Somalia Food Security and Nutrition Integration : Experiences and Lessons Learned

1. Somalia Food Security and Nutrition Integration: Experiences and Lessons Learned Leo Anesu Matunga Somalia Nutrition Cluster Coordinator Global Nutrition Cluster Annual Meeting Geneva, 9 – 11 July 2013 Logo of your agency

2. Somalia Contextual Analysis • Many countries in one • Complex chronic emergency-high GAM and SAM prevalence and complex aggravating factors • High morbidity and mortality prevalence • Unpredictable and risky environment • Insecure and mostly inaccessible • 1.1million IDPs-Nearly 90% in the south. • Low formal education, high illiteracy rates • Weak/Poor capacity (individual & institutional) • Inadequate/Few financial and material resources • Lack of committed and enterprising human resources • Many LNGOs • Dependence on remote controlled management

3. Seasonal Nutrition Trends 2006-2012

4. Morbidity and Mortality Trends 2009-2012

5. Median of GAM rate 2007-2012 Median GAM prevalence • Gu 2007 – Deyr 2011/12 • Median prevalence at livelihood level • Re-classification according to nutrition analysis framework phases

6. Somalia Contextual Analysis cont’d • The south is the breadbasket of the country and also has the worst median GAM, SAM, Morbidity and Mortality indicators. • The southern zone’s riverine areas affected by food insecurity mostly due to combination of shocks and socio economic conditions ( floods, marginalized Bantus minority). • The central has the worst food security indicators. • The northern zones are better in terms of food security, nutrition and health indicators.

7. Food Security and Nutrition Linkages (1) Assessment • Joint Food Security and Nutrition Assessments being conducted by FSNAU. Analysis • Food Security and Nutrition Situation, Outlook and Forecast IPC Maps. Action • Nutrition cluster objectives 1&2 in the response plan is to ensure linkages. • Partner proposals not approved if they do not show sustainable linkages. • Integrated projects score higher marks during proposal review for CHF. • Nutrition is the core in targeting FS projects.

8. Food Security and Nutrition Linkages (2) • During the famine 2011, Nutrition and Food security clusters came up with a linkages strategy For CHF funding. NUTRITION was the recommended entry point. Strategy used in Food lean seasons. • 25,800HH with malnourished children in South Central Somalia were targeted with Food Security interventions such as: • Cash for work opportunities to increase access to food; • Cash vouchers-Approximately $100 per household • Protection of critical livelihood assets, such as animal vaccination and treatment, increasing access to water and fodder for animals • Provision of farm inputs to enable households to benefit from the possibility of upcoming rains. • Blanket Supplementary Feeding.

9. Food Security and Nutrition Linkages (3) • NC shared all the nutrition partners and sites in the south with FSC. • 30% of households with malnourished children targeted with FSC intervention. • Activities mapping at all sites was done. • FSC partners informed about the strategy and teamed up with NC partners. • Training of partners on key activities and need for linkages was conducted by both FS and Nutrition clusters. • Exchange of site beneficiary lists of among partners. Nutrition status was part of the targeting criteria.

10. WFP Conceptual Framework of Food and Nutrition Security

11. Outcome (1) • Anecdotally Linkage strategy led to improved Sustainable Food Security at targeted household level. • FSC cluster reached 28% of the targeted 30% of households of malnourished children with at least 1 FSC interventions. • Region improved from devastating famine effects indicating the strategy’s positive contribution. • Reduced GAM, Morbidity and Mortality prevalence. • Strategy led to improved coordination among FS and nutrition partners at field level.

12. Outcome (2) • Enhanced targeting and reached children/households most in need. • Improved understanding of FS and nutrition linkages among partners. • It was not possible to measure impact since no joint evaluation of projects was conducted.

13. Lessons Learned (1) A. Capacity Development • Capacity development of partners on integrationstrategy is essential. • Always consider critical components of capacity Development: • Individual competencies (knowledge, skills, attitudes, mindsets and motivations) • Collective capabilities (collective skill/aptitude of a group to carry out a particular function or process) • System-wide capacity (government, community etc) • Adapt CD approaches to fit local contexts and realities- eg less text and more visuals learning materials in these low literacy environments. • Build on local strengths, don’t underestimate them. • Provide long term support beyond individual training.

14. Lessons Learned (2): A shift from..

15. Lessons Learned (3) • Training and workshops are one stage in a systematic cycle: Action, Reflection, Learning, Planning. • Implications for Post-training Follow-up, Support, Mentoring and Learning • Implications for Management, Leadership and coordination. • High staff turn over

16. Lessons Learned (4) B. Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning • Impact evaluation is key. It was not done as no funds were available whilst inaccessibility were also exacerbating factors. • Protection concerns were raised as some families starved children in order to benefit. • Support Supervision and not policing is essential. C. Coordination & response planning • Strategy enabled FS and Nutrition to work together closely. • Led to development on other strategies involving other clusters as well. E.g, Health, Shelter and Nutrition in CHF 1 of 2012

17. Lessons Learned (5) D. Human resources • low technical skills, • low motivation, • No clear Job Descriptions, • high staff turnover. E. Support systems • Weak referral systems from community to facilities and vice versa. No government CHWs, • Weak inter-clusters linkages understanding among partners

18. Lessons Learned (6) F. Materials • No translated materials for use by low literacy community workers. • No adult learning materials. G. Management • Remote management for all partners LNGOs and INGOs • No clear lines of responsibilities • No Project Cycle Management skills.

19. Way forward for Somalia Capacity Development approaches • Call centre • Adult learning training methodologies- UNICEF LTD unit. • CD on thematic areas-UNICEF & WFP and partners • On job mentoring • Building capacity of a LNGO in NC to train partners of key areas of PCM, Sphere standards, SMART, integration etc. • Cluster focus on NiE, Cluster approach awareness • Nutrition institute. FS and Nutrition integration • Maintained and being enhanced • Integration with other clusters being promoted. • Focus on community, household resilience. The resilience strategy by FAO, WFP and UNICEF enhancing joint programming and FSC and Nutrition at the core but other areas as well.

20. Way forward for Somalia Monitoring , Evaluation and Learning • Third part monitoring and verification • Calling beneficiaries • Use of mobile technology • LNGO supported to conduct Research on NCA, Nutrition in the elderly. Coordination & response Planning • Strengthening of field mechanisms • Intercluster meetings at field level • Contingency planning with partners • Strategic Basic Social Services mapping-Nut Done

21. Support needed from GNC • Guidance on nutrition and FS inter-cluster linkages. • Sharing of lessons on FS/Nut integration evidence-based success stories at global level. • Guidance and lessons on practical capacity Development approaches in complex emergencies. • Guidance on DRR, resilience for nutrition.

22. Questions • What integration, for who? How? Impact measurement? • Developing whose capacity?, For what?, For whom? • What are immediate, medium and long term needs? • How to operationalize in emergencies?? ? ? ?