CARI is a harmonized WFP methodology used to analyze and classify households using individual level food security indicators into different levels of food security groupings - food secure, moderately food secure, marginally food insecure and severely food insecure.
It can also be used to carry out vulnerability profiling of households to identify targeting criteria for programming. The indicators include the Food Consumption Score, the reduced Coping Strategy Index, the Livelihood Coping Strategies Index and the Food Expenditure Share, all measured at the household level.
The new edition of the CARI guidance (2021) comes with a revised methodology that aims to overcome theoretical and operational challenges identified during the past nine years of implementation. The new CARI methodology:
Introduces the reduced Coping Strategies Index (rCSI) in the CARI classification under the CARI Current Status domain
Recommends the use of the Economic Capacity to meet Essential Needs (ECMEN) indicator - whenever available - instead of the Food Expenditure Share (FES) under the CARI Coping Capacity domain
Provides a methodology for the classification of food security at the area level and introduces a standard mapping to report on CARI findings.
The indicators you need
Under the CARI approach, each surveyed household is classified into one of four food security categories. This classification is based on households’ ‘Current Status’ of food security and their ‘Coping Capacity’ which are determined through a set of food security indicators listed below under each of the possible combination scenarios:
Scenario A – ECMEN is available
Food Consumption Score (FCS)
reduced Coping Strategies Index (rCSI)
Economic Capacity to Meet Essential Needs (ECMEN)
Livelihood Coping Strategies – Food Security (LCS-FS)
Scenario B – ECMEN is not available
Food Consumption Score (FCS)
reduced Coping Strategies Index (rCSI)
Food Expenditure Share (FES)
Livelihood Coping Strategies – Food Security (LCS-FS)
Available Resources
Please find below some resources to help you calculate, and analyze CARI:
Technical Guidance Note
Read the detailed guidance document for accurate selection of indicators and analysis steps for CARI.
Scripts and Sample Data
Calculation scripts are available in the following formats:
Training Presentation
A training presentation on FCS for use by VAM staff is available in the following languages:
For more information, please contact the Assessments and Targeting Unit in HQ VAM at global.assessmentandtargeting@wfp.org.