The Nutrition Cluster in Zimbabwe Operating in a Transitional Environment

Global Cluster MeetingNairobi, Kenya23 March 2011

The Nutrition Cluster in ZimbabweOperating in a Transitional Environment

Background Basic IndicatorsPopulation: ~13 MillionHDI rank: 169/169Life expectancy at birth: 47HIV prevalence (15-49): 13.7%Under-five Mortality: 96/1000 Maternal Mortality: 790/100,000Stunting: 34%GAM: 2.4%

Background Basic Indicators

Background The CrisisLate 1990s: Unprecedented decline in the economy, infrastructure, food security, and delivery of basic social servicesEarly 2009: The situation peaksInflation in the trillionsUnemployment > 80%Cholera outbreak affected 100,000 peopleHalf the population required food assistanceCivil servants salaries reduced to nothing - flight

Background The Causes

Recurring DroughtHIV/AIDSControversial Land ReformPolitically motivated violenceDispute over 2008 election resultsSanctions (ZANU Position)PersonsParastatalsGovernment

Significant Implications for funding flowsBackground The Transition

Late 2008: Power sharing agreementEarly 2009: Government of National UnityLate 2009 to PresentCurrency stabilized - dollarizationFood assistance requirements drop improved harvestBasic social service infrastructure improving health retention schemeOutbreaks, but not at levels experienced in 2008 and 2009

Joint Early Recovery Opportunities Assessment (JROA) Project

Donor interest is shifting from humanitarian to development funding streams (ECHO EU)Emergence of sector coordination mechanisms alongside clusters (WASH, Health)Evolution of transitional funding mechanisms such as the Education Transition Fund and Health Transition Fund

Background The Transition ?

The Nutrition Situation

Chronic Malnutrition: 34%Global Acute Malnutrition: 2.4%Exclusive Breastfeeding: 6%Minimal Acceptable Diet: 8%Meal Frequency: 28%Dietary Diversity: 31%Adequate FCS: 67%Prevalence of Diarrhea: 13%Cough: 15%Fever: 14%Significant Differences: Sex, Residence, Socio-economics

The Crisis and NutritionDefying Standard Emergency Metrics

Identified as top priority in the 2011 CAP - perceived as medium to long-term needThe Nutrition Cluster in ZimbabweResponding to Needs

Objective: Support the government in the coordination of efforts to achieve optimal nutritional status for all Zimbabweans

Result 1: Improved situational analysis and planning;Result 2: Improved information sharing and accountability;Result 3: Improved technical capacity;Result 4: Increased visibility and resources for programming; and,Result 5: More effective emergency responseDual mandate by design near, medium, and long term programmingCo-chaired by the Head of the National Nutrition Department

From Cluster to Sector CoordinationNutrition Cluster uniquely positioned: dual mandate + co-leadership by government = evolution to sector coordination

Cluster coordinators role is evolving into a TA role Build coordination capacity within established government entities

Priority 1: Food and Nutrition Council (cross-sector coord)Priority 2: National Nutrition Department (intra-sector coord)Priority 1: Cross-Sector CoordinationFAO, WFP, UNICEF Collaboration

Commits all stakeholders to the UNICEF Conceptual Model for Causes of Malnutrition as an Organizing principleProvides a platform for development of a national food and nutrition policy currently under developmentProvides an institutional framework for multi-sector analysis and coordination moving forward

Priority 1: Cross-sector CoordinationInstitutional FrameworkFood and Nutrition CouncilZimVacNutritionSocial ProtectionAgricultureWASHHealthTask ForceCabinet (Finance, Etc.)MoAMoLSSEtc.Priority 1: Cross-sector CoordinationInstitutional FrameworkFood and Nutrition CouncilFNSAUSAGZimVacNutritionSocial ProtectionAgricultureWASHHealthTask ForceCabinet (Finance, Etc.)UN HeadsDonorsNGOGovernmentMoAMoLSSEtc.Food and Nutrition Policy and Strategic FrameworkDirect Nutrition InterventionsTechnical Advisors (2)Priority 2: Intra-sector CoordinationNational Nutrition UnitMinister of HealthChampionsCabinetFood and Nutrition TaskforceDonorsPermanent SecretaryPrincipal Director (Preventive)IMCINNDRHHIV/TBPrincipal Director (Curative)Etc.Etc.Principal Director (Policy and M&E)Provincial Medical DirectorsPriority 2: Intra-sector CoordinationNational Nutrition UnitMinister of HealthChampionsCabinetFood and Nutrition TaskforceDonorsPermanent SecretaryPrincipal Director (Preventive)IMCINNDRHHIV/TBPrincipal Director (Curative)Etc.Etc.Principal Director (Policy and M&E)Provincial Medical DirectorsNational Nutrition Strategy and Accountability FrameworkKey Achievements 2009 to Present

Key ChallengesDonor interest and funding (ECHO)Evolving funding modalities (pooled funds)Lack of consensus regarding status of the emergencyHumanitarian space vs. Government leadershipUNICEFSegregation of duties (coordinator is taking on traditional UNICEF leadership roles) Conflicting prioritiesNo dedicated budgetNo support personnelFinal ThoughtsDifferent clusters may be responding to very different emergencies E.g. WASH, Protection, NutritionClusters must evolve to accommodate the context beware of over-standardizationStandard emergency metrics may impede our ability to respond to actual needs and raise monies in protracted contextsFit the CAP to the situation, rather than fit the situation to the CAP