A proposal from Action Contre la Faim
For:
Response to the food insecurity emergency
West Region - Côte d’Ivoire
From 11 th April 2011 to 10th October 2011
Index
A. BASIC DATA SHEET ................................ ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
B. LOGICAL FRAMEWORK ...................................................................................... 5
C. ORGANISATION BACKGROUND ........................................................................ 8
D. PROJECT DESCRIPTION ..................................................................................... 8
D.1 Situation and needs ............................................................................................................................... 8
D.1.1 Overview of the humanitarian context ............................................................................................. 8
D.1.2 Rationale of the intervention .......................................................................................................... 10
D.2 Project Description ............................................................................................................................... 10
D.3 Project Timeframe ................................................................................................................................ 11
D.4 Number and Characteristics of the beneficiaries ................................................................................. 12
D.4.1 Direct beneficiaries ........................................................................................................................ 12
D.4.2 Indirect beneficiaries...................................................................................................................... 12
D.5 Sustainability and recovery .................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
D.6 Partners and Coordination ..................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
E. MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS .................................................................... 12
E.1 Organization Capacity and Staffing ...................................................................................................... 12
E.2 Monitoring Evaluation and ACCOUNTABILITY ................................................................................... 13
E.3 SECURITY, Risks analysis and Mitigation ............................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
F. PROJECT BUDGET ................................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
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Glossary
CFW - Cash For Work
FAO – Food and Agriculture Organization
GAM - Global Acute Malnutrition
MAM - Moderate Acute Malnutrition
MUAC - Middle Upper Arm Circumference
PLW – Pregnant & Lactating Women
SAM – Severe Acute Malnutrition
MAM– Moderate Acute Malnutrition
SMART – Standardised Monitoring & Assessment
of relief and transitions.
UNT – Unité Nutritionnelle Thérapeutique :
(Therapeutic Feeding Programme Unit)
UNTA – Unité Nutritionnelle Thérapeutique
Ambulatoire (Outpatient Therapeutic Feeding
Programme Unit)
WFP - World Food Programme
Action Contre la Faim France / DFID Proposal / IVORY COAST / April 2011 – October 2011
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PROJECT SUMMARY:
The post electoral crisis impacted violently the Western region of Côte d’Ivoire, a region which
usually indicated high rates of food insecurity. The massive displacements of population following
post-electoral violence of these last 3 months increased the global level of vulnerability in the area.
Most of the displaced people lost their assets during their flight and are today totally dependant on
humanitarian aid or on host families’ generosity. The pressure on food stocks widens and most of the
households have to develop some coping mechanisms which are considered risky for the most
vulnerable people to malnutrition.
Considering the high prevalence rate of malnutrition before crisis and the overall impact of the
displacement on global food security, ACF will prevent the risk of a steep degradation of nutritional
status of the most vulnerable by providing them with at least one meal per day during the hunger
gap. A blanket supplementary feeding program will respond to the lack of food availability at
household level. A daily cooked ration made of Corn Soya Blend, sugar, salt, powder milk and
vegetable oil will be distributed to each eligible beneficiary through community canteens. As a
supplementary food, the ration will provide approximately 1 100kcal by meal. This modus operandi
aims to avoid the risk of selling or sharing the ration between all the members of the household and
will respond to the incapacity of some families to cook properly their meal.
The project will target the most vulnerable people in regards to malnutrition directly or indirectly
affected by the post electoral crisis in the Western region of the country. 7 000 children from 6 to 35
months and pregnant / lactating women will benefit from the program in 2 urban areas, Mahapleu
and Danane towns. Those towns have hosted a largest number of displaced people during last
weeks, increasing pressure on resources already limited by crisis, and putting people in high
vulnerability.
The whole household will thus benefit indirectly from this assistance, as providing the most
vulnerable household’s members with one meal per day will allow other members to allocate more
resources for their own basic needs. Moreover, a large number of community workers will be
involved in the project implementation; it will be an indirect way to support the most vulnerable
households in benefiting from a regular source of income.
A screening of the potential beneficiaries will be organised in parallel of food distributions on site, in
order to assess their nutritional status and refer the malnourished persons to specialized structures
(therapeutic or supplementary feeding programme). This initial screening will be completed with a
regular monthly follow-up of the nutritional status of beneficiaries.
Last, the distribution will be the opportunity to provide nutritional promotion sessions for the
pregnant women and care-takers, promotion of breastfeeding, adequate maternal care, and sessions
on early child development, thanks to UNICEF’s kits donation. During care practices sessions, a
specific psychological support will be offered to distressed mothers and children in order to
strengthen psychosocial resilience.
The context remaining instable, the project could evolve towards dry rations distributions in case of
massive returns or unexpected decrease of attendance. In case of massive arrivals of new displaced
in towns, the possibilities to extent the program will be studied.
Action Contre la Faim France / DFID Proposal / IVORY COAST / April 2011 – October 2011
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B. Logical Framework
Principal
Objective
Specific
Objective
Results
To contribute to mitigate the effects of food insecurity due to displacements in West Ivory Coast
Intervention Logic
To prevent risks of deterioration
of nutritional status for the
most vulnerable people during
the hunger gap
R1. Most vulnerable
households (7 000 children
from 6 to 35 months and
pregnant / lactating women)
improve their food
consumption (in terms of
quantity and quality) through
canteens (wet feeding).
Objectively Verifiable Indicators
At least 80% of eligible people has
access to daily supplementary food
R2. Nutritional status of
beneficiaries is assessed and
regularly monitored to prevent
further deterioration through
an adequate referring system
- 100% of beneficiaries benefit
from an initial assessment of their
nutritional status.
- At least 70% of beneficiaries have
their nutritional status monitored
on a monthly basis (weight; height;
MUAC; oedema)
- Number of MAM children and
PLW detected and referred to the
appropriate structure
- Number of SAM children detected
and referred to the appropriate
structure
- At least 40% of eligible people
receive a meal in ACF canteen at
least 3 days per week
- The minimum nutritional benefit is
800 kcal per daily individual ration
- At least 75% of beneficiaries have
improved their food consumption
(FCS and IDDS analysis)
Action Contre la Faim France / DFID Proposal / IVORY COAST / April 2011 – October 2011
Sources of Verification
Registration lists
Baseline Survey
Registration lists
Activities reports
Post-distribution monitoring
reports
Stocks reports
WFP delivery forms
Final Survey
- Screening / measurement
data collection sheets
- Screening reports
Assumptions and Risks
The vulnerable zones are
accessible
The security conditions do not
hinder the progress of the
activities
No major epidemic occurs
No natural disaster occurs
Intensity of rainy season is
normal
Estimation of population
correspond approximately to reel
data
WFP supplies are regularly
delivered
Distribution sites are put at ACF’s
disposal by the community
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R3. Appropriate child care
practices and psychosocial
resilience are strengthened
trough care practices session
and psychosocial support
Activities
- At least 50% of pregnant, lactating
women and their children in ACF
canteen will participate to care
practices session
- 350 of psychological distressed
mothers and children are identified
and receive a specific support (in
group and/or individual)
UNICEF kits are provided on time
ACF activity reports
Result 1 :
- Sensitization of local authorities and associations
- Creation of committees and MoU signature
- Recruitment of community workers
- Registration of eligible people
- Distribution of beneficiaries cards and sensitization
- Identification and equipment of distribution sites
- Delivery and storage of supplies
- Cooking and distribution of daily rations (784 000 total during 4 months program)
Post Distribution Monitoring
Result 2:
- Recruitment and training of Nutrition Surveillance staff
- Screening / anthropometric measurement sessions in canteens
- Referral of beneficiaries affected by MAM or SAM to adapted structures
Result 3:
- Recruitment and training of care practices staff
- Organization of child care practices sensitizations in ACF canteens
- Organization of activities for breastfeeding support, mother and children relationship, children
stimulation, etc.
- Identification of distressed mother and children trough psychosocial evaluation
- Organization of focus group discussion and individual support for distressed women and
children
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Pre-conditions
Security conditions remain stable.
Beneficiaries have access to
distribution sites.
No massive displacement occurs.
Action Contre la Faim France / DFID Proposal / IVORY COAST / April 2011 – October 2011
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C. Organisation Background
Action Contre la Faim - France (ACF-F) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization, established in Paris
in 1979. Its mission is to fight hunger throughout the world. In pursuit of this goal, ACF-F rapidly
established a solid reputation in the treatment of malnutrition as well as in its prevention through food
security, water & sanitation and care practices programmes.
Action Against Hunger (ACF) intervened in the Ivory Coast in the 90s to help Liberian populations fleeing
from the civil war and taking refuge there. The mission ended at the end of the 90s, however, ACF
returned in 2002, during the crisis that began in September 19th, 2002, which involved violent fighting in
the West of the country.
Initially, Action Against Hunger led projects involving food aid in Bouaké. Since May 2003, ACF has
concentrated its actions in the West central region in the nutrition and food security domains to respond
to the humanitarian needs generated by that 2002 crisis.
In May, 2005, ACF opened a new base in Korhogo with a rehabilitation intervention to improve drinking
water access in rural zones. In 2006, in urban zones, ACF started an access to drinking water project in the
cities of Korhogo and Odienné. Finally, further to an evaluation conducted in January/February 2006, ACF
decided to launch a small food and security program in the region of Savannes. These programs ended in
2008.
In 2008, a drinking water access and sanitation programme was launched in the vulnerable districts of San
Pedro, in association with the Ministry of Infrastructures and a local NGO. The first phase of this program
aiming at connecting 1000 houses to drinking water ended in June 2010.
Following a nutritional survey, ACF started a nutritional treatment program in November 2008 in Korhogo,
Tengrela and Odienné.
In light of the current humanitarian crisis, caused by the incumbent president’s refusal to accept the
December 2010 presidential election results, and the political dead end that followed, ACF launched a
rapid response strategy for emergencies, and this crisis has been recognized as an emergency priority. The
strategy involves pre-positioning our emergency pool (pool of emergency specialists) in Ivory Coast and in
facilitating partnerships with local and international actors in order to support a fast operational
deployment if necessary.
It is on 2 current zones of tension (Abidjan and the West region of Ivory Coast) where the risks of
population movements, due to violence, are most compelling. This operating strategy also allowed ACF to
start activities in early March, in nutrition and in WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) in the districts of
Zouan Hounien and Danane, and to continue to lead evaluations in the zone in these domains, as well as
on complementary domains, such as mental health and food security. The data collected in these last 2
domains will support us in developing a global rapid intervention strategy utilizing an integrated approach.
ACF also start up an emergency assistance to the populations affected by the post electoral violence the
5th of April in the Western region, to treat and prevent a degradation of the nutritional situation, and its
underlying causes, of the population affected by post electoral violence. This program includes the
improvement of food security situation to 2 500 families affected by the crisis by voucher’s distribution,
but doesn’t cover all needs. The present proposition will be complementary and permit to assist more
vulnerable people.
D. Project Description
D.1 SITUATION AND NEEDS
D.1.1 Overview of the humanitarian context
The volatile context of the post electoral crisis, since November 2010, with an increase of security
incidents, led to displacements of population. Officially, 100 000 Ivorian refugees were registered in
Liberia and more than 50 000 persons were displaced in the West, a region already fragile since 2002
regarding food security : an evaluation jointly conducted by WFP, FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture in
2009, underlined food insecurity rates higher than the national average. Unpredictable yields of
subsistence crops and low purchasing power usually make the hunger gap difficult. The current context, in
particular the embargo imposed on Ivory Coast exports, and the closure of banks, has affected the
economy of all households. We note a nationwide decrease in income, and a lack of liquidity, that is
severely affecting their purchasing power.
In parallel, the analysis of the nutritional status based on the SMART evaluation of 2010 displays an
increase in the prevalence rate of severe acute malnutrition (from 1,3% in 2009 to 2,6% in 2010) in the
West region and the nutritional situation prevailing in the North and the West of the country continues to
deteriorate with the recent intercommunity violence
After 4 months of degradation, the security and humanitarian situation turned in an emergency during the
28th March week, when Republican Forces launch an offensive in the South. It generated chaos in the
capital and a strong insecurity in the Center North West area. Duekoue massacre is a symbol of this
worrying situation of security, but the whole West area is strongly affected. Thousands of families have to
leave their homes and are currently seeking refuge in refugee sites or host families.
Today, the combination of these structural and current factors considerably increases the global level of
vulnerability in the area. Most of the displaced people lost their assets during their flight, and they are
today totally dependant either on humanitarian aid, or on host families’ generosity, whose food stocks
were thus considerably reduced to face the cumulative needs of both families. However, solidarity links
are very strong and crisis impacted all the community; so, the burden hangs over all the households.
To face these problems, affected households have widely adopted more or less severe coping
mechanisms, in particular with regards to food consumption. Indeed, the number of meals decreased;
most of the families (displaced and host) eat currently only once a day instead of the 3 usual meals. The
individual portions were reduced in favour of the children. Food diversity was also affected; some forms of
animal protein were abandoned since the budget for food was globally reduced. The early consumption of
manioc (harvested before maturity) highlights food difficulties at household level due to exhaustion of rice
stocks.
Considering the high prevalence rate of malnutrition before crisis and the overall impact of the
displacement, global food insecurity is significant. The coping mechanisms indicate a risk and may have an
important impact on the nutritional status of the population, at first, on the people most vulnerable to
malnutrition, such as young children and pregnant / lactating women throughout the hunger gap.
Moreover the analysis of the data provided by nutrition units running since few years in the area shows
that the hunger gap period (from May to September) coincide with admissions peak. Therefore, due to
global food insecurity an early deterioration of the nutrition situation is expected and should be
prevented.
Last, ACF evaluation on child care practices and mental health, done in February-March 2011 in West
Region (Man and Danané districts), showed that this emergency situation affected communities, families
and individuals in their way to function, in their daily practices and in their capacities to cope with the new
life conditions. In this kind of situation, psychological and social risks increase and it can have a strong
impact on the capacity to develop adaptive behaviours and find new strategies. The evaluation has shown
that, in a population that already has inadequate breastfeeding and infant feeding practices,
breastfeeding has become more problematic, among others due to trauma, stress and worry interfering
with the milk flow; as well as due to wide spread myths and misconceptions, lack of time of the mother,
insufficient support to them. Pregnant women (some of them have prematurely delivered for stress and
fatigue) showed difficulties on child attachment. Experiences such as traumatic events, displacement,
deteriorated housing conditions, uncertainty of the future, etc. impact on caregivers’ ability to perform
essential care practices, leaving children at a higher risk for malnutrition, morbidity and mortality.
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The crisis situation has led to major transformation in social organization, with major movements in
population, changes in family structure, discrimination and violence, psychological difficulties which have
had an impact at various levels, on individuals, family, and community. We anticipate that individuals,
families, communities affected by the emergency crisis will continue to struggle due to violence, and that
their nutritional and living conditions will continue to deteriorate unless viable support can be provided
until a political solution is achieved.
D.1.2 Rationale of the intervention
In light of the current humanitarian crisis characterized by:





High food insecurity coinciding with hunger gap (from May to September)
Regional high prevalence rates of malnutrition (peak from May to September)
Exhaustion of food stocks due to displacements
Decrease of incomes / food accessibility due to crisis
Risky coping strategies (stocks consumption, debt, reduced food consumption, reduced food
diversity)
 Greater vulnerability for children from 6 to 35 months and pregnant / lactating women
 Psychological difficulties due to violence, which have had an impact at various levels, on
individuals, family, and community
 High risk of difficulties in mental health of the population, impacting on child care practices,
and on positive coping mechanisms
ACF, to cope with this situation of high vulnerability, will settle a supplementary feeding program
implemented through canteens, to ensure:







Access to a daily cooked ration
Additional resources for households to face their food needs
Additional incomes for specific households (most vulnerable households)
Child care practices sessions
Psychosocial support for more affected women and children
Nutritional screening and surveillance
Monitoring of the food security and nutritional situation
The location of the program will be Danane and Mahapleu towns. Those towns have hosted a largest
number of displaced people during last weeks, increasing pressure on resources already limited by crisis,
and putting people in high vulnerability. To note that in the actual quickly changeable situation, this
project could potentially be reoriented to another’s towns if the volatile security context does not allow
intervening in Mahapleu and Danane or, if more urgent no-covered needs appear suddenly.
D.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION
D.2.3. Appropriate child care practices and psychosocial resilience are strengthened trough care
practices session and psychosocial support
 Activities
Recruitment and training of care practices staff
4 psychosocial workers and 1 deputy program manager will be recruited and trained by an expatriate
expert on psychosocial first aid, child care practices, with a particular focus to breastfeeding support. They
will be trained as well on psychosocial tools for project monitoring.
Organization of child care practices sensitizations in ACF canteens
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Sensitization on good child care practices, breastfeeding, nutrition, hygiene, care during pregnancy and
lactation, child needs and development will be organised in ACF canteens during the distribution for
pregnant and lactating women. These sessions aim to give them simple information on how to care for
themselves during pregnancy, and lactation and how to respond in a proper way to child needs.
Organization of activities for breastfeeding support, mother and children relationship, children
stimulation, etc.
In ACF canteen a space will be dedicated to activities with mother and children coming for the distribution.
During these activities they will have the opportunity to strengthen their relationship through play
sessions, baby massage, and child psychomotor stimulation (using UNICEF kits when available). Pregnant
women will have the opportunity to discuss and share their feelings about pregnancy and to prepare
themselves for the child birth. Lactating mothers will have a dedicated space for receiving support and
counselling for breastfeeding if they face difficulties.
Identification of distressed mother and children trough psychosocial evaluation
During care practices activities, women and their children will be observed and listened by the team.
Animators will do regular psychosocial evaluations in order to identify more vulnerable mothers and/or
child and to propose them a specific support.
Organization of focus group discussion and individual support for distressed women and children
Most vulnerable women and children will benefit from focus group discussions about their emotional
difficulties in order to let them the possibility to express themselves, to share with other women and find
together possible solutions. Trough these sessions they will strengthen their capacity to cope with the
situation and to be able to give appropriate nutritional and emotional care to their children. If needed,
women and children presenting strong signs of distress will receive an individual support.
D.3 PROJECT TIMEFRAME
M1
M2
M3
M4
M5
M6
Result 1
Sensitization of local authorities and associations
X
Creation of committees and MoU signature
X
Recruitment of community workers
X
Registration of eligible people
X
Identification and equipment of sites
X
Distribution of beneficiaries cards and sensitization
X
X
X
Delivery and storage of supplies
X
X
X
X
X
Cooking and distribution of daily rations
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Post Distribution Monitoring
Result 2
Recruitment and training of Nutrition Surveillance
staff
X
Action Contre la Faim France / DFID Proposal / IVORY COAST / April 2011 – October 2011
X
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Screening / anthropometric measurement sessions
in canteens
Beneficiaries affected by MAM or SAM will be
referred to adapted structures:
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Result 3
Recruitment and training of care practices staff
Organization of child care practices sensitizations in
ACF canteens
Organization of activities for breastfeeding support,
mother and children relationship, children
stimulation, etc.
Identification of distressed mother and children
Organization of focus group discussion and
individual support for distressed women and
children
x
D.4 NUMBER AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BENEFICIARIES
D.4.1 Direct beneficiaries
1. Beneficiaries
The project will target through its 3 components the same beneficiaries, i.e. the most vulnerable people
regards to malnutrition (children from 6 to 35 months and pregnant / lactating women) directly or
indirectly affected by the post electoral violence, in urban areas, Danane and Mahapleu towns.
 Local resident: 4 000 children from 6 to 35 months and 1 800 pregnant / lactating women
(estimation based on population statistics data)
 Displaced people: 1 200 children from 6 to 35 months and pregnant / lactating women
(estimation of 40% of displaced population according to local NGO registration)
According to ACF’s similar experiences implemented in other countries, the expected attendance rate is
50% for a canteens – based intervention.
D.4.2 Indirect beneficiaries
Community workers: 12 community workers by canteen selected among the most vulnerable households
of each area / renewed after 2 months
 144 x 2 = 288 households who will benefit from a regular income
Moreover, it can be considered that the whole household whom the child / PLW belongs to, will benefit
indirectly from the project. We consider an average household size of 5 members.
Thus we can consider a total number of indirect beneficiaries of 17 500 (3500 households approx, taking
into consideration that 2-3 direct beneficiaries can belong to a same household).
E. Management Arrangements
E.1 ORGANIZATION CAPACITY AND STAFFING
Result 3
Action Contre la Faim France / DFID Proposal / IVORY COAST / April 2011 – October 2011
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 Expatriate on training / launching activities : 1 Program Manager
 Staff to run the program : 1 deputy program manager
 Staff by area of intervention : 2 teams of 2 psychosocial workers (4 staff in total)
Please refer to the budget narrative for further details on the whole team (expatriate and national)
composition.
E.2 MONITORING EVALUATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY
 Specific indicators for the project
Result 3:
- At least 50% of pregnant, lactating women and their children in ACF canteen will participate to care
practices session
Women and children participating to sensitisation and group activities will be registered in daily basis by
psychosocial animators. The access to these activities will be for beneficiaries attending ACF canteen and
will be strong encouraged bay the staff.
- 350 of psychological distressed mothers and children relationship are identified and receive a specific
support (in group and/or individual)
During care practices sessions, women and children showing sings of distress will be evaluated trough a
psychosocial evaluation in order to propose them a particular follow up in groups or individual. We
forecasts to give this support to 350 mother/child relationships, i.e 700 individuals, because in such
context, we know that about 10 % of the population presents strong signs of distress.
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