Information Mapping System (FIVIMS)
5 October 2006
The Department of Agriculture would like to invite members of the media to
the launch of Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information Mapping System
(FIVIMS)
Venue: Emperor's Palace
Date: 12 October 2006
Time: 18:30 for 19:00
Dress: Formal or traditional
Background
(i) FIVIMS description
FIVIMS: Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information and Management
System
FIVIMS is a management or decision-making support tool that provides updated
information about peopleâs status and experiences of hunger and vulnerability.
This includes understanding of the peopleâs access to food (either through own
production or purchases) and the health status of the people. In South Africa
FIVIMS is developed for the following purposes:
* to raise awareness on food insecurity and vulnerability
* promote better understanding of food security status and the underlying
causes of food insecurity and vulnerability through the provision of the
information required by key roll players
* helping to integrate and exchange information amongst sector departments and
other stakeholders
* promote better use of information to improve action FIVIMS provides area
specific information on:
- Who are the food insecure and where do they live?
- What are the nature, frequency and degree of their food insecurity?
- What is the nature of their livelihood systems and what kinds of constraints
are they experiencing?
- Who are the vulnerable and where are they located?
- What is the nature of their coping strategies in response to these risks and
how effective are they?
The information produced should improve the design of integrated food
security interventions and also guide decision-makers in allocating resources
to the most food insecure and vulnerable people and areas in the country.
(ii) Description of the process
FIVIMS has a systematic process that assembles analyses and disseminates
information about people who are food-insecure or at risk of becoming food
insecure.
FIVIMS provides analyses of the underlying causes to the problems identified
in any of these areas: agriculture, income, markets, health, nutrition or water
and sanitation, which could lead to low malnutrition rates as a final
result.
This is provided through:
* a structural food insecurity and vulnerability baseline
* a food security model
* reporting capability (human capacity to interpret information which includes
maps, short analysis and understanding of impact on particular areas and
population groups)
* a "lean and mean" monitoring system that complements existing early warning
systems (e.g. agro-meteorological monitoring) and accounts for peopleâs
predominant risk factors to food insecurity and their capacity to cope in a
rural and urban environment.
It is thus a management information system that provides basic information
on chronic and transitory food insecurity in South Africa.
(iii) Linking information to action
After the successful completion of the 1,5 year FIVIMS pilot phase by the
HSRC-led Consortium, consisting of universities, research institutes and
private consultants in May 2005, the Food Security Directorate of the
Department of Agriculture has considered its next steps towards field testing
and roll out of the FIVIMS in South Africa.
The main objective of this second phase is to finalise the piloting of a
comprehensive food insecurity and vulnerability management information system
in Sekhukhune Integrated Sustainable Rural Development (ISRD) node. Amongst
other things, this phase will obtain the following:
* validate information with intermediate and final user groups
* engage with local stakeholders and demonstrate the use of FIVIMS information
in targeting the food insecure and vulnerable and planning or designing
programme interventions at local level
* reliable food insecurity model validated and tested in Sekhukhune and
fine-tuned for use in other ISRD nodes in South Africa
* FIVIMS information user needs assessment carried out amongst local decision
makers
* develop a local food insecurity and vulnerability monitoring system.
The second phase will ensure utilisation of data derived from the Sekhukhune
survey, food insecurity model and national data sets successfully field tested
and used by selected key decision-makers at local administrative level to
assess the use of FIVIMS.
For further information, please contact:
Ms Tenisia Machitela
Tel: (012) 319 7089
E-mail: tenisiaM@nda.agric.za
Ms Agnes Moreetsele
Tel: (012) 319 7224
E-mail: agnesM@nda.agric.za
RSVP by: Monday, 9 October 2006
Issued by: Department of Agriculture
5 October 2006
