Project overview

SHAPES (Shock and Assistance Platform for Economic Simulations) is WFP's modelling platform that uses simulations to assess the food security outcomes of shocks and assistance for early warning and anticipatory action, advocacy and programme design.

The challenge

Climate-related, political or economic crises can severely impact local economies and food security. Rapid and accurate data analysis is essential for effective response, but often hindered by time, physical and financial constraints.

SHAPES
In the aftermath of a disaster, access to information is critical to allocate resources and reach people in need of assistance. In the photo: aerial shot of the flooded areas between Beira and Gorongosa in Mozambique, 2019. Photo: WFP/Marco Frattini

 

The solution

SHAPES is an advanced analytical platform developed to evaluate the effectiveness of the WFP's interventions in response to shocks. It achieves this by integrating diverse data streams, such as household surveys, market prices, assistance records and satellite data. Using sophisticated modeling techniques, SHAPES quantifies climatic shocks, predicts household responses to price and income fluctuations and projects the impacts on food security. Additionally, the platform explores various scenarios to assess the trade-offs between different operational options, enabling more informed decision-making

SHAPES
The SHAPES platform allows users to run simulations modelling different kinds of humanitarian assistance, including in-kind food assistance, cash-based transfers, or a combination of both, the ideal transfer value to offset a shock, and the targeting approach that leads to the most optimal outcomes for food security.

 

Impact

SHAPES has significantly reduced emergency assessment times from six months to three. It has been instrumental in strategizing for countries like Yemen, Haiti, Democratic Republic of Congo and Lebanon. SHAPES aims to expand to all large-scale WFP operations in 120 countries and territories across the world, demonstrating its substantial impact and potential in global crisis management.

Cash distribution in DRC with SHAPES team.
Cash distribution in DRC with SHAPES team. Photo: WFP

 

Last updated: 28/10/2024