areas for which IHS3 data were not collected. We will refer to them as the ‘non-IHS3’ sample, as they no have true baseline data available.<sup>4</sup>

# **3.1 Food security measures**

We examine food security outcomes with eight indicators and as well as a composite measure. Our measures include (log) per capita food expenditure and (log) per capita food consumption in the last week (including home consumption). Total household calories is computed based on the caloric value of food consumed. A food consumption score is computed following WFP guidelines and aims to capture both dietary diversity and food frequency; it is the weighted sum of the number of days the household ate foods from eight food groups in the last week.<sup>5</sup> We include a measure of the number of food groups consumed in the last week for seven main groups.<sup>6</sup> We have an indicator for whether the household reported reducing meals in the last seven days. A food insecurity score is constructed according to WFP guidelines and takes on a value of 1, 2, 3 or 4 (a higher number indicates greater insecurity).<sup>7</sup> A coping strategy index is a weighted sum of the number of days in the past 7 days that households had to reduce the quantity and quality of food consumed.<sup>8</sup> Finally, as many of these food security measures are overlapping, we construct a principal components analysis index for these eight measures as our ninth composite food security measure.

> 4The complexities of partnering with the Malawian government to both implement the intervention and collect nationally representative data unfortunately preclude the ideal design: true baseline data are not available in all EAs. Households in these 23 enumeration areas were listed and a sample of 16 households was randomly drawn during our November 2012 survey. In these communities, we have one round of baseline data, rather than two. For the IHS3 Households that could not be re-interviewed, the team drew a replacement household from the original listing. About 9 percent of households are replacements for the original IHS3 household.

> 5The score is calculated based on the sum of weighted number of days in the last week the household ate food from eight food groups: (2 * number of days of cereals, grains, maize grain/flour, millet, sorghum, flour, bread and pasta, roots, tubers, and plantains) + (3 * number of days of nuts and pulses) + (number of days of vegetables) + (4 * number of days of meat, fish, other meat, and eggs) + (number of days of fruits) + (4 * number of days of milk products) + (0.5 * number of days of fats and oils) + (0.5 * number of days of sugar, sugar products, and honey). Spices and condiments are excluded. It has a maximum value of 126.

> 6The seven are described in the previous footnote, with exception of the last group (sugars).

> 7Food insecurity score is 1 if in the past seven days, the household reports not worrying about having enough food and reports zero days that they: (a) Rely on less preferred and/or less expensive foods, (b) Limit portion size at meal-times, (c) Reduce number of meals eaten in a day, (d) Restrict consumption by adults in order for small children to eat, or (e) Borrow food, or rely on help from a friend or relative. Food insecurity score is 2 if the household reports worrying about having enough food and reports zero days for actions a-e. Food insecurity score is 3 if the household reports ever relying on less preferred and/or less expensive foods and b-e are zero. Food security score is 4 if the household reports any days for b-e.

> 8Referring to the five actions described in the previous footnote, the coping strategy index is the sum of (a) + (b) + (c) + [3 * (d)] + [2 *(e)]. It has a maximum value of 56.

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