Jacqueline JohnsonFood for Development Manager

Africare House 440 R. Street, NW

Washington, D.C. 20001Email: jjohnson@africare.org

The FSCCI Food Security Community Capacity Index

Community Based Early Warning System Workshop July 22, 2008

Centrality of Capacity Building

Access

Resiliency (Risk, Shocks)

Utilization

Availability

Capacity Building

“Any planned capacity building activity should be subsumed within specific food security objectives.”

Source: PL480 Title II. FY05. Development Assistance

Program, Proposal Application Format.

PAST PRESENT

Relevance of the FSCCI to latest (2006-2010) USAID/FFP Strategy

PMP Indicators

IR 2, Indicator 3: % of communities with enhanced capacity

Sub-IR 2.3: Community Resiliency protected and enhanced

Sub-IR 2.4: Community capacity to influence factors (decisions) that affect food security

Version 1 FSCCI (1998)Core Organizational Capacity RRA Tool

7 Variables with indicators ranked 0-5

RRA Tool

Not in Indicator Performance Tracking Table (IPTT) of Africare Projects

Evolution of the FSCCI

Version 2 FSCCI (FY02): Core Organizational Capacities Needed to Reduce Food Insecurity8 Variables with indicators ranked 1-5 + IPTT inclusion

Version 3 FSCCI (FY04): Core Organizational Capacities Needed to Reduce Food Insecurity + Resiliency 2 New (total 10) Variables that measure risk management + IPTT inclusion

• Ability to analyze and manage risk and vulnerability; and• Capacity to manage risk associated with HIV/AIDS

Version 4 FSCCI (FY07): Core Organizational Capacities Needed to Reduce Food Insecurity + Resiliency + Additional ToolsTotal 10 Variables that measure risk management + New RRA Tools and Better FSCCI Guidance + IPTT inclusion

FSCCI 10 Revised VariablesCapacity Building

Variable (10 total)

*Number of Indicators

Indicators (number varies)

1. Community Organization

3

Existence of groups/organizations in the community

Synergy between community organizations

Frequency of decision making meetings

2. Community Participation

3

Participation of the community in decision making

Female participation

Motivation of community volunteers

3. Transparency and Good Management

4

Existence of accounting system and financial documents

Verification and control of accounts

Transparent management of business

Timeliness of debts/credit reimbursement by group/committee

FSCCI 10 Revised VariablesCapacity Building

Variable (10 total)

*Number of Indicators

Indicators (number varies)

4. Good Internal Functioning of the

Community or Organization

5

Respect of committee members' role

Understanding and respect of the association rules by members

Documentation of activities and meetings

Democratic change in leadership

Capacity to manage internal conflict of the committee

5. Capacity to Analyze and Plan

3

Capacity to use RRA and PRA techniques

Capacity to analyze situations, prioritize problems, and develop solutions

Capacity to develop, monitor and evaluate action plans

6. Capacity to Take Action

2

Capacity to implement action plans.

Capacity to implement action plans without external assistance

FSCCI 10 Revised VariablesCapacity Building

Variable (10 total)

*Number of Indicators

Indicators (number varies)

7. Ability to Analyze, Plan, and Manage Risk

and Shocks5

Existence of a community-based information and identification system of risks and shocks

Existence of plans to mitigate risks and shocks

Capacity of the community to diversify its activities

Existence of an M&E system of the mitigation plan

Capacity to request and receive external assistance

8. Capacity to Manage Risks Associated with

HIV/AIDS3

Knowledge of committee members on HIV/AIDS in their community

Existence of a sub-committee on HIV/AIDS with an action plan

Evidence of formal collaboration between the community and the health service providers

FSCCI 10 Revised VariablesCapacity Building

Variable (10 total)

*Number of Indicators

Indicators (number varies)

9. Communication and Exchanges with

Outsiders2

Communication and exchange with outsiders

Capacity to negotiate for external resources

10. Individual Members Capacity

3

Literacy level of group members for purposes of recording group activities

Presence of local expertise

Application of learned technologies by the community

Total number of indicators 33 Total number of points scored

Total possible raw score 165

ADJUSTED INDEX SCORE ((Total Number of Points /Maximum Number of Points) X 100)

Example of Rationale, Indicator RankingsVariable 2: Community Participation

Rationale: This variable assesses four factors:1) The FSC is not only in the hands of a few influential members of the community,2) The turn out of the population to general meetings is acceptable enough to indicate their interest and involvement,3) The distribution of roles and responsibilities is not exclusively male-dominated, and4) There exists a system to motivate community volunteers.

(a) Community participation in decision-making 0 No community, religious, or traditional organizations participate in decision-making meetings.1 Less than 50% of community, religious, or traditional organizations participate in decision-making meetings.2 At least 50% of community, religious, or traditional organizations participate in decision-making meetings, but do not actively participate to the actual decision making process.3 At least 50% of community, religious, or traditional organizations participate in decision-making meetings, and actively participate in the actual decision-making process.4 At least 50% of community, religious, or traditional organizations participate in decision-making meetings, actively participate in the actual decision-making process, and control implementation.5 The decision-making meetings are initiated by community organizations, the majority of which participate actively and control the implementation of decisions made.

Example of Rationale, Indicator RankingsVariable 2: Community Participation

Rationale: This variable assesses four factors:1)The FSC is not only in the hands of a few influential members of the community,2)The turn out of the population to general meetings is acceptable enough to indicate their interest and involvement,3)The distribution of roles and responsibilities is not exclusively male-dominated, and4)There exists a system to motivate community volunteers.

(b) Female participation0 No women accepted/represented on any committees. 1 Both genders are represented, but there is dominance in discussions by men and suppression of women during discussions.2 All members have opportunity to communicate, but the majority of those speaking are men. 3 Equal opportunity given for women to communicate, but only after facilitators highlight imbalances. 4 There is free interaction and communication in the group from any member of both genders.5 Women represent at least 25% of leadership and all women participate actively.

Example of Rationale, Indicator RankingsVariable 8: Capacity to Manage Risk Associated with HIV/AIDS

Rationale: …. AIDS morbidity and mortality in the most productive 15 to 45 year age group reduce households’ ability to produce and buy food and depletes savings and assets. This variable assesses the capacity of members of the FSC and the community to identify and manage risks that grow as the number of HIV/AIDS affected households increase.

(a) Knowledge of committee members on HIV/AIDS in their community 0 No committee members have ever received HIV/AIDS awareness training.1 Less than 20% of members have received basic HIV/AIDS awareness training.2 Between 20-50% of members have received basic HIV/AIDS awareness training.3 At least 50% of members have received basic HIV/AIDS awareness training. 4 The cmte knows where to access up-to-date HIV/AIDS technical information at an organization or facility in their area.5 The cmte can name a person or organization for each technical area of HIV/AIDS (e.g., voluntary counseling and testing, home-based care, peer education, and treatment [if applicable]).(b) Existence of a HIV/AIDS sub-committee with an action plan 0 No such committee exists.…3 A cmte exists and has a formal work plan.…5 A cmte exists and has a formal work plan and has implemented 80% or more of planned activities.

Example of Rationale, Indicator RankingsVariable 8: Capacity to Manage Risk Associated with HIV/AIDS

(c) Evidence of formal collaboration between the community and health service providers 0 The committee does not know of the health and HIV/AIDS services available in their area.1 The committee knows of the services, but has not made any contact with any health service providers in their area.2 The committee has identified key services* and has made contact with at least 50% of the service providers for HIV/AIDS in the area.3 The committee has created formal linkages with the health system to provide committee/community sensitization and prevention education efforts.4 The committee has identified key services in their area for HIV/AIDS and has established a formal mechanism for referral of community members to these services.5 A referral system is documented.

*Services:Awareness creation & sensitization; HBC (Home-based care; VCT (voluntary counseling and testing); IGA (Income generating activities); Establishment of linkages with HS (health services)

Steps to Determine the FSCCI

1. Establishing a Dialogue with the Food Security Committee

2. Adapting the Indicators to the Community Context

3. Creating the Ranking Criteria

4. Ranking Each Variable

5. Calculating the FSCCI Score

Use of the FSCCI Observe trends for a particular FSC or all

FSCs within a program Examination of scores on particular variables

can feed into design and or revision of project interventions to focus on areas needing the most support.

Autonomous use by communities closely linked to high level of involvement of leadership (village, parish, district levels) and consistent use of some version of the tool in annual PRAs used to update village action plans.

Alternative Use: FSCCI-SIAC in the Guinea Food Security Initiative

Variables Indicators

Organization and Management

Organization of meeting for health and nutrition activities

Undertaking initiative for development of nutrition activities

Involvement of community in GMP (SIAC) activities

Level of collaboration with health centers

Level of motivation of community agents (CA) for health

Up-to-date and accurate bookkeeping and management records (meeting records, GMP tools, etc.)

Community Participation

Supervision and support of community agents (CAs) (for health and nutrition) and their activities/Level of in-kind or cash compensation for Cas

Degree of community-level public awareness building about importance of community participation in health and nutrition activities

In-kind contribution of community for culinary demonstration (preparation of local porridge, etc).

Level of community participation in public awareness sessions and promotion and tracking of GMP (monthly weighing)

Degree to which community is informed about health and nutrition activities

Involvement of community in management of equipment needed for GMP activities (bicycle repair and maintenance of health kits)

Capacity to Analyze and Take Action

Independent decision-making for initiating health and nutrition activities

Ability to identify outside assistance (other than Africare)

Analysis of health and nutrition program problems

Elaboration and execution of health and nutrition action plans

Project Impact on Community Level Capacity for GMP and Community Based Rehabilitation of Moderately Malnourished Children based on FSCCI-SIAC

Clear improvement in capacity related to health and nutrition activities since 2001 for Dinguiraye and 2004 for Dabola.

Specifically, the recorded capacity increased (Table 2):

• From 45 percent of the total possible points in 2001 to 68 percent in 2006 in the original Dinguiraye districts;

• From 50 percent of the total possible points in the new Dinguiraye districts in 2002 to 66 percent in 2006;

• From six percent of total possible points in 2004 for the extreme poverty districts of Dabola to 44 percent in 2006; and

• From seven percent of total possible scores in 2004 for the moderate poverty districts in Dabola to 46 percent in 2006.

Lessons Learned from FSCCI

#1: Demonstrated Utility for Showing Project Impact on Core Organizational Capacity (IR 2, Output Indicator 3 and Sub-IR 2.4)

#2: Early Evidence that the Tool is also useful for protecting and enhancing community Resiliency to Risk and Shocks (Sub-IR 2.3)

#3: Need for Simple Summary Tables to Help Programs Better Analyze Risk and Shocks (not added to the core guidance but distributed to staff)

#4 Build community capacity for networking with other organizations (non-Title II) working in HIV/AIDS Programming

Africare ICB Resources on the FSCCI

New Africare Food Security Web page

Food Security Review Briefing Papers

Country experiences with tool

Comparative country experiences with tool

Food Security Review Guidance Papers

THANKS