The food security situation in Sudan has been affected several inter-related factors which collectively resulted in what has been known as a “complex emergency”. The civil war, its attendants displacement, climatic variability resulting in recurrent droughts and floods, inadequate investment in small-holder farming, poor rural infrastructure and weak rural markets are some of the key drivers of food insecurity in the country.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has been contributing to address the main issues related to the food security inter-sectoral institutional framework of the country, both at the federal and state levels, through the Food Security Policy and Strategy Capacity Building Programme (FSPS).

The FSPS, funded by the European Union, aims to improve food security information collection and analysis and related policy design and implementation. The programme works to strengthen the capacity of government line ministries and Food Security Technical Secretariats, which are responsible for food security data collection in the country.

From 7 to 8 October 2013, within the FSPS FAO, in collaboration with the National Food Security Technical Secretariat, is organizing a four days training on ‘Food Security Basics and Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC)”.

The training, which will be held in Wad Madani - Gezira State, will aim at enhancing understanding of government technical personnel from the Food Security Technical Secretariat about the basic concepts and principles of food security and their application in policy planning and formulation.

Attendants will be acquainted with the concept and practices of Integrated Food Security Phase Classification as well as with basic principles of food security baseline indicators, assessment methodologies and monitoring activities, livelihood concepts and analysis approaches.