- Choose between in-kind food, cash, vouchers and livelihoods support.
- Analyse markets before choosing a modality.
- Design fair and accepted targeting.
1Response modalities
Several modalities exist, often combined:
- In-kind food distribution: useful when markets are not functioning or prices are soaring; basket calculated to cover about 2,100 kcal per person per day for a full ration.
- Cash transfers (cash, mobile money): more choice and dignity, support the local economy, if markets work and risks are managed.
- Vouchers (value or commodity): steer consumption towards certain foods or traders.
- Livelihoods support: seeds and tools, animal health, destocking, cash for work, small businesses, to rebuild self-reliance.
2Market analysis and choice of modality
Before choosing, analyse: are markets functioning? Can traders respond to increased demand without driving prices up? Do households prefer food or cash? Are the risks (security, diversion, protection) manageable? Are financial service providers available?
Tools such as price monitoring, rapid market assessment or the minimum expenditure basket (MEB) are used to set transfer values. The choice is reviewed regularly: a modality suited to month 1 may no longer be suitable in month 6.
3Targeting
Targeting determines who receives assistance. It often combines geographic targeting (areas in IPC 3 or above) followed by household targeting according to vulnerability criteria: consumption, income, assets, household size, presence of older, sick or disabled people, female- or child-headed households.
Methods: community-based targeting, household survey with a score, or a combination. The two errors to minimise: exclusion of vulnerable households and inclusion of non-vulnerable households. Criteria are explained publicly, lists verified, and a complaints mechanism makes it possible to correct errors.
4Protection, gender and accountability in the response
A food response can create risks: long walks to sites, theft, sexual exploitation in exchange for a place on the list, tensions between groups. Basic measures: nearby and safe sites, suitable timings, separate queues if necessary, staff trained in PSEA, assistance for people with reduced mobility.
Accountability requires information (who is entitled to what, when, how to complain), participation of communities, including women, in choosing criteria and modalities, and an accessible and confidential complaints mechanism.
The disputed list
Village, community meeting
You are a targeting officer.
During the public reading of the beneficiary list, several widows say they have been left out while well-off traders are on it.
Decision 1 of 3How do you react during the meeting?
Decision 2 of 3Household visits confirm the errors. You:
Decision 3 of 3A committee member threatens the women who complained. You:
Key takeaways
Fair targeting is verified, corrected and protects those who dare to complain.
Exercise: food or cash?
In a town hit by floods, markets reopened within ten days, prices rose by 15%, mobile money works and households prefer cash. In the neighbouring villages, roads are cut off and markets are empty. Propose a modality for each area, justify it and indicate the risks to monitor.
Key points
- Modalities: in-kind food, cash, vouchers, livelihoods support; often combined.
- Full ration: about 2,100 kcal per person per day.
- Market analysis and household preferences before choosing; regular review.
- Targeting: public criteria, verified lists, minimised exclusion and inclusion errors.
- Safe sites, PSEA, information and complaints mechanism.
Further reading: course references
- Sphere Association (2018). The Sphere Handbook: minimum standards in food security and nutrition. spherestandards.org/fr/manuel-2018
- IPC Global Partnership (2021). IPC Technical Manual, Version 3.1. www.ipcinfo.org
- World Food Programme (2021). Consolidated Approach for Reporting Indicators of Food Security (CARI). www.wfp.org/publications/consolidated-approach-reporting-indicators-food-security-cari-guidelines
- WFP and FAO (2024). Global Food Security Cluster. fscluster.org
- LEGS Project (2023). Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards (LEGS). www.livestock-emergency.net
Daily quiz
3 questions to check what you have learned. Answer them all to complete the day.