The VAC assessment strategy has two principal axes. First, it uses a sequential process of ‘best practices’ in assessment and monitoring, drawn from the extensive and varied experience of the VAC partners, to meet a broad range of critical information needs at both the spatial and socioeconomic targeting levels. The sequential nature of the approach not only provides richer details of the "access side" of the food security equation, but it adds the very important temporal dimension as well. From an operational (i.e. response) perspective, the latter is critical. Second, by approaching food security assessment through a coordinated, collaborative process, the strategy integrates the most influential assessment and response players into the ongoing effort, thereby gaining privileged access to national agency-datasets, and expert technicians and increases the likelihood of consensus between national governments, implementing partners, and major donors. This ‘partnering’ strategy links the major players and stakeholders including regional institutions, national governments, response agencies, NGOs and donors for on going, intensive ‘rolling’ assessment coverage of food security conditions on the ground. This emergency food needs assessment was conducted for three main purposes, specifically, to:

Evaluate key assumptions from the April/May CFSAMs;

Update targeting and numbers of beneficiaries in need based on comprehensive national and community level analysis;

Provide feedback on the emergency response to date.