Data Warehouse Knowledge Base
Data Warehouse Knowledge Base
Breadcrumbs

Food Security Area Classification Data

Preparing food security area classification data

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) data template allows multiple Data Collections to be created from one upload. Acute Food Insecurity Classification (AFIC), Humanitarian Food Assistance (HFA) and Internally Displaced People (IDP) data should be entered on separate tabs in the same Excel document, with AFIC data on the first tab. The IDP tab is used to upload both AFIC and HFA data for IDP camps. 

FDW automatically creates separate Data Collections for AFIC and HFA data when you upload the file using the Add a new Data Collection and Offline Data Upload options.

The first month in the data collection period includes the CS (current situation), ML (near term projection of three months), ML2 (medium term projection of six months). The outlook collection date is the first date from the current state through four months. A new collection date begins after four months.

To avoid common errors, check the following:

  • Ensure that the entire HA, HFA, and IPC Phase columns for your target month is populated with data. There should be no blank cells. 

    • No IPC Phase value: Enter 99 for no data. FDW will map the area in gray.

    • No HFA data: Enter NC in the HFA columns to indicate HFA has not been assessed and NA to indicate that there is no significant HFA available. 

    • Use 0 in the HFA columns only to indicate that < 25% of the population are dependent on food aid.

    • Enter 0 in the HA columns unless you need to indicate that the Phase would be at least one Phase worse without anticipated food assistance, in which case enter 1.

  • If mapping National Parks, enter 88 to map the national park symbology.

Internal data

Separate Source Documents designated as FEWS NET/USG Only must exist in FDW before internal data is uploaded. The naming convention for these Source Documents is [Report type] (FEWS NET/USG Only), [Country], for example Food Security Outlook (FEWS NET/USG Only), Afghanistan.

When preparing a file for internal IPC data, ensure the column headings specify that the data is internal (for example, FSO Internal rather than FSO). This is necessary for FDW to determine the correct Source Document to use for the data.

Remote monitoring data

Data for all remote monitoring (RM) countries are included on the RM data template. Remote monitoring data cannot be uploaded unless mapping data is filled in for all countries listed in the sheet. This file should not be uploaded for individual countries.  

Uploading food security area classification data

The options for uploading data using the Add a new Data Collection, Offline Data Uploads, and Import Acute Food Insecurity Phases screens are described below.

Data collections should be uploaded one month at a time.

Add a new Data Collection

Use Add a new Data Collection when uploading a small number of data collections as it provides immediate feedback on the success of the upload.

To access the Add a new Data Collection screen, go to Data Entry > Add a new Data Collection (manually or by uploading a file).

Complete the following steps:

  1. Source Document: Select the Source Document that matches the data to be uploaded. For example, when uploading November 2025 data, you will select the Key Message Update Source Document for that country.

  2. Collection Date: Use the first date of the report month. For example, 2025-10-01 for the October 2025 FSO, and 2025-11-01 for the November 2025 KMU.

  3. File: Select the completed template for that country and month.

  4. Select Save.

    1. Save will populate the data uploaded with each numerical value representing one data point. 

After the upload successfully completes, you will see the Humanitarian Food Assistance and Acute Food Insecurity Classification Data Collections listed on the Data Collections screen (Data Processing > Display or edit an existing Data Collection).

Offline Data Uploads

Use Offline Data Uploads when uploading a large number of data collections to save time and protect against errors due to loss of connectivity.

To access the Offline Data Uploads screen, go to Data Entry > Offline Data Uploads and click the Add data upload button.

Complete the following steps:

  1. Click Choose File and select the file.

  2. Import format: Select the format of the file you have selected.

  3. Subtype: Select Acute Food Insecurity Phase.

  4. Country: Select the country name.

  5. Click Save.

The Offline Data Uploads screen will list the upload with a status of Processing. You will receive an email notifying you of the outcome of your upload. Once successfully uploaded, you will see both the Acute Food Security Phase and Humanitarian Food Assistance uploads listed.

In a situation where you need to upload HFA data separately, ensure it is moved to the first tab of the file and select Humanitarian Food Assistance as the Subtype.

Import acute food insecurity phases

You can use the Dataseries Management module to import Acute Food Insecurity Phase Data Points. Acute Food Insecurity Classification Data Series will be implicitly created when adding the Data Points.

There are several important considerations when using this option:

  • You must remain on the page until the upload is confirmed. As this may take several minutes, this method is only recommended for smaller Datasets.

  • HFA data cannot be uploaded at the same time as the Acute Food Insecurity Phases. To upload HFA data using this method, go to Data Series management > Data Points > Humanitarian Food Assistance.

To access the Acute Food Insecurity Phase import screen, go to Data Series Management > Data Points > Acute Food Insecurity Phases.

Complete the following steps:

  1. Click Import Acute Food Insecurity Phases.

  2. Select the file to import and the file format.

  3. Click Submit.

The system will check which Collection Periods currently exist in FDW and create ones which do not. The system will also update existing data in FDW if the file contains changes.

Reviewing and publishing food security area classification data

Reviewing data

Open the AFIC Data Collection by clicking the title. There should be a Collection Period for each scenario in the Collection Periods table.

Click the Edit button for each Collection Period and review the data. If necessary, edit the phase descriptions to use variations of the phases (shown in the table below) and click Save at the bottom of the page.

Phase

Description

3

“Crisis,” “Crisis & risk of famine”

4

“Emergency,” “Emergency & risk of famine,” “Famine possible,” “Emergency (outcomes may be worse)”

5

“Famine,” “Famine Likely,” “Famine possible,” “Famine with reasonable evidence,” “Famine with solid evidence”

If the data is correct, update the status of the Data Collection to Submitted. Repeat the review process for the HFA Data Collection.

Correcting data

If your data is in draft status and has not yet been published, you have two options to make corrections:

  • For most cases you should upload the corrected file using the Change Data Collection screen and FDW will edit the existing Data Collection to reflect the changes. (Note: The date shown in the Status Changed column only refers to a change in the Data Collection Status in FDW, and not changes to the data itself.)

  • If only AFIC data was uploaded and not HFA data, delete the Data Collection and upload the corrected file. 

If your data has already been published, make corrections using the following steps:

  1. Change the status of the Data Collection(s) to Under Review.

    1. If your file has HFA data, change both HFA and AFIC Data Collections to Under Review.

  2. Re-upload the file from the Change Data Collection screen.

  3. Review the updated data.

  4. Republish the Data Collection(s).

Deleting a Data Collection that has been published can disrupt data visualizations in reports and data nodes on the FEWS NET website. For this reason, un-publishing, re-uploading, then re-publishing the data is preferred.

Visualizing submitted data

Once your data is in submitted status, you can create an Acute Food Insecurity Map in the FEWS NET Data Explorer (FDE) as part of your review. Only FDW users with the necessary permissions can create and view visualizations with submitted data. For detailed information on building the Acute Food Insecurity Map, visit the FDE Knowledge Base.

Publishing data

To publish the data:

  1. Go to Data Processing > Display or edit an existing Data Collection (including Submit, Review and Publish) and select the Data Collection you just created.

    1. To filter your search, use the available dates at the top of the page and in the Filter sidebar select Acute Food Insecurity Classification. To filter for HFA data, select Humanitarian Food Assistance.

  2. Open the Data Collection by clicking the title. Review the Data Collection and Collection Periods added. 

  3. To submit the data, click the Submit button. 

  4. To publish the data, open the Data Collection again and click the Publish button.

  5. If you realize that the Data Collection was not ready for publishing, you can click the Review button to change its status to Under Review.

If you upload HFA data alongside AFIC data, remember to review and publish both of the Data Collections.