YEMEN: Secondary Data Analysis on Food Security and Vulnerability A Secondary Data Analysis – Consolidating Existing Information on Food Security and Vulnerability To identify primary data needs and to assist in the preparation of the Humanitarian Response Strategy and WFP Programme Strategy, this document attempts to consolidate existing food security and vulnerability information collected from various surveys and studies conducted in Yemen, addressing a multitude of thematic areas. Wiebke Förch (with Dr. Fouad Fakhoury) August 2009 WFP Yemen – Secondary Data Analysis on Food Security and Vulnerability Table of Contents List of Tables, Figures and Graphs Abbreviations Executive Summary 1. Introduction ......................................................................................... 13 1.1. Objectives and Methodology of the SDA ........................................... 13 2. Comparison of Secondary Sources, Coverage and Limitations.......... 13 2.1. FIVIMS 2003...................................................................................... 17 2.2. Poverty Assessment 2007 & HBS 2005/06......................................... 17 2.3. High Food Price Survey 2008 ............................................................. 18 2.4. Statistical Yearbook 2007 ................................................................... 19 2.5. Family Health Survey (FHS) 2003...................................................... 19 2.6. Upcoming Surveys.............................................................................. 19 3. Country-Level Context........................................................................ 20 3.1. Introduction ......................................................................................... 20 3.2. Geography and Climate....................................................................... 22 3.3. Political Context and Security............................................................. 22 3.4. Macro-Economic Indicators and Poverty Trends................................ 24 3.5. Food Availability and Markets............................................................ 25 3.6. Policy Framework ............................................................................... 29 3.7. Social Welfare Programmes and Donor Interventions........................ 30 4. Food Security Analysis ....................................................................... 32 4.1. Asset Endowment................................................................................ 33 4.1.1. Natural Capital.................................................................................... 33 4.1.1.1. Agro-Ecological Zones....................................................................... 33 4.1.1.2. Trends in Agriculture and Fisheries.................................................... 34 4.1.1.3. Major Challenges in the Agricultural Sector....................................... 37 4.1.2. Human Capital..................................................................................... 40 4.1.2.1. Demographic Trends........................................................................... 40 4.1.2.2. Illiteracy and Education ...................................................................... 42 4.1.2.3. Employment ........................................................................................ 44 4.1.3. Physical Capital................................................................................... 45 4.1.4. Economic Capital................................................................................ 46 4.1.5. Social Capital...................................................................................... 47 4.2. Livelihood Strategies...........................................................................48 4.3. Households Access to Food ................................................................ 53 4.3.1. Food Consumption.............................................................................. 53 4.3.2. Food Security Status............................................................................ 54 4.3.2.1. Food Security Status by Agro-Ecological Zone.................................. 55 4.3.2.2. Geographic Distribution by Governorate............................................ 57 4.3.3. Characteristics of Food Insecure Households ..................................... 60 4.3.4. Main Sources of Food for Food Insecurity Households ..................... 62 4.3.5. Determinants of Food Access ............................................................. 64 4.3.6. Poverty as Key Determinant of Food Access...................................... 65 5. Nutrition Analysis............................................................................... 69 5.1. Nutrition Indicators............................................................................. 69 5.1.1. Geographic Distribution of Malnutrition ............................................ 71 5.2. Analysis of Underlying Causes for Malnutrition ................................ 73 5.2.1. Food Availability, Access and Utilisation........................................... 73 5.2.2. Water and Sanitation ........................................................................... 73 5.2.3. Health Services.................................................................................... 74 1 WFP Yemen – Secondary Data Analysis on Food Security and Vulnerability 5.2.4. Feeding and Caring Practices.............................................................. 76 6. Risk Analysis....................................................................................... 78 6.1. Risk Factors and Exposure to Risks and Shocks................................. 78 6.1.1. Water Scarcity..................................................................................... 78 6.1.2. High Food Prices and Global Economic Crisis................................... 79 6.1.3. Conflict................................................................................................ 80 6.1.4. Flooding .............................................................................................. 82 6.1.5. Influx of Refugees............................................................................... 83 6.1.6. Drought and Locust............................................................................. 84 6.1.7. Earthquakes ......................................................................................... 85 6.1.8. Epidemics............................................................................................ 85 6.2. Ability to Cope with Potential Shocks ................................................ 85 6.3. Trends in Food Insecurity over Time.................................................. 87 7. Conclusions and Recommendations.................................................... 88 7.1. Information Gaps and Need for Primary Data Collection................... 88 7.2. Programme Recommendations to Address Food Insecurity and Malnutrition 92 8. References ........................................................................................... 93 Appendices Appendix 1: Terms of Reference Appendix 2: People Contacted Appendix 3: Review of Secondary Sources Appendix 4: List of Potential Food Security Indicators Appendix 5: Community Food Security Profiling Maps: Livelihood Strategies and Food Security by Agro-Ecological Zone Appendix 6: Governorate Profiles: Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis 2 WFP Yemen – Secondary Data Analysis on Food Security and Vulnerability List of Tables, Figures and Graphs Table 1: Summary of Reviewed Secondary Sources ............................................................... 15 Table 2: Survey Questions Used to Construct the Food Insecurity Measures......................... 17 Table 3: Food Balance (000 tonnes) 2001-03 .......................................................................... 26 Table 4: Agricultural Production and Yield in Yemen and MENA......................................... 36 Table 5: Renewable Water Resources in Yemen and MENA ................................................. 37 Table 6: Resident Population in the Rural and Urban Areas of Yemen by Governorate ........ 41 Table 7: Enrolment Rate of 6-15 Year Olds in Primary Education ......................................... 42 Table 8: Headcount Poverty in Yemen in 1998-2006.............................................................. 47 Table 9: Top Governorates: Numbers of Food Insecure Households...................................... 58 Table 10: Top Governorates: Prevalence of Food Insecurity .................................................. 58 Table 11: Food Consumption by Location (% of household).................................................. 63 Table 12: Incidence of Food Insecurity and Poverty According to FIVIMS and Poverty Assessment by Governorates ................................................................................................... 66 Table 13: Prevalence of Malnutrition Among Under-five Children, According to FHS 2003 70 Table 14: Prevalence of Malnutrition Among Children Under Five by Age........................... 70 Table 15: Core Health Indicators ............................................................................................. 74 Map 1: Administrative Map of Yemen and Agro-Ecological Zones....................................... 21 Map 2: Average Precipitation Distribution in Yemen ............................................................. 22 Map 3: Average Size of Cultivated