In sudden onset and fast-evolving emergencies, it is essential to monitor the nutrition situation using relevant indicators to inform and adapt the response. Tracking the drivers of acute malnutrition - such as household and individual child-level indicators related to food security - can support WFP in designing both preventive interventions integrated into general household assistance, as well as targeted supplementary nutrition programmes. Where feasible, monitoring anthropometric indicators can further strengthen the understanding of nutritional status and guide appropriate actions.
Examples of nutrition indicators that can be collected, monitored, and analysed are: MUAC, minimum dietary diversity for children (MDD) and infectious diseases for the past two weeks among children (diarrhoea, fever, acute respiratory infection symptoms). In sudden-onset emergencies, MDD is often preferred over Minimum Acceptable Diet (MAD) because it is simpler to collect, less sensitive, and more responsive to short-term changes in food access. MAD requires detailed information on breastfeeding and meal frequency, which can be harder to assess accurately and may not reflect rapid shifts in nutrition practices.