Collaborative vulnerability profiling for strengthening access to food and basic services of urban populations in need

Managing urban areas is one of the major development challenges of the 21st century. While the increasing attention to the urban food insecure is evident, effective information gathering guiding humanitarian response and targeting remain a challenge to meet food security and other basic needs, and achieve SDG 2 on ending hunger and malnutrition in all its forms.

In 2017, the global Food Security Cluster, Vulnerability Analysis & Mapping Unit of the World Food Programme and partners conducted an inter-agency urban food security profiling and vulnerability mapping exercise in Metro Manila, in collaboration with key community leaders, local grassroots organizations, the local government and the private sector who provided innovative technology in order to access hard-to-reach populations within the capital. Assessing and mapping overall vulnerabilities of urban dwellers by combining qualitative research methods with geo-spatial analysis is a critical first step to better define and understand vulnerability in Metro Manila. This information is highly valuable for all stakeholders as it increases the knowledge base and expertise to inform programme design with the goals to help alleviate poverty and hunger; reduce inequalities; achieve gender equality; improve human health and wellbeing; foster the city resilience.

The panel discussion will include key players that contributed to defining, accessing and gathering information to assess the food insecurity and vulnerabilities of the urban poor living in Metro Manila. The event will highlight the importance of dialogue, partnership development and active participation of key urban actors at all levels as a critical step for achieving sustainable development and resilience to potential humanitarian disasters in an integrated and coordinated manner. It will also highlight innovative tools and approaches that can be used for assessments and urban profiling of hard-to-reach populations as well as demonstrate ways to share and disseminate findings in an open, interactive and operationally effective way.