to meet your household's needs?

A1: yes / no / I don't remember

  

(ask the next question if the previous answer is YES)

  

Q2: Can you please tell me the exact months in which you did not have enough food to meet your household's needs? Please try to be as precise as you can be.

A2: Use a checklist of the 12 consecutive calendar months covered by the recall period, starting with the survey month and moving backwards. For each month, record whether the household experienced insufficient food (1), did not report insufficient food (0), or cannot remember (missing). Do not read the list of months aloud. Let the respondent identify the affected months, then use neutral follow-up questions to ensure they have considered the entire 12-month period.

  

Calculate the months of adequate household food provisioning by deducting the number of months when food was insufficient from the total number of months (12). For example, 12 months minus 3 months = 9 months. Calculate the indicator's value by adding together the MAHFP scores of all households with valid data and dividing the total by the number of these households. For example, 3,240 divided by 360 households with valid MAHFP scores = 9 months of adequate household food provisioning. 

If a household reports having enough food throughout the entire 12-month period (Q1 = no), assign it a score of 12. These households must be included in the average. If a respondent cannot remember whether food was sufficient, or cannot identify the affected months well enough to calculate a reliable score, treat the household's MAHFP score as missing. Do not assume that unknown months were adequate. Report the number of households excluded because of missing data.

This data can be disaggregated by geographical area and household wealth or livelihood group, and, if relevant and feasible, also by gender of the household head, displacement status and household composition (such as households with children, older people or members with disabilities). Ensure that subgroup sample sizes are sufficient for meaningful comparisons.

1) For further information and indicator data collection guidance, take advantage of the guide provided below. 

2) MAHFP measures the number of months in which households report having enough food, but not how severe or prolonged any shortage was within a given month. For example, a brief food shortage and a shortage lasting most of a month can both result in that month being counted as inadequate. The indicator also does not assess dietary quality or whether all household members had enough food. There are no universally established MAHFP thresholds for classifying the severity of household food insecurity.

 

3) Respondents may be more familiar with agricultural seasons or religious festivals than Gregorian calendar months. Use a seasonal calendar with locally meaningful events to help them recall when food shortages occurred, but record their answers against the same 12 calendar months used in the questionnaire. Pre-test how respondents understand the phrase "enough food to meet the household's needs" and use consistent wording across survey rounds.

   

4) Responses may be affected by difficulties remembering specific months and by expectations about assistance. Use the following tips to improve data quality:

• explain the importance of correct answers – explain to the respondent why it is so important that the information we receive is correct

• clarify expectations – explain that the answer which the respondent provides will not result in a (lack of) any kind of material or other support

• probe to identify which calendar months were affected by food shortages, using locally familiar events if helpful (record the affected months rather than calculating fractions of months)

• collect MAHFP data at the same time of year during baseline and follow-up surveys, ideally during the period when food shortages are greatest (for example, immediately before harvest) - this helps respondents recall the months of inadequate food provisioning and makes comparisons over time more reliable

5) MAHFP reflects experiences over the previous 12 months and may be slow to show changes resulting from a recent intervention or emergency. If baseline and follow-up surveys are conducted less than 12 months apart, their recall periods will overlap. When interpreting changes, consider the timing of surveys, seasonal conditions, major shocks and changes in households' access to food. An increase in MAHFP should not automatically be attributed to the programme.

6) Food security outcome indicators, including this one, are useful for assessing and monitoring food insecurity across populations, comparing groups and supporting geographic targeting. However, they should not be used as direct criteria for selecting individual households for food assistance. Results can be influenced by recall errors, temporary circumstances, seasonal and cultural practices, and how respondents understand or answer questions. They can also be difficult to verify and explain transparently to communities. Instead, household selection should use context-specific, transparent and verifiable vulnerability criteria, informed by community consultation and other relevant evidence.

Also consider using the following indicators:

• Household Dietary Diversity Score (complements the annual food provisioning measure with information on recent household dietary diversity)

• Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (measures the severity and frequency of food access difficulties experienced during the previous 30 days)

• Reduced Coping Strategy Index (captures recent coping behaviours used when households struggle to obtain enough food)