Inter-Cluster Working Group on Food Security and Nutrition Report Back October 24, 2012

1. Inter-Cluster Working Group on Food Security and NutritionReport BackOctober 24,2012

2. Purpose • Provide Operational/Coordination/Technical Direction/Guidance to the gFSC on key areas of synergy between the Nutrition and Food Security Clusters in humanitarian responses.

3. Objective • Development of Standard Operating Procedures between the gFSC and the GNC

4. Activities and Tools • What: Identification of present coordination field practices between the Food Security and Nutrition Clusters. • Identify synergies and complementarities • Identify gaps and limitations • Identify Best Practices • How: Field Survey: • Develop, analyze, write-up and disseminate findings

5. Deliverables • Joint Guidance Note with: • Synergies • Complementarities • Gaps • Lessons learned

6. Overview of Achievements • Greater understanding of complementarities between Food Security & Nutrition Clusters at global & field level through survey. • Feedback received from field-level Cluster Coordinators . • Better understanding of how to address coordination gaps between both clusters. • Stronger communication network between global-level FSC & GNC partners.

7. Overview of Survey • The objective of the survey was to evaluate the adequacy of coordination between the Nutrition and Food Security Clusters.  • The survey was sent to nutrition cluster coordinators and food security coordinators (27 responded). • The survey looked at the priority operational areas where coordination is important and the challenges faced at the field level.

8. Overview of Survey Results (1) Of those who responded: • 88.9%  rated coordination as very important; • 84.2% rated coordination on information sharing as very important; • 79.2% rated coordination on assessments as very important; • and 75% rated response planning coordination as very important.

9. Overview of Survey Results (2) • Need for guidance that is simple, practical, and concrete on how to more effectively work together • Guidance and support at the global level to country clusters on improving coordination in certain program areas (Assessments) • There are challenges relating to mandates and understanding of roles at field level • Personalities challenges in coordination and information sharing

10. Deliverables in Response to the Survey Results • Letter on Mandates, Roles & Responsibilities: clearly defined, agreed upon, and shared with cluster coordinators and partners (at country as well as HQ level) • First draft by end of November. Final letter to field by end of year. • Communication emphasizing working principles and linkages btw. FSC & GNC, signed by Global Nutrition & Food Security Coordinators and addressed to: • Field Coordinators of both clusters • Field-level Co-lead Agencies • Joint Guidance Note with: • Concrete examples on how FS and nutrition coordination looks like • Compilation of coordination best practices after consultation with field coordinators

11. Deliverables in Response to the Survey Results (2) • Creation of an Online Discussion group either via email or via the gFSC website where FS and Nutrition practitioners can ask questions, share information, solve problems • Joint Trainings for the cluster coordinators • Joint Missions