Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC): Analysis on financing flows for food security, agriculture, and nutrition to countries experiencing food crisis

GNAFC sought to better understand the evidence on types, availability and effectiveness of the external financing flows currently used to address food insecurity and malnutrition, and strengthen the food systems in countries with food crisis situations.

Our brief

DI were asked to develop a robust methodology which looked at the humanitarian financial flow in terms of gaps, funding inequalities between countries and regions, and trend analysis for flows between 2016 and 2020. DI’s work was predominantly focused on the collection and analysis of financial flows for agriculture, nutrition and food security through international humanitarian assistance (IHA), official development assistance (ODA), and government expenditure.

DI also provided guidance around content and visualisations (charts and infographics) presented in the reports.

What we delivered

Throughout 2019, DI provided a robust methodology for tracking investments in agriculture, nutrition and food security. We also provided analyses, narrative points and metadata, as well as an outline of the methodology’s limitations. This supported the development of communication products, including technical reports and country briefs. In 2020 and 2021, in consultation with FAO and other stakeholders, the approach and methodology were further refined and developed to include new sub-sectors relevant to the focus areas, further analytical methods and messaging around the provision of and need for targeted humanitarian assistance in food crises countries.

The analysis also examined development funding by sector (food security, nutrition, agriculture, fishery, forestry, rural development) up to 2019, and attempted to compare humanitarian and development financial flows for 2016 to 2019. A data collection exercise for domestic expenditure to agriculture, food security and nutrition between 2016 and 2020 was undertaken for a selected number of focus countries, notwithstanding technical challenges. This data was used in analyses on these countries.

DI has worked to reconcile various data sources, including FTS and the CRS, to limit double-counting and establish comparability and interoperability. Periodic methodology reviews have been valuable in ensuring the latest changes from data sources and newer research and ideas can be taken into account.

Both global and country-level analyses were presented in a clear and accessible manner through infographics supplied in Excel format (featuring both chart and data) and were accompanied by concise descriptions highlighting key points from the data in MS Word format on demand.

Results

DI’s data and analysis were presented in two consecutive publications: a technical note (2020) and an annual report, Financing Flows and Food Crises (2021). The publications complemented the information provided by the annual Global Report on Food Crisis, which has become the reference product to monitor acute food insecurity and provide information on the severity, drivers and magnitude of food insecurity and malnutrition in countries and territories with food crisis contexts. Further, the reports provided decision-makers with analysis of financing flows on food sectors in countries with food crisis situations, aiding understanding of how the international community and national governments are addressing food crises; and providing evidence-based indications of financial allocations. The launch of the 2021 report was accompanied by a webinar organised by GNAFC, where DI presented contextual findings.