The conditions determined by physical, social, economic and environmental factors or processes which increase the susceptibility of an individual, a community, assets or systems to the impacts of hazards.[1]
Assessment of the differential capacity of groups and individuals and their livelihoods to deal with hazards, determined by physical, social, economic and environmental factors or processes.[2]By identifying their vulnerabilities and capacities, local communities identify strategies for immediate and longer-term risk reduction, as well as identifying what they can do themselves to reduce risk and where they need additional resources and external assistance.[3]
The Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (VAM) unit is an internal structure within WFP that provides temporary and long-term technical assistance in food security analysis to decision-makers at WFP Headquarters in Rome and in WFP Regional and Country Offices.[4]VAM is a unique network of over 150 analysts around the world that seeks to provide answers to food security key questions, guiding the World Food Programme (WFP)’s food security analysis work.[5]
Populations who have special needs or are at similar risk as a result of common livelihoods, assets and coping mechanisms, and that are targeted with food security interventions.
[1]https://www.unisdr.org/we/inform/terminology#letter-v
[2]https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/social_vulnerability05102017_0.pdf
[3]https://www.preventionweb.net/risk/vulnerability
[4]http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/ungis/meeting/march00/documentation/wfp_recalde2.pdf