Food Consumption Score (FCS)
Information
Full name
Food Consumption Score (FCS)
Short name
Food Consumption Score (FCS)
Code
FCS
Definition
The Food Consumption Score (FCS) is a commonly used food security series in humanitarian settings. This series is a composite score based on households’ dietary diversity, food consumption frequency, and relative nutritional value of different food groups. The FCS is calculated by asking how often households consume food items from the 8 different food groups (plus condiments) during a 7-day reference period.
Source: World Food Programme. Food Consumption Score. https://vamresources.manuals.wfp.org/docs/food-consumption-score (Accessed 29 July 2026).
Rationale
The Food Consumption Score (FCS) is a World Food Programme (WFP) corporate indicator collected in all assessments and monitoring activities to support the identification of the most food insecure households.
The FCS can be used in a range of ways for determining the food security situation of a household and a population, as part of holistic food security assessments comprising a number of indicators, as well as in programme activity monitoring, and is used to inform evidence-based targeting approaches. The prevalence of households with food consumption gaps (poor and borderline food consumption), often referred to as inadequate food consumption, provides essential information on households’ current diets and is helpful in deciding the most appropriate type and scale of food security intervention as well as the appropriate target group for food assistance.
In addition to the frequency of consumption of the main food groups, questions are also asked about the primary source of foods consumed, which provides further valuable insight into the households’ food security situation and level of self-reliance.
Method of computation
The Food Consumption Score is calculated by asking how often households consumed food items from 8 food groups, plus condiments, during a 7-day reference period. Food-group consumption frequencies are multiplied by food-group weights reflecting relative nutritional value and then summed to produce the household score. Where food consumption groups are reported, apply the thresholds documented by the source survey or World Food Programme guidance, including standard or adjusted thresholds where justified.
Source: World Food Programme. Food Consumption Score. https://vamresources.manuals.wfp.org/docs/food-consumption-score (Accessed 29 July 2026).
Comparability
International definition and standards with contextualization
Limitations
The Food Consumption Score is a household-level proxy based on reported consumption over a 7-day reference period. It does not directly measure individual nutrient adequacy, intra-household distribution, chronic food insecurity, quantities consumed or the causes of poor food consumption. Results may be affected by recall, seasonality, local diet patterns, assistance timing and whether standard or adjusted thresholds are used.
Quality assurance
The World Food Programme resource provides a technical guidance note, standard questionnaire modules, an XLS form, calculation scripts, sample data, training material and data quality guidance for collecting, calculating and analysing the Food Consumption Score. Quality assurance should follow the practices of the standardised survey series or data source from which the data is collected.
Source: World Food Programme. Food Consumption Score. https://vamresources.manuals.wfp.org/docs/food-consumption-score (Accessed 29 July 2026).
Data sources
Household level surveys such as WFP Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis Surveys (CFSVA) or UNHCR's Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS).
Zambia: Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) - 2021
UNHCR_ZMB_2021_SENS
2021
Zambia
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Djibouti: Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) in Ali Addeh, Holl-Holl and Markazi Refugee Sites - 2023
UNHCR_DJI_2023_SENS
2023
Djibouti
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Chad: Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) - 2024
UNHCR_TCD_2024_SENS
2024
Chad
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Ethiopia: Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) - 2023
UNHCR_ETH_2023_SENS
2023
Ethiopia
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Ethiopia: Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) - 2021
UNHCR_ETH_2021_SENS
2021
Ethiopia
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Ethiopia: Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) - 2025
UNHCR_ETH_2025_SENS
2025
Ethiopia
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Zimbabwe: Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) - 2021
UNHCR_ZWE_2021_SENS
2021
Zimbabwe
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Uganda: Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) - 2023
UNHCR_UGA_2023_FSNA
2023
Uganda
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Sudan: Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) in White Nile State - 2022
UNHCR_SDN_2022_SENS
2022
Sudan
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Rwanda: Joint UNHCR/WFP Post Distribution Monitoring - Sep 2021
UNHCR_WFP_RWA_2021_JPDM
2021
Rwanda
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
United Rep. of Tanzania: Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) in Kigoma Refugee Camps - 2021
UNHCR_TZA_2021_SENS
2021
United Republic of Tanzania
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
South Sudan: Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) in settlements in Ajuong Thok, Pamir, Gorom, Makpandu, Doro, Yusuf Batil, Gendrassa and Kaya - 2021
UNHCR_SSD_2021_SENS
2021
South Sudan
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Cameroon: Forced Displacement Survey - 2024
UNHCR_CMR_2024_FDS
2024
Cameroon
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Gov't. of Cameroon
Report is forthcoming.
Algeria: Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) - 2025
UNHCR_DZA_2025_SENS
2025
Algeria
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Nigeria: Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) - 2021
UNHCR_NGA_2021_SENS
2021
Nigeria
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Algeria: Nutrition Survey - Sahrawi Refugee Camps - 2022
UNHCR_DZA_2022_SENS
2022
Algeria
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Ethiopia: Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) - 2022
UNHCR_ETH_2022_SENS
2022
Ethiopia
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Pakistan: Forced displacement survey (FDS) - 2024
UNHCR_PAK_2024_FDS
2025
Pakistan
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Rep. of the Congo: Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) - 2025
UNHCR_COG_2025_SENS
2025
Congo
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Zimbabwe: Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) - 2024
UNHCR_ZWE_2024_SENS
2024
Zimbabwe
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Malawi: Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) - Dzaleka and the Host Community - 2022
UNHCR_MWI_2022_SENS
2022
Malawi
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Chad: Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) - 2021
UNHCR_TCD_2021_SENS
2021
Chad
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Rwanda: Joint UNHCR/WFP Post Distribution Monitoring - May 2022
UNHCR_WFP_RWA_2022_JPDM
2022
Rwanda
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
UNHCR_SSD_2023_SENS; UNHCR_SSD_2024_SENS
UNHCR_SSD_2023_SENS; UNHCR_SSD_2024_SENS
Dem. Rep. of the Congo: Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) - 2019
UNHCR_COD_2019_SENS
2019
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
South Sudan: Joint Post Distribution Monitoring, 2023
UNHCR_WFP_SSD_2023_JAM
2023
South Sudan
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Uganda: Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) - 2020
UNHCR_UGA_2020_FSNA
2020
Uganda
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
South Sudan: Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) - 2024
UNHCR_SSD_2024_SENS
2024
South Sudan
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Ethiopia: Socio‑Economic Survey of Refugees in Ethiopia (SESRE) – 2023
WB_ETH_2023_SESRE
2023
Ethiopia
Probability survey
The World Bank
South Sudan: Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) in settlements in Pamir, Ajuongthok, Gorom and Makpandu- 2023
UNHCR_SSD_2023_SENS
2023
South Sudan
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Bangladesh: Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) - Rohingya Refugee Response Cox's Bazar - 2024
UNHCR_BGD_2024_SENS
2024
Bangladesh
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Malawi: Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) - 2025
UNHCR_MWI_2025_SENS
2025
Malawi
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Zimbabwe: UNHCR-WFP Joint Assessment Mission (JAM) - 2023
UNHCR_WFP_ZWE_2023_JAM
2023
Zimbabwe
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Cameroon: Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) - 2021
UNHCR_CMR_2021_SENS
2021
Cameroon
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
United Rep. of Tanzania: Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) in Kigoma Refugee Camps - 2023
UNHCR_TZA_2023_SENS
2023
United Republic of Tanzania
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Zambia: Forced Displacement Survey - 2025
UNHCR_ZMB_2025_FDS
2025
Probability survey
The strata on others of concern (OOC) are former refugeesfrom Angola and Rwanda who have lost their refugee protections, however, remain in Zambia and are at risk of statelessness.
Uganda: Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) - 2025
UNHCR_UGA_2025_FSNA
2025
Uganda
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
South Sudan: Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) - 2022
UNHCR_SSD_2022_SENS
2022
South Sudan
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Kenya: Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) - 2021
UNHCR_KEN_2021_SENS
2021
Kenya
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Bangladesh: Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) - Bhasan Char Island & Cox's Bazar Refugee Camps - 2023
UNHCR_BGD_2023_SENS
2023
Bangladesh
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Uganda: Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) - 2022
UNHCR_UGA_2022_FSNA
2022
Uganda
Probability survey
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees