• Request support for nutrition coordination, information management and nutrition in emergencies

  • التماس الدعم لتنسيق التغذية وإدارة المعلومات والتغذية في حالات الطوارئ

  • Buscar apoyo para la coordinación de la nutrición, la gestión de la información y la nutrición en situaciones de emergencia

  • Demander un appui pour la coordination de la nutrition, la gestion de l'information et la nutrition dans les situations d'urgence

  • Solicite apoio para coordenação em nutrição, gestão de informação e nutrição em emergências

South Sudan

The GNC Technical Alliance provided in-depth support for Community based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM), Social and Behavior Change (SBC), Multisectoral and Assessment to Concern Worldwide, Action Against Hunger Sudan, Nutrition Cluster Coordination Sudan and Inter cluster Working Group in 2016, 2018 and 2019.

Past support to South Sudan

Assessment (2016)

Requester:

Action Against Hunger Sudan (ACF) 

Background:  

The violence that erupted in South Sudan in mid-December 2013 led to a humanitarian crisis involving a massive displacement of over 1.5 million people nationwide. The conflict, and associated displacement, had a significant impact on food security and, consequentially, the prevalence of malnutrition. While famine was averted in South Sudan in 2014, the July 2014 Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) correctly projected that food security would deteriorate for displaced populations and host communities in 2015. The SET team led by ACF but representing the Nutrition Cluster and Nutrition Information Working Group has a mandate to conduct emergency nutrition SMART surveys in the most vulnerable areas identified by the Nutrition Information Technical Working Group (NIWG).  

The request:

There was a significant need to help provide assistance to the SET team with finalizing the data analysis, report writing, etc. of the December 2015 Panyijar SMART survey, writing the survey protocol and planning the Leer County SMART survey, as well as to increase technical validation capacity within the NIWG pertaining to survey validation. As a result, a request was made to the Tech-RRT Consortium for assistance. On Jan 3rd the Tech-RRT Nutrition Assessment Advisor (NAA) was deployed to Juba, South Sudan. 

Key achievement: 

  • Provided feedback and contributed to the validating process of multiple surveys while attending Nutrition Information Working Group (NIWG) meetings. 
  • Created a preliminary report template and final report template modeled after SMART templates but tailored to South Sudan context to be used by NIWG organizations. 
  • At a NIWG meeting presented validation of the data process using Emergency Nutrition Assessment (ENA) for SMART software with sample data sets. 
  • Developed Leer survey protocol with Survey Manager and presented to NIWG 
  • Worked with Survey Manager to analyze Panjjar SMART data, write a preliminary report and present to NIWG for validation, followed by final report submission to NIWG 
Social Behavior Change (SBC) (2016)
The nutrition and WASH SBC strategy developed in South Sudan can guide you in SBC interventions

Requester:

Concern Worldwide 

Background:  

Bentiu Protection of Civilians (POC) site in Unity State was currently the largest Internally Displace Population (IDP) camp in South Sudan. It was established in early 2014 in response to the large influx of displaced people as a result of fighting in the wider area of Unity State commencing in late 2013. In mid-2015, a new purpose-built camp was established on an organized grid with better drainage and planning. Due to the ongoing influx of new arrivals, however, even this new site remains extremely cramped, and the risk of illness and malnutrition is high. A SMART survey undertaken in August 2015 revealed an extremely high level of Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) 34.1 % C.I (31.1 – 37.2) according to Weight for Height (WHZ) <-2 and/or oedema) and Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) 10.5% C.I (8.5 – 12.9) according to WHZ <-3 and/or oedema). Both are clearly above international thresholds for a serious emergency. The same survey revealed low levels of diet diversity and exclusive breastfeeding and a Knowledge Attitude and Practice (KAP) and Water Hygiene and Sanitation (WASH) survey conducted in April suggests open defecation is still widely practiced while hygiene knowledge and practice remain suboptimal in a population of more than 20,000 residents.  

The request:

The Tech RRT SBC Advisor was deployed to develop a practical strategy and action plan for promoting priority health, hygiene and nutritional practices that will have the quickest positive impact on the prevention and treatment of malnutrition and illness in children and pregnant women that encompasses both the POC and the evolving settlements in Bentiu town. 

You can find out more about SBC on our website or submit any questions or technical queries you may have through our request page

Key achievements: 

  • Developed a work plan for the assignment, including an outline of the methodology for Barrier Analyses, FGDs and interviews to be undertaken in and outside the PoC, in collaboration with Concern. 
  • Trained key partner staff in Barrier Analysis and other methods. 
  • Documented key assessments, including a very brief summary report for each BA undertaken and led by the consultant. 
  • Produced a detailed SBC final strategy and action plan for both the camp and outside the camp including milestones to monitor and evaluate the success of the plan. 
  • Developed a brief report outlining activities undertaken during the mission. 
  • Conducted a presentation to stakeholders in Bentiu, and, as relevant in Juba. 

Resources:

Nutrition and WASH Social Behavior Change strategy 

Assessment (2016)

Requester:

Action Against Hunger Sudan (ACF) 

Background:  

The violence that erupted in South Sudan in mid-December 2013 has led to a humanitarian crisis involving a massive displacement of over 1.5 million people nationwide. The conflict, and associated displacement, has had a significant impact on food security and, consequentially, the prevalence of malnutrition. While famine was averted in South Sudan in 2014, the July 2014 Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) correctly projected that food security would deteriorate for displaced populations and host communities in 2015. The 2015 conflict in Unity state, and associated displacement, had also impacted Guit county, having a significant effect on food security and, consequentially, the prevalence of malnutrition. At the moment, INGO’s do not have bases in Guit county, though an Inter-Sector Rapid Need Assessment/Response (IRNA/R) Mission was conducted from February 20th to 24th by UNICEF, World Relief, Nonviolent Peace Force, Norwegian People Aid and Concern Worldwide. . However, no SMART survey had been conducted in all of Guit County (access permitting) since 2013. 

The request:

Given the background situation which set Emergency IPC levels of GAM for Guit County for the period January to March 2016, there was a need to provide the Nutrition Information technical Working Group (NIWG) with an up-to-date estimate of undernutrition prevalence for programming purposes. 

Key achievement: 

  • Attended the IPC Meetings which were held in Juba between April 19-24 and worked with nutrition colleagues to identify priority counties and completed IPC-specific worksheets that are used throughout the IPC classification process 
  • Provided feedback and contributed to the validating process of multiple surveys while attending Nutrition Information Working Group (NIWG) meetings. 
  • Presented to the NIWG the importance of translating questionnaires (English to Nuer) and provided the NIWG the 4 translated questionnaires (Anthropometry and health, Mortality, FSL, WASH) created for the Bentiu POC survey that can be adapted for other surveys. 
  • Provided support to both SET Survey Managers for the Guit County and Bentiu POC surveys. Support was provided remotely from Juba as well as one field visit for each survey. 
  • Worked with Survey Managers to analyze the Guit survey data, write preliminary report (included final data set), and presented to NIWG (validated). 
  • Worked with Survey Manager to write and present Bentiu POC protocol, analyze data, write preliminary report and present to NIWG for validation, followed by final report submission to NIW. 
CMAM (2018)
Are you to implementing CMAM in your country or community, the report from South Sudan can help you learn more of CMAM in a conflict zone

Requester:

Nutrition Cluster Coordination Sudan (NCC) 

Background:  

In South Sudan, the 2013 civil war has resulted in widespread insecurity and instability. Conflict and insecurity across South Sudan resulted in a breakdown in community structures, food insecurity, poverty, poor health and nutrition status. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a famine was declared in Unity State from February till June 2017. Although the famine has been denounced, currently an estimated 1.7 million people are likely to be facing a food security emergency (IPC Phase 4) – one step below famine on the IPC scale. Currently it is estimated that six million people (50 percent of the population) are expected to be severely food insecure. Acute malnutrition remains a major public health emergency in several parts of South Sudan. Over 1.1 million children are estimated to be acutely malnourished. A total of 22 SMART surveys were conducted between January and June 2017 by numerous organizations. Twenty of the surveys showed global acute malnutrition prevalence above the emergency threshold of 15%. 

The request:

The Tech RRT Advisor was deployed to South Sudan to support the nutrition cluster to conduct an independent review of routine nutrition activities and provide recommendations and corrective actions to strengthen the nutrition activities. The support focused on Monitoring all routine nutrition activities implemented, specifically CMAM and IYCF activities, by all partners. 

The Key achievements: 

  1. Developed final report outlining methodology used, strong points, gaps and recommendations for the way forward in nutrition programming. 
  2. Developed final power point presentation for all nutrition partners on the results and recommendations for nutrition programs. 

Resources:

Community Management of Acute Malnutrition final report 

IYCF-E (2018)

Requester:

Ministry of Health South Sudan (SSD) 

Background:  

The population of South Sudan in 2018 was 11, 261, 51. More than 3.9 million South Sudanese have been forced to flee their homes, and 1.9 million internally displaced persons and over 2 million refugees. The Demographic Health survey shows that less than 20% of pregnant women were able to have at least one Antenatal Care Visits (ANC) by a skilled attendant and just around 11% delivered in health facilities. At the same time, Mother to child transmission of HIV reached worrisome levels and lacked appropriate interventions. Both acute and chronic malnutrition were serious with stunting above 30% and wasting above 20%.1 Poor Infant and Young Child Feeding practices are one of the key causes of child malnutrition. The protracted conflict further exacerbated the rates of acute malnutrition due to the reduced ability of children under five, chronically ill persons, and pregnant and lactating women to meet their nutritional needs because of displacement and increased morbidity caused by disease outbreaks, lack of access to clean water, sanitation facilities and basic health services. 

The request:

The Ministry of Health with the support of the Nutrition Cluster requested Tech RRT support to improve both CMAM and the Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition situation in the country. 

You can find out more about  IYCF-E on our website or submit any questions or technical queries you may have through our request page

Key achievement: 

  • Finalized Maternal Infant Young Child Nutrition Training Packages (Master, ToT, Health Workers, Community Health Workers and Lead mothers), updated and revised based on the inputs and feedback from three MIYCN ToT trainings (Eastern Equatoria State (EES), Central Equatoria State (CES) and Jonglei State). The Adviser supported two of the three (3) listed MIYCN ToT, specifically in CES and Jonglei. 
  • Updated and finalized MIYCN recording and reporting tools 
  • Finalized with the consensus of the MIYCN TWG the MIYCN indicators to be included in the Nutrition Information System of the Nutrition Cluster 
  • Handover Note from the MIYCN ToT Follow-Up of the Unity State, conducted in November 2017 
  • Key agreements with the MIYCN TWG on how to support and sustain the remaining roll out of the MIYCN Trainings 
  • Training of Trainers was also conducted by the MIYCN team (the adviser was the course director) from Feb 20 to 24 in CES and from Feb 27 to March 3 in Bor, Jonglei. A total of 19 participants from 8 partner agencies plus state level ministry of health attended in CES and a total of 19 participants from 9 partner agencies and state and county ministry of health attended in Jonglei. The Adviser prepared and coached the facilitator’s team prior to the departure. 

 

Multisectoral (2018)

Requester:

Inter cluster working group 

Background:  

The Global Inter-Cluster Nutrition Working Group (ICNWG) identified limited capacities of humanitarian partners and clusters for multi-sectoral nutrition-sensitive programming among the main barriers to effectively achieving nutrition outcomes in humanitarian settings. To address this barrier a three-days training package “Integrated Inter-Cluster Training Package for Nutrition Outcomes” was developed to support in-country cluster coordinators and partners in applying integrated nutrition-sensitive approaches to achieve a better nutrition outcome across sectors, with a specific focus on: nutrition, food security, health, WASH, education, and protection. The specific objectives of the workshop were as follows: 

  • To build capacity for integrated programming for improved collective outcomes 
  • To develop proposed action points for better integrated programming for improved nutrition outcomes in South Sudan. 

 Key achievement: 

  • Trained 27 participants, coordination and operational programme staff, from education, FSL, health, nutrition, protection & WASH clusters. The first day of the training focused on the introduction to integrated planning for better nutrition outcomes. The second day focused on technical aspects of integration for better nutrition outcomes such as WASH, Food security, livelihoods and health. Day three focused on developing proposed priority actions to move the integration agenda forward. 

 

IYCF-E (2019)

Requester:

Nutrition Cluster Coordination (Sudan) 

Background:  

Many aspects of infant and young child feeding were far from optimal, mainly initiation of breastfeeding, continued breastfeeding at one and two years as well as introduction of semi solid foods. The majority of deaths during the first year of life are often associated with inappropriate feeding practices. To address this, and also support optimal mental development, UNICEF and MoH developed Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition (IYCN) Strategy and Guideline documents to focus comprehensively on the preventative lessons and key areas of concerns including the components of essential nutrition services with the rollout of infant and young child feeding program to improve the feeding practices for children across all former 

The request: 

The nutrition Cluster required further guidance on how to implement recommended actions within humanitarian response as such the Tech RRT was requested to fill the gaps and provide practical and realistic plans for prioritizing MIYCN actions. 

Key achievements: 

  • The MIYCN-E response and gap analysis tool now incorporated in nutrition (including CMAM) response dashboard 
  • A MIYCN-E program budget/costing tool developed, and partners now able to incorporate MIYCN-E activities into proposals and master budget 
  • An advocacy brief, reinforcing the importance of MIYCN interventions in South Sudan and call for action 
  • The MIYCN-E integration action plan for South Sudan, focusing priority sectors like FSL, WASH, Health 
  • BFHI guidance- the existing draft was reviewed, shared feedbacks with WHO and agreed on steps for revision of the draft and finalization 
  • 10-steps action plan, with standards of implementation- shared with WHO for considering adoption 
  • ‘The Code’ implementation action plan- MIYCN TWG in South Sudan is now able to take agreed steps to implement ‘the Code’ 
  • Facilitated the training sessions based on the deployment outputs, with nutrition and non-nutrition partners 

Find the post deployment webinar recording and slides.