Comparative analysis of the measurement of food insecurity and implications for policy

Effective measurement of food insecurity is important to understanding, tracking and comparing temporal and geographic trends, and targeting and evaluating policies aimed at reducing food insecurity. The means by which food insecurity is measured at local, national, and global levels differ around the world with respect to what, how, when, how often, and by and from whom data are collected. On a pragmatic level, each means of measuring food insecurity has strengths and limitations related to the scope, expediency, and utility of the data collected. Beyond pragmatic considerations, the means by which food insecurity is measured also reflects how the problem and the contributing factors are conceptualized, what the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders, including those experiencing food insecurity, are seen to be, and what policy approaches if any, are deemed appropriate to redress it. In this chapter, we comparatively analyze three broad approaches to measuring food insecurity - anthropometric measures, consumer reporting measures, and experiential measures - and highlight some advantages, limitations, and implications for policy of each. We conclude that it is vital for policy makers and advocates to understand the logistical and underlying conceptual differences, the strengths and weaknesses, as well as the implications for understanding data and policy development, of the diverse means by which food insecurity may be measured. Based on our analysis, we also suggest that where possible, composite approaches that use multiple measures, including quantitative metrics and qualitative analyses of lived experience to capture different dimensions of food insecurity should be used to glean a more fulsome picture of food insecurity and thus, more robust and comprehensive policy.