The unit of classification for IPC Acute Food Insecurity analysis is the area. In Sudan the analysis was conducted at the locality level (some localities in Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan were not analyzed due to lack of access, while West Kordofan state was not analyzed due to the fact that the TWG was not established).

From the total classified localities (155), in the August - October 2014 period, 27 had been classified at Phase 1, 70 localities were classified at Phase 2, 46 were classified at Phase 3, 12 localities were classified at Phase 4. In the projected period from November to December 2014, the food security situation has begun improving and is expected to continue.

1. Rainfall during the June-October agricultural season was mostly average to above average and well distributed. Green harvest started in September and prospects of average-to-above average November-to-January harvest expected in most parts of Sudan influencing downward pressure on prices in many places (expected to be about 15 – 25% decline in prices in different areas). The national inflation has decreased by 15% between August and September. Decline in staple food prices will enhance access to food.This will lead to reduction in number of people who will face difficulties in accessing food.

2. Good harvest will enhance availability of food in many parts of the country, including non productive areas by improving food availability in the markets by moving grain to theareas with good access. Due to good rainy season and improved crop planting and performance, the start of green harvest in October has a positive effect on the seasonal availability of crops, livestock and fish production.

3. The nutrition status is expected to improve significantly in some areas due to good harvest induced access and availability of diversified dietary intake as well as interventions from the government [Ministry of Health and others] plus partners. 

4. The pasture conditions are improving which is expected to improve animal conditions and production.

5. No signs of epidemic diseases during the period.

6. The efforts in conflict resolutions in the affected areas leads to improvement in security situations, hence the stable security condition is expected to stabilize the livelihood conditions.

Population details for August - October 2014

Each classified phase according to the current update has some strategic objectives and recommendations from the technical working groups which can contribute in solving the causes for the worse phases to enhance food and nutrition security in the country.

Putting into consideration that some areas that were classified in phase 1 or 2 also suffer from some problems that need to be addressed especially some developmental projects to sustain their livelihoods and build their resilience.

Phase 1 and 2:

• Protection measures from flash floods prevailed in some states & affects the livelihood assets
• Implementation of the recommendation of the policy briefs that put some precautions to overcome the bad impact of floods and put some precaution for the future floods.
• Structural issues have to be addressed to rebuild the institutions and the capacities of people to improve the quality of the resources managements. 
• More attention is needed to infrastructure projects such as feeding roads, water harvesting projects to take advantage of abundant rain water in the summer seasons.
• Eradication of mesquite tree that affect the agricultural production.
• Attention for irrigated sector by vertical expansion to compensate failure in rainfed production
• Building resilience to shocks and disasters through income -­‐ generating activities.

Phase 3:

• Ensure the availability of food through enhancing production and market structures.
• Distribution of essential vitamins for children and mothers to reduce the risk of malnutrition.
• Precaution measures from the risk of food prices hikes.
• Enhance the returnees and support their assets.
• Strengthening the monitoring and evaluation to monitor food security indicators.
• Support the traditional farmers by providing improved seeds and agricultural services.
• Availability of water for those who suffers from water shortages.
• Interventions programmes to overcome the negative impacts of climate changes on agriculture.
• Awareness programmes on food cultures, nutrition and environmental reservation.
• Rehabilitation of infrastructures especially the feeding roads and marketing structures.
• Protection measures against losses in livelihoods assets to rebuild losses during the disaster.
• Settle the animal routes, Improvement of rangelands and establishment of Animal health centers.

Phase 4:

• Provision of humanitarian assistance and food aid to save lives and livelihoods.
• Support the small scale farmers in the affected areas to produce their food.
• Control of the ongoing risks and threats faced by localities such as desertification and desert encroachment and destructive conflicts.
• Speed to intervene to prevent the deterioration of the situation through resolving conflicts and promote peace.
• Implementation of food security projects to enhance food and income improvement.
• Enhance the voluntary returnees and provide basic services for them.
• Activate the health and nutrition centers and distribution of Vitamins and micronutrients to improve nutritional status.
• Implementation of policies that enhance rebuilding the lost livelihood assets.
• Improvement of rangelands and animal routes and the establishment of Animal Health centers.

Recommendations for IPC Monitoring:

• Urge the awareness workshops for decision makers at states.
• Adoption of IPC as a tool for decision makers.
• More training at states to do response analysis using IPC results
• Control measures have to be taken for the turnover of the members at states level.
• Training of level II at states is highly needed.
• Training in IPC Information Support System ISS for states.
• Importance of full participation of TWG to gain technical consensus
• Need to incorporate IPC require infromation in all the relevant surverys
• Provide technical support and the necessary financial and logistical support to enable the activities of the working groups to run smoothly.
• Establishment of a database system to enrich the analysis.
• Focus on strategic targets, monitoring and evaluation of the situation and further analyses