Enhancing the Effectiveness of School Feeding/Nutrition Programmes through Rights-based Approaches A Project Note

1. Enhancing the Effectiveness of School Feeding/Nutrition Programmes through Rights-based Approaches A Project Note SCN – Working Group on Nutrition, Ethics and Human Rights Rome, 25 February 2007

2. Outline ► Background ► Proposed Methodologies ►Outputs ►A Programme Assessment Checklist ► Partnerships

3. Background ►Study:undertake a comparative analysis of school feeding and school-based nutrition programme using human-rights based indicators for the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of those programmes. ►Objective: contribute to the capacity of countries to implement effective school feeding and school-based nutrition programmes that meet the needs of vulnerable school aged children. ► Expected output: methodology, plus a set of tools and training materials, for human rights-based assessment and monitoring of social safety net programmes to achieve improved programme implementation and impact in line with human rights principles.

4. Background ► Rationale School feeding and school-based nutrition programmes are implemented in many countries demanding considerable resources. • SFP have nutritional, health and educational goals • SFP are often part of national safety net and poverty reduction strategies • SFP/nutrition programmes address three human rights: the right to food, the right to education and the right to health ► However, SFP may.. • not always reach needy and vulnerable children • not provide adequate quantity and quality of food • experience leakages and delivery failures • have inadequate participation by the community • provide poor or no information about entitlements • lack adequate accountability mechanisms

5. Background ► Question: Are SFP that are more compliant with human rights principles more effective than others? ► Human-rights based assessment – what does it add? • Focus on whether: (a) programme implementation processes and impacts are in line with human rights principles, and (b) the legal, institutional and policy environment of the programme facilitate HR approach to SFP • Questions: • Are programme design, implementation, M &E participatory? • Is there accountability with regard to SFP performance and utilization of resources? • Is there equity in the distribution of resources: non-discrimination? Do school meals conform with the nutritional standards set at national level? • Is there transparency in the management, decision making, definition and application of programme entry and exit criteria, and in the administration of SFP resources • Are programme benefits applied in line with human dignity? • Are children and parents empowered in the process? • Is the programme being implemented in line with the rule of law and are there recourse mechanisms for parents and children to claim entitlements? ►PANTHER

6. Proposed Methodologies ► Short questionnaire to FAO Offices in selected countries ► Programme assessment checklist developed ► Desk review of a number of SFP (national and donor-supported) – 16 countries ► Consultations with key informants and experts on specific issues ►Workshop: validation of synthesis report, proposed normative outputs, identification of in-country capacity strengthening needs [in-country stakeholders, agency partners]

7. Outputs ► A methodology developed and validated that applies human rights principles in assessing and monitoring SFP ► A synthesis report with findings and conclusions, and a set of rights-based indicators for comparative analysis of SFP ► A methodological reference guide to be used in assessing and monitoring SFP by in-country stakeholders ► A normative handbook for the development and implementation of HR-based SFP ► Materials for capacity strengthening for in-country analysts and monitors

8. Programme Assessment Checklist ► Focus on human rights-related aspects of the design, implementation and impacts of SFP ► Meant as a reference guide for the assessment of SFP in this project ► Menu – 10 Thematic Modules ▪Food and Nutrition Security Situation ▪Legislative and Budgetary Framework ▪Institutional Framework ▪Normative Programme Basis ▪Social Control Mechanisms ▪Recourse Instruments and Institutions ▪Programme Design ▪Duty Bearers ▪Programme Implementation Processes ▪Programme Impacts

9. Partnerships ► SFP involve three interrelated ES Rights: Food, Health, Education ► Within FAO: Right to Food Unit, and Nutrition and Consumer Protection Division (AGN) ► Partnerships with UN Agencies ? SCN: Inter-agency advisory group: make it part of the work plan of the WG on Nutrition, Ethics and Human Rights; the WGNEHR could function as an advisory group; validation workshop sponsored by the WGNEHR ► In-Country Partners (Examples) Guatemala: human rights ombudsman office is in the process of finalising a rights-based assessment of school feeding programmes India: mid-day meals – re-contacting people identified in country surveys. We need support. Brazil: CONSEA and Ministry of Education: SFP rights-based assessments

10. Thank you! ☺