Caribbean Real-Time Food Security Monitoring Dashboard
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Innovating Food Security Tracking through Real Time Monitoring
Why it matters
Food security continues to be of great concern in the Caribbean, with approximately three million people out of 7.1 million (43%) in the English-and Dutch speaking Caribbean estimated to be food insecure as of April 2024.
As the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) continues its efforts to achieve the vision of the 25 by 2025 initiative, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is expanding its support with a tool that will allow Caribbean decision-makers to monitor trends in food security more frequently. With a full activation planned for early 2025, CARICOM and WFP are collaborating to create the Caribbean Real Time Food Security Dashboard.Â
Since 2020, CARICOM in collaboration with the WFP have conducted seven rounds of the Caribbean Food Security and Livelihoods Survey to gather data on people’s livelihoods, access to markets and food security, providing snapshots over time.
While the surveys have provided important overviews of the current food security situation and trends, the real-time monitoring dashboard will enable governments and development partners to maximize data and analytics by showing changes in key food security indicators as they happen.Â
The approach
Ten (10) countries have been considered in the initial phase. These are: Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.
During this phase, 600 household surveys will be conducted each month across the 10 countries, engaging participants over the age of 18 to provide their valuable insights into diverse issues related to food security, voluntarily and confidentially.
This first phase will serve as a pilot process to analyse the findings and results, with the aim of calibrating the indicators. Additional countries will be included in the subsequent phases.
The surveys will be conducted in Dutch, Spanish, and English, with each survey lasting a minimum of 15 minutes.
The Process
1.      Data is collected daily through computer-assisted telephone interviewing surveys from local call centres, administered by enumerators, rigorously trained in standardized interviewing protocols.  Â
2.      Data flows directly into a central database for automated cleaning and analysis and is accessible in real time.
3.      The analysed results populate the food security real-time Dashboard and Country factsheets.
4.   Data and analytics is maximized to assess and monitor food insecurity in the Caribbean in real-time to inform policies, strategies and programmes.
Indicators
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The Real-time food security monitoring draws on publicly available data (e.g. prices, weather, macro-economic) and data collection on household-level food security indicators- all in real time and in one place (the dashboard), to update on the evolving food security situation.Â
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The household level surveys will dive into critical aspects of the respondents’ lives through modules on demographics, food security, livelihoods, coping strategies, market conditions, and primary concerns.
This methodological approach will ensure a rich collection of data, providing valuable insights into the diverse issues faced by the participants across different linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
Gains for the Caribbean
Data from real-time monitoring systems can be leveraged by key decision-makers to facilitate operational planning, strengthen early warning capacities, and resilience-building planning.
The data could potentially link to external partners including International Finance Institutions and international development partners to prioritize the provision of assistance such as via their Credit Contingency Funding instruments, which help governments secure funds in advance of a disaster.
Accessibility of timely, accurate and comprehensive data on food security, and risks, as a public good and for the broader international community will go a long way in strengthening global coordination efforts, and knowledge-sharing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is the Real-Time Food Security Monitoring Dashboard? Â
Answer: CARICOM and WFP through development partners have collaborated to establish the Real-Time Food Security Monitoring Dashboard for the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean to bridge data gaps in food insecurity in the Caribbean. Â
Q2: What are the features of a real-time food security monitoring dashboard?
Answer: The Real-Time food security monitoring dashboard draws on publicly available data (e.g. macro-economic dynamics, hazard risks) and data collection on household-level food security indicators- all in real time and in one place. This will provide an update on the evolving food security situation, a ground-breaking approach for food security monitoring and analysis. Â
Q3: Which countries are represented in the dashboard?
Answer: 10 countries have been considered in the initial phase. These are: Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago. More countries in the English and Dutch speaking Caribbean may be added if additional funding becomes available.
Q4: What household level data is collected through the computer assisted
telephone interviews (CATI)?
Answer: The main data collected relates to household demographics; food consumption; coping strategies; access to food, market and health services; and other food and livelihood-related indicators. In addition, at the end of the survey, respondents are given the opportunity to share additional information on the food situation in their communities. These are very similar to the data  collected in annual Caribbean Food Security and Livelihoods Survey since 2021.
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Q5: How is the household level data collected?
Answer: The household level data is collected
via computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) by trained enumerators, based in each of the selected countries. The surveys are implemented over the phone.
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Q6: How many languages have been considered for data collection and how long will surveys take?
Answer: The surveys are conducted in Dutch, English, and Spanish.
Q7: How long will surveys take?
 Each interview will last a minimum of 15 minutes.
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Q8: How often is data collected?
Answer: The CATI household level data is collected on a rolling basis, spread evenly over the past 28/30 calendar days and over a three-month period.
Q9: Who can respond to a survey?
Answer: The survey is voluntary and
targets respondents 18 years or older. The respondent should be either the head of household or an individual capable of answering on behalf of the entire household. Telephone numbers are randomly selected from a database of phone numbers or generated using random digit dialing method.
Q10: How are the results analysed?
Answer: The first six months are a pilot to analyse the findings and results and test the approach. Â The data will feed into the live iterative food security dashboard for the Caribbean. Additional information products may be generated.
Q11: What other benefits could be derived from the establishment of the real-time food security dashboard?
Answer: Amid the increasing frequency and intensity of natural hazards in the region, the dashboard can be integrated with risk and hazard monitoring systems. This will strengthen anticipatory action and emergency preparedness efforts, ensuring timely support for the most vulnerable populations.
Q12: Where can I access the results?
Answer: The live results will be made available on the AgriCarib website starting in March 2025.
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Q13: Where can I ask questions or get further information?
Answer: For any questions, or further information, please call this hotline number: +592 222-0001-6 ext.2258, from Monday to Friday: 9:00am to 4:30pm.
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Innovating Food Security Tracking through Real Time Monitoring
Why it matters
Food security continues to be of great concern in the Caribbean, with approximately three million people out of 7.1 million (43%) in the English-and Dutch speaking Caribbean estimated to be food insecure as of April 2024.
As the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) continues its efforts to achieve the vision of the 25 by 2025 initiative, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is expanding its support with a tool that will allow Caribbean decision-makers to monitor trends in food security more frequently. With a full activation planned for early 2025, CARICOM and WFP are collaborating to create the Caribbean Real Time Food Security Dashboard.Â
Since 2020, CARICOM in collaboration with the WFP have conducted seven rounds of the Caribbean Food Security and Livelihoods Survey to gather data on people’s livelihoods, access to markets and food security, providing snapshots over time.
While the surveys have provided important overviews of the current food security situation and trends, the real-time monitoring dashboard will enable governments and development partners to maximize data and analytics by showing changes in key food security indicators as they happen.Â
The approach
Ten (10) countries have been considered in the initial phase. These are: Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.
During this phase, 600 household surveys will be conducted each month across the 10 countries, engaging participants over the age of 18 to provide their valuable insights into diverse issues related to food security, voluntarily and confidentially.
This first phase will serve as a pilot process to analyse the findings and results, with the aim of calibrating the indicators. Additional countries will be included in the subsequent phases.
The surveys will be conducted in Dutch, Spanish, and English, with each survey lasting a minimum of 15 minutes.
The Process
1.      Data is collected daily through computer-assisted telephone interviewing surveys from local call centres, administered by enumerators, rigorously trained in standardized interviewing protocols.  Â
2.      Data flows directly into a central database for automated cleaning and analysis and is accessible in real time.
3.      The analysed results populate the food security real-time Dashboard and Country factsheets.
4.   Data and analytics is maximized to assess and monitor food insecurity in the Caribbean in real-time to inform policies, strategies and programmes.
Indicators
     Â
The Real-time food security monitoring draws on publicly available data (e.g. prices, weather, macro-economic) and data collection on household-level food security indicators- all in real time and in one place (the dashboard), to update on the evolving food security situation.Â
   Â
The household level surveys will dive into critical aspects of the respondents’ lives through modules on demographics, food security, livelihoods, coping strategies, market conditions, and primary concerns.
This methodological approach will ensure a rich collection of data, providing valuable insights into the diverse issues faced by the participants across different linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
Gains for the Caribbean
Data from real-time monitoring systems can be leveraged by key decision-makers to facilitate operational planning, strengthen early warning capacities, and resilience-building planning.
The data could potentially link to external partners including International Finance Institutions and international development partners to prioritize the provision of assistance such as via their Credit Contingency Funding instruments, which help governments secure funds in advance of a disaster.
Accessibility of timely, accurate and comprehensive data on food security, and risks, as a public good and for the broader international community will go a long way in strengthening global coordination efforts, and knowledge-sharing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is the Real-Time Food Security Monitoring Dashboard? Â
Answer: CARICOM and WFP through development partners have collaborated to establish the Real-Time Food Security Monitoring Dashboard for the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean to bridge data gaps in food insecurity in the Caribbean. Â
Q2: What are the features of a real-time food security monitoring dashboard?
Answer: The Real-Time food security monitoring dashboard draws on publicly available data (e.g. macro-economic dynamics, hazard risks) and data collection on household-level food security indicators- all in real time and in one place. This will provide an update on the evolving food security situation, a ground-breaking approach for food security monitoring and analysis. Â
Q3: Which countries are represented in the dashboard?
Answer: 10 countries have been considered in the initial phase. These are: Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago. More countries in the English and Dutch speaking Caribbean may be added if additional funding becomes available.
Q4: What household level data is collected through the computer assisted
telephone interviews (CATI)?
Answer: The main data collected relates to household demographics; food consumption; coping strategies; access to food, market and health services; and other food and livelihood-related indicators. In addition, at the end of the survey, respondents are given the opportunity to share additional information on the food situation in their communities. These are very similar to the data  collected in annual Caribbean Food Security and Livelihoods Survey since 2021.
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Q5: How is the household level data collected?
Answer: The household level data is collected
via computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) by trained enumerators, based in each of the selected countries. The surveys are implemented over the phone.
Â
Q6: How many languages have been considered for data collection and how long will surveys take?
Answer: The surveys are conducted in Dutch, English, and Spanish.
Q7: How long will surveys take?
 Each interview will last a minimum of 15 minutes.
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Q8: How often is data collected?
Answer: The CATI household level data is collected on a rolling basis, spread evenly over the past 28/30 calendar days and over a three-month period.
Q9: Who can respond to a survey?
Answer: The survey is voluntary and
targets respondents 18 years or older. The respondent should be either the head of household or an individual capable of answering on behalf of the entire household. Telephone numbers are randomly selected from a database of phone numbers or generated using random digit dialing method.
Q10: How are the results analysed?
Answer: The first six months are a pilot to analyse the findings and results and test the approach. Â The data will feed into the live iterative food security dashboard for the Caribbean. Additional information products may be generated.
Q11: What other benefits could be derived from the establishment of the real-time food security dashboard?
Answer: Amid the increasing frequency and intensity of natural hazards in the region, the dashboard can be integrated with risk and hazard monitoring systems. This will strengthen anticipatory action and emergency preparedness efforts, ensuring timely support for the most vulnerable populations.
Q12: Where can I access the results?
Answer: The live results will be made available on the AgriCarib website starting in March 2025.
Â
Q13: Where can I ask questions or get further information?
Answer: For any questions, or further information, please call this hotline number: +592 222-0001-6 ext.2258, from Monday to Friday: 9:00am to 4:30pm.
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