The Surveys for Monitoring in Resilience and Food Security (SMRFS) project supports the Bureau for Resilience, Environment, and Food Security (REFS) and Feed the Future target, resilience focus, and Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) Resilience and Food Security Activity (RFSA) countries with high quality population-based survey and recurrent monitoring data using an approach that strengthens data collection, analysis and use capacities while emphasizing state-of-the-art survey methods. The project supports two main activities:

1. Design and implementation of high quality population-based surveys and recurrent monitoring surveys
2. Development of methodological, analytical, capacity strengthening and communication approaches to support survey implementation and increase data utilization 

ICF implements the SMRFS project with two small business partners, Blue Raster and Stattis. Blue Raster supports survey activities and geospatial technology applications. Stattis develops and adapts Census and Survey Processing (CSPro) applications for survey data collection.

SMRFS is currently implementing survey and support activities in Nepal, Uganda, Ghana, Mali, Kenya and Ethiopia.

Population-based surveys are designed to monitor progress in Feed the Future Zones of Influence, resilience focus zones, and BHA Resilience and Food Security Activity areas using a suite of key indicators measuring poverty, hunger, nutrition, and well-being outcomes. Data collected through these efforts support the U.S. Government Global Food Security Strategy, 2022 – 2026, USAID’s Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Strategy, and the U.S. Government Global Water Strategy.

A recurrent monitoring survey (RMS) measures how individuals, households and communities employ strategies to respond to shocks and stresses and how this affects their wellbeing.