What is the role of the FSC Coordinator? The Coordinator plays an active role in facilitating the IPC process, ensuring that technical stakeholders (e.g. Cluster partners) are part of the process, but he/she will not normally play a strong technical role unless there is a specific gap. Instead, colleagues from IPC GSU and/or IPC RSU (Global/Regional Support Unit) FAO , WFP RAM and/or a dedicated IPC Focal Point / Coordinator (working with technical staff from FSC partners and other relevant NGOs, that have been trained on IPC, government technical staff etc.) will usually manage the actual IPC analysis and the main steps involved. 

The Coordinator actively supports the IPC process, including liaising with partners, the government, and at inter-sector level, as needed before, during and after the actual IPC analysis (usually taking place during a week-long IPC analysis workshop). Once the findings are finalised and shared by the IPC TWG (see below), the Coordinator is responsible for the strategic dissemination and for “translating the IPC outcomes” i.e. ensuring that the IPC results inform the planning and response and that they are reflected properly in HNOs and HRP s.  

The Coordinator should consider the following:   

• IPC TWG Technical Working Group (IPC TWG), Composition and FSC Partners: The IPC process begins with the formation of an in-country IPC TWG – ideally hosted by the government and composed of members from the government, UN and NGOs. The composition of the IPC TWG should be defined in collaboration with the FSC, to ensure an inclusive process and to integrate cluster partners (including local organisations) with high levels of technical expertise and in-depth knowledge of the food security context in the country. The approach and timeline of IPC analyses should be presented in advance to all partners in FSC meetings. Whenever possible, the Coordinator should take part in the TWG (he/she may sometimes be required to be part of the facilitation team, specifically – but not only – if he/she has been trained on IPC).   
• Calendar and Timing of IPC to be aligned with the HPC Process: The IPC and HNO/HRP calendar should be harmonized where possible. It is important to work to ensure that IPC findings feed into the humanitarian planning process, while taking into account the seasonal relevance of IPC analyses. If it is not the case, the Coordinator must push back the HPC process or agree with the head of OCHA (or the deputy) to allow more time to include the IPC findingsin the HNO.
  • Regular Coordination between the IPC TWG and the Coordinator: It is recommended that the Coordinator and IPC TWG, every six months, discuss their calendar of activities to ensure it is aligned with the HNO/HRP and to identify opportunities for synergies and collaboration at country level. The Coordinator should ideally attend the IPC TWG meetings.
  • Timing and Availability of Sector Data: The IPC’s relevance depends on the ability to align data collection and analyses processes with decision-making processes - the IPC classification is only as robust as the evidence used (see more on the planning function of the IPC process, p. 15 here). The Coordinator should work to ensure that the assessments planned within the FSC line up with the IPC analysis (which in turn lines up with the HNO/HRP process). This means coordinating the timing of planned food security specific assessments (joint or harmonized) with FSC partners to improve data availability and quality – and encouraging (through the ICCG), as possible/relevant, that multisectoral assessments (or those of other clusters) align with the timing of the IPC. Preparing an FSC Assessment Plan with partners is recommended and can be shared with ICCG for inter-sectoral coordination (see 6.2.1, 6.2.2 and 6.5.2).
• FSC Support on Data Retrieval and Gaps: The FSC is the first entry point for the IPC Focal Point and IPC TWG to collect all existing relevant data. 
  • The Coordinator is expected to provide all available food security information and should maintain (with IMO support) an updated repository of all food security and nutrition assessments conducted by partners and government (ideally a standard database which is regularly updated based on agreed key indicators, with reports and analysis available). 
  • The Coordinator (with IMO support) is expected to provide information on delivered and planned Humanitarian Food Assistance (HFA) ahead of the analysis workshop. 
  • In coordination with the IPC TWG, he/she could also facilitate a gap analysis of collected food security indicators based on the IPC Acute/Chronic analytical frameworks, to prevent situations where an IPC analysis does not meet basic confidence levels due to a lack of relevant and reliable data.
• Analysis, dissemination and use of the IPC Results: The IPC TWGand analysis group (both with FSC member representation) work on the analysis and when cleared by GSU/RSU for quality insurance, the IPC analysis is validated by the Government. The IPC Results are then launched by the Government with FAO and WFP Representatives – and widely disseminated:  
  • The FSC Coordinator should disseminate the IPC results within the food security community (presented at cluster meetings, shared via email, website etc.) and beyond, with OCHA and other clusters through the ICCG and HCT as relevant. This should only be done after the results are endorsed and communicated by the Government and/or IPC. 
  • The Coordinator should ensure IPC analysis findings are used when developing all food security planning documents and response analysis and strategies (including informing the FSC overall PIN), and that they are reflected in the HNO/HRP as mentioned above.   
  • Though IPC helps identify key drivers, it does not provide the details required to develop sector-specific response plans. The FSC Coordinator can help to promote additional in-depth analyses that provide greater details on causality, drivers and structural factors that contribute to food insecurity and malnutrition at sub-national level, as well as needs themselves (e.g. food consumption gap to determine ration size).        
• IPC capacity building and certification: In countries where the IPC is used, IPC training and certification for relevant cluster and IPC TWG members should be promoted. This includes identifying needs and opportunities for capacity strengthening support and training (this can be done in collaboration with the IPC Global Support Unit (GSU) and the gFSC in Rome see below – the IPC GSU can provide financial support for IPC capacity building at country level).
• IPC and sudden-onset or sharp escalation in protracted crisis: An IPC analysis is usually neither available nor possible because of lack of up-to-date reliable evidence because the priority usually is to conduct emergency needs assessments (6.3.2) and implement a response and because an IPC analysis takes time. In such cases, and in countries where the IPC is not used, the FSC should encourage a light update of the IPC analysis, or – when not possible – consult with partners to analyse assessment data, and produce a joint overview of needs, priorities and targets to be used by the FSC for response planning.
• FSC Support on assumptions monitoring: Any IPC projection is based on a number of assumptions. While it is the role of the IPC TWG to monitor whether the assumptions hold, the FSC can support the process by consolidating information, discussing them with partners, and submitting them to the IPC TWG – especially if they point at broken assumptions. While this task is not compulsory for the FSC teams, it is highly valuable in very fluid contexts. Country FSCs can put in place their own monitoring system (example of Yemen and Afghanistan), or request support from the gFSC – who, through the Covid-19 TWG, developed the Joint Monitoring Framework (JMF). The JMF is a joint monitoring system to monitor food insecurity drivers and risks of deteriorating food security through a transparent and data-driven process, capitalizing on existing assessment / monitoring initiatives.

Examples of IPC Reports: See country specific FSC websites for the most recent IPC reports.

Support and Guidance: The IPC: Guidance on Global Standards for Collaboration at Country Level (2016) was developed by the IPC Global Support Unit (IPC GSU) (hosted by FAO in Rome) and gFSC and provides country FSCs and IPC TWGs with best practices to strengthen their cooperation and ensure IPC findings inform humanitarian plans and response. It should be read in conjunction with the below, updated IPC Technical Manual. Contact the gFSC GST for further information (gFSC Help Desk) or the IPC GSU (see contacts here). See the above guidance for details on the support IPC GSU can provide to country FSCs. 

Resources: See the IPC Website. See the IPC Technical Manual Version 3.1 (2021). Several e-learning courses on IPC available here. Presentation on IPC during Covid-19” IPC virtual analysis process and tools (IPC/gFSC 2020).