Nutrition in Emergencies
Nutrition in Emergencies
Hunger and malnutrition are rampant among refugees and displaced populations, representing currently around 40 million people worldwide, many of whom – infants, children, adolescents, adults and older people – suffer from one or more of the multiple forms of malnutrition.
Besides wasting, deficiencies of iodine, vitamin A and iron are common in emergency-affected populations. In addition, scurvy, pellagra and beriberi frequently occur in populations entirely dependent on food aid. The levels of risk of malnutrition in emergencies depends on factors such as the degree of civil security, food availability and accessibility, access to health services, and adequacy of assistance delivery.
Resource |
| Emergencies |
Guidance Note for UN Humanitarian Coordinators: Integrated multi-sectoral nutrition actions to achieve global and national nutrition-related SDG targets, particularly in fragile and conflict affected states (FCAS)
The paper defines malnutrition, explains why addressing malnutrition is life-saving in emergencies and calls for a multi-sector approach, and it gives an overview of common interventions and terminology.
Note on country updates and revisions – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
This note presents an overview of options for reporting on implementation of a strategic response plan, and for updating or revising it. It’s a useful document for the HCT and cluster coordinators to consult when discussing the overall planning cycle, and in the event of sudden changes in the situation.
Information Management checklist (nutrition cluster)
This checklist is developed to help Country Nutrition Cluster Coordination Teams (CNC-CTs) at national and sub-national levels as well as Global Nutrition Cluster Coordination Team (GNC-CT)) in reviewing the Country Nutrition cluster performance in fulfilling it information management (IM) functions. The tool can also be used for self-assessment as well as for external audit.
The tool also helps to ensure the consistency and completeness in carrying out an IM function by cluster countries. The checklist only cover standard IM outputs/functions, therefore depending on the country cluster context the CT might opt to include and use additional IM tools and outputs. It is recommended that all cluster countries use current checklist to assess their IM function and how to improve it.
Resource |
| Information Management checklist |
Indicators registry (nutrition cluster)
Nutrition Cluster indicators registry includes Needs Assessment and analysis framework, as two sets of indicators to accompany it: needs assessment and performance monitoring indicators. It is recommended that the nutrition cluster use or adapt the indicators for their response, including for Humanitarian Response Plan monitoring and for individual projects. To facilitate use of indicators, Global Nutrition Cluster has developed “Humanitarian Response Plan tips” where each areas of interventions linked to the specific indicators from this database.
Strategic response planning guidance
The strategic response plan articulates the shared vision of how to respond to the affected population’s assessed and expressed needs. The strategic response plan (SRP) is a management tool for response and supports decision-making by the humanitarian country team. It has two interlinked components: a country or context strategy, with strategic objectives and indicators; and cluster plans, with objectives, activities and accompanying projects. Together they detail how the strategy will be implemented and how much funding is required.
Resources |
| English: SRP Guidance 2015 |
| Français: SRP Guidance 2015 |
Multi-Sector Initial Rapid Assessment Guidance
The Multi-Cluster/Sector Initial Rapid Assessment (MIRA) is a joint needs assessment tool that can be used in sudden onset emergencies, including IASC System-Wide level 3 Emergency Responses (L3 Responses). It is a precursor to cluster/sectoral needs assessments and provides a process for collecting and analyzing information on affected people and their needs to inform strategic response planning.
Resources |
| English: Mira Revised 2015 |
| Français: Mira Revised 2015 |
| Español: Mira Revised 2015 |
