Scaling Up the
Nutrition Response
in
The Philippines
Key Challenges &
Lessons Learnt
1
Needs Assessment and Analysis
2
Needs Assessment and Analysis (1/2)
• Primary Needs analysis showed high GAM-SRP Targets
• Government-led needs analysis had limited nutrition
focus
• Limited capacity of AWG to adapt existing methods for
L3 level disaster-Coordination Team taking over AWG
(during initial months)
• MIRA-1 (limited nutrition focus) & MIRA-2 was not
linked to planning (timing and methodology)
• SMART survey (3 months post Haiyan) showed GAM
prevalence 2x lower than expected-SRP Targets
overestimated?- Revised Targets
Needs Assessment and Analysis (2/2)
• Limited Technical capacity in nutrition surveys and
analysis (Trained FNRI team busy with NNS)
• Coordinated assessments were OCHA driven
• High number of meetings and clearance protocolsbottleneck to cluster needs analysis
• Time difference, tight deadlines affected HQ remote
support on needs analysis
• Disconnect between sub-national and national
discussions
• Limited use of response monitoring data to complement
needs assessment
5
Strategic Response Planning
6
Strategic Response Planning (1/2)
• SRP and prioritization centrally-prepared; minimal
regional consultation
• Limited number of partners and low capacity in CMAM
• Overstretched HR capacity of government (ongoing 3
emergencies)
• OCHA-driven process with tight deadlines and no
flexibility, in-depth assessment and strategic discussion
• Project Proposal development – less consultative
(UNICEF/WFP and Partner centric)- limited
government involvement
Strategic Response Planning (2/2)
• Scale up delayed heavily due to paperwork/approvals
(PCA/FLA)
• Lack of clear arrangements for shifting government
capacities to affected areas from other regions-limited
number of government staff for response
Resource mobilisation
10
Resources…
1.Finance
2.Supply
3.People
Resource Mobilisation: FUNDING
12
Funding challenges
• 7 of 8 partners were funded through UNICEF and WFP,
which delayed nutrition cluster capacity to scale up due
to administrative procedures of delayed fund release
• Government Funding was not tapped for nutrition Haiyan
SRP planning and implementation ($10 M SRP funding
covered through UNICEF, WFP and ACF)
14
Resource Mobilisation: SUPPLY
Photo Courtesy: WFP Philippines
15
Supplies challenges
• Prepositioned supplies stocks stretched - 3 ongoing
emergencies
• Partners brought CMAM supplies, limited consultation -led to
duplication and excess
• Limited CMAM capacity- limited ability to distribute excess
supplies
• Supplies for MNPs and RUSF only planned for 6 months in
SRP- negatively impacted service delivery of MAM and MNP
programmes after May 2014
17
Resource Mobilisation:
HUMAN RESOURCE CAPACITY
Human Resources-Challenges
• Limited DOH technical staff/capacity to respond- high
staff retirement
• Local government personnel were morally
destabilized due to losing relatives and infrastructure
damage
• Still a need to develop and cost a capacity
development plan as part of preparedness efforts
20
Implementation and Monitoring
21
Cluster SRP achievements
As of end August 2014
137%
BSFP beneficiaries *(6-59 months)
MNP beneficiaries (6-59 months)
102%
IYCF counselling (pregnant and children 023 months)
49%
-
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
80%
SAM admissions (6-59 months)
MAM admissions (6-59 months)
42%
-
Achieved
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
Target
23
Implementation and MonitoringChallenges (1/2)
• Delayed programme implementation due to
administrative delays (PCA/FLA)
• Gap in supplies for MAM/MNPs due to pull out of
WFP
• IYCF counseling challenging due to limited partner
and government capacity
• WGs focused on technical discussions rather than
operational support at beginning
• No approved national CMAM guidelines, lack of
CMAM capacity
24
Implementation and MonitoringChallenges (2/2)
• Some SRP indicators (IFA and Vit A) linked to
routine reporting system- incomplete/under
reporting
• IYCF counseling indicator not reported by govt
(only NGOs)
• Community nutrition volunteers are overworked
25