Food Security Early Warning Information System Case Study: CARE Project in West and North Kordofan States

Abstract

This study attempts to assess the Kordofan Food Information System (KFIS) (one of the food security approaches applied for Early Warning System to monitor and assess Food Security situation and Household Livelihood Security). The study aims firstly to scrutinize the extent to which the Food Security Early Warning System Method reacts and contributes to Food Security by identifying major constraints hindering the operation and performance of CARE project in West and North Kordofan States. Secondly, to assess the importance of system to rural inhabitants and information applied practically. To achieve these ends, both secondary and primary data have been used, the secondary data was obtained from references, project documents, reports, records, workshops and seminars, while primary data has been obtain through use of focus groups discussions held at the field project sites with government staff, and CARE staff in addition to designated structured interview conducted with key senior informants staffs work in or with CARE project for more quantitative and qualitative data, further more , other types of data collection methods has been used. The secondary data has been analyzed by using content analysis while primary data has been analyzed via soft ware program SPSS and Excel which is been displayed in frequency and descriptive tables. The research attempts to give and provide conceptual framework outline in two parts, the first one concentrates on the concept of food security at household level .In addition to that the study sheds some light on the new concept of household livelihood security initiated by CARE besides the concept of household economy approach, while in the second part the researcher presents the concept of Early Warning System approaches applied in the Food Information System. The results and conclusions of the study are that the Kordofan Food Information System is a significant tool to improve food security and information system to vulnerable people in the project’s area, since the system usually links different important things which are: production, processing, storage, distribution, consumption, and household’s resources. However that KIF has also practical obstacles during the implementation of the project such as time of response from donors, government political factors, accuracy and reliability of information. The major recommendations are 1. The study ensures that Kordofan Food Information System plays an effective role to CARE, Government and the relevant donors for strategic planning and establishing food security, it is also considered as mechanism for getting donor’s respond for the area in southern and western Kordofan in appropriate time thus this program assist in avoidance of the occurrence sudden crisis in food deficiency in the future. 2. Strengthen the existing networks coordination and cooperation of food information system. 3. Capacity building of government staff and provide technical assistance to States Ministries of Agriculture. 4. Strengthen and support data based through established of agricultural planning unit at state level as a focal point of food information.