Hunger Experience

Outcome

Impact

% of households in which at least one member went to sleep at night hungry in the past four weeks because there was not enough food

The indicator measures the proportion of households in which at least one member went to sleep at night hungry in the past four weeks because there was not enough food. The survey question used for this indicator comes from the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) and is also used in the Household Hunger Scale (HHS). It provides a quick measure of one specific experience of food deprivation. It does not show how often the experience occurred or how many household members were affected.

Collect the following data by interviewing one knowledgeable household member from each household in a representative sample of the targeted households. Select someone who is familiar with the household's food situation, such as the person mainly responsible for preparing food. The respondent does not have to be the household head.

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

Q1: In the past four weeks, did you or any household member go to sleep at night hungry because there was not enough food?

A1: yes / no / does not know or remember / prefers not to answer

 

To calculate the indicator's value, divide the number of surveyed households answering "yes" by the total number of surveyed households answering either "yes" or "no". Multiply the result by 100 to convert it to a percentage. Exclude households where the respondent did not know, did not remember or preferred not to answer. Report the number of excluded responses separately.

This data can be disaggregated by geographical area and gender of the household head, and, if relevant and feasible, also by the household wealth and whether the household includes a person with a disability.

1) The data required for this indicator is prone to significant seasonal variations. Do your best to collect baseline and endline data in the same period of a year (e.g. two months before the expected harvest); otherwise, it is very likely that they will not be comparable.

 

2) This indicator uses one question from the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), which is also included in the Household Hunger Scale (HHS). It can be useful for rapid assessments and project monitoring when you only need to know whether households experienced this specific form of hunger. However, it does not measure overall food insecurity, the frequency of hunger or its severity. A low value does not necessarily mean that households are food secure. For a more comprehensive and standardised measure, use the full HHS in areas with high food insecurity, or consider the full HFIAS when you need to assess a broader range of food access problems.

3) Before collecting data, test the translated question with people from the target population to ensure that "household", "hungry" and "food" are understood as intended. In some languages, for example, "food" may be understood as referring mainly to a staple food rather than food in general. Since talking about hunger can be sensitive, ask the question privately and after establishing rapport with the respondent. Respondents should be free to decline answering.

Also consider using the following indicators:

• Household Hunger Scale (provides a validated measure of household hunger severity in areas with high food insecurity)

• Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (measures a broader range of household food access problems)

• Reduced Coping Strategy Index (rCSI) (captures food-related coping behaviours when households face difficulties accessing food)

• Food Consumption Score (complements reported hunger experiences with information about recent household food consumption)

Also consider using the following indicators:

• Assistance Delivery (assesses whether humanitarian food or cash assistance is delivered safely and accessibly)

• Decision-Making Power (assesses women's involvement in decisions about cash transfers when these are used to improve household food access)