Regional Hunger & Vulnerability Programme Design Phase Regional Workshop Welcome! Monday 26th September 2005

Regional Workshop Agenda 09:00 Coffee & Registration Part I – Programme Overview (Chair: EN) 09:30 Welcome & Introductions (CN) 09:45 Background (TK) 10:00 Programme Context, Content & Process (JR) 10:30 Definitions (SD) 10:40 Tea/Coffee Part II – Conceptual Framework (Chair: AM) 11:00 Evidence (FE) 11:20 Capacities (GS) 11:40 Policy Change (PW) 12:00 Plenary Discussion 12:45 Lunch Part III – The Way Forward (Chair: NM) 14:00 Priorities for the Way Forward (Groups) 15:00 Report Back (Groups) 15:30 Wrap Up (TK) 15:45 Close

Workshop objectives  To inform: How RHVP will add value to efforts to reduce hunger and vulnerability in southern Africa?  To listen: RHVP is a demand driven process What national and regional partners would like to see prioritised in terms of RHVP activities

Regional Hunger & Vulnerability Programme Programme Context, Content & Process John Rook

RHVP context  Growing caseload of chronically vulnerable to hunger.  Continued reliance on short term responses ... And limited menu of short term response options – primarily food aid  Concerns regarding the reliability of current vulnerability assessments to guide appropriate responses  Concerns regarding the need for vulnerability assessment systems to capture the complex nature of vulnerability to guide appropriate responses

RHVP – The big picture  Goal Reduce hunger & vulnerability in southern Africa  Purpose Improve national and regional policies & systems for addressing hunger & vulnerability in the SADC region

How will we achieve this? 3 content areas  Improving knowledge Generate, synthesise, interpret & disseminate evidence for better policy response  Improving human & technical capacity Enhance human & technical capacities to provide and interpret information on vulnerability for better policy response  Promoting policy uptake Enhance policy-makers’ capacity to main stream hunger and vulnerability issues in national policy frameworks

How will we achieve this? Approach  A demand driven resource ... But on merit not an entitlement  Provide a regional perspective  Support countries’ own initiatives  Develop tools and evidence to support improved assessment, analysis & policy-making  Building capacities to support improved assessment, analysis & policy-making

How will we achieve this- Output 1 (Knowledge) - Activities  Create resource centres at national level (focal point office)  Compile a register of institutions and individuals  Produce a national synthesis report of the current state of knowledge: Critically review existing knowledge on the state and causes of hunger and vulnerability Complete an inventory of relevant policies and programmes (including social protection) Set out best practice arising from review Summarise key documents for policy makers

How will we achieve this- Output 1 (Knowledge) - Activities  Lesson-learning from VAC assessments: Retrospectively evaluate accuracy of VAC predictions Review uptake of VAC assessments in terms of policy and response  Hold national workshops to review synthesis papers and to identify knowledge gaps and priorities for action (mid-2006)  Hold a regional workshop to identify cross-cutting issues for thematic investigative studies (mid-2006)

How will we achieve this- Output 1 (Knowledge) - Activities  Commission regional comparative research programmes, including: an examination of the cost-effectiveness of policy choices  Commission national-level research activities, including: testing the accuracy of predictive models (Zambia)  Ongoing knowledge-related activities: Undertake studies in response to needs and issues arising Produce summaries of key documents for policy makers Monitoring relevant policy processes Liaise with organisations involved in research and advisory activities Feed information and lessons to contact-group meetings  Develop a menu of policies and instruments to address hunger and vulnerability, with associated costs and benefits

How will we achieve this- Output 2 (Capacity) - Activities  Select and support suitable regional centre(s) of excellence to provide ongoing capacity for research and training  Commission a methodological toolkit and related VAA and other curricula to support training related to hunger and vulnerability  Provide technical support to SADC RVAC, NVACs and other institutions as appropriate for improved and harmonised methodologies to analyse hunger and vulnerability

How will we achieve this- Output 2 (Capacity) - Activities  Provide support to inter-country learning by practitioners through exchange visits, skills exchange, sharing experiences  Develop regionally appropriate methodologies and systems for implementing policies to address hunger and vulnerability, as prove relevant during the programme  Adapt methodologies to national contexts  Undertake training of practitioners in the methodologies and systems  Take up opportunities which arise for contributing to relevant methodologies and systems

How will we achieve this- Output 3 (Policy Change) - Activities  Establish credible NFP presence in each country  Build commitment and ownership: Hold national workshops with different stakeholder groups to identify understanding of hunger and vulnerability issues and alternatives Establish national advisory groups comprising relevant influential policy-makers and practitioners Initiate policy forum to influence dialogue on hunger and vulnerability within NEPAD-CAADP Consultative Group lobbying on hunger and vulnerability  Hold regular regional workshops of national advisory groups to identify and develop ideas for good practice in addressing hunger and vulnerability

How will we achieve this- Output 3 (Policy Change) - Activities  Support a regional hunger and vulnerability network for lesson learning, promoting policy uptake of products from Outputs 1 and 2: Establish an interactive web portal providing both information and a discussion forum on hunger and vulnerability Produce a newsletter and policy briefings on hunger and vulnerability Explore opportunities for using mass media (radio, video, press) to disseminate information, engage in advocacy, and give a voice to the hungry and vulnerable Develop other channels for targeted dissemination (documents, leaflets, CDs etc) of information to decision-makers Organise regional learning opportunities, including policy workshops, retreats and study tours  Take up opportunities which arise for contributing to policies

How will we achieve this- Resources  Funding from DFID and other donors  Core Team – Programme Manager & Task Managers  National Focal Points  Consortium Support  Regional Programme Advisory Committee & National Advisory Committees

How RHVP will add value – the regional dimension  Technical Consistent and comparable methodologies Establishing key common indicators Cross border information systems Developing regional “engine” to generate needed human and technical capacity  Lessons Comparative studies to identify best practices (intra/extra regional) Retrospective evaluation of the accuracy of VAA predictions Preparation of generic handbooks/implementation manuals  Advocacy Preparing generic policy guidelines Bringing lessons to the attention of policy makers Externalities of national policy choices

How RHVP will add value – the national dimension  Technical: Building capacities in existing institutions Supporting the institutionalisation of existing systems  Lessons: Synthesising existing policies and instruments Commissioning national evidence based research  Advocacy: Promoting the inclusion of hunger and vulnerability issues in national policy frameworks Promoting the provision of predictable resources to meet the needs of the predictably vulnerable

What RHVP is and isn’t Isn’t about  Imposing a blueprint OR  Dictating national or regional level priorities Is about  A demand driven resource  Providing evidence & identifying lessons on best practice  Building national & regional capacities

What RHVP is and isn’t Isn’t about  Abandoning food aid OR  Wholesale replace- ment of food aid with cash transfers Is about  Predictable resources for predictable needs  On-budget funding  Placing food aid within a social protection context  Looking at longer term options

What RHVP is and isn’t Isn’t about  Replicating or replacing existing institutions OR  Replicating or replacing existing tools and methods Is about  Working with existing institutions  Promoting evolution of tried and tested tools  Enabling VAA to better serve evolving user needs in reducing hunger & vulnerability

What do we hope to leave behind– regional level  Stronger regional coordination & cooperation on hunger and vulnerability responses: A stronger regional capacity to generate skills, methodologies and research to support hunger & vulnerability assessment & responses A stronger regional capacity to manage information & evidence on hunger & vulnerability

 Increased Government responsibility and accountability for reducing hunger & vulnerability: Better VAA systems – relevant, accurate, reliable and sustainable Hunger & vulnerability issues incorporated in national policy framework Adequate on budget resources provided to meet needs of the predictably vulnerable Broader range of short and long term instruments to respond to chronic vulnerability What do we hope to leave behind- national level

Regional Hunger & Vulnerability Programme

Regional Hunger & Vulnerability Programme Definitions & Concepts Stephen Devereux

Definitions  Hunger is defined as inadequate food intake.  Vulnerability has two dimensions: exposure and resilience. People who are vulnerable to hunger are more exposed and more susceptible to shocks, trends and life-cycle stages.  Food security is “access by all people at all times to adequate and appropriate food for a healthy and active life”.

Social protection describes all initiatives that: 1)provide income (cash) or consumption (food) transfers to the poor; 2)protect the vulnerable against livelihood risks; 3) enhance the social status and rights of the excluded and marginalised.

Concepts “Hunger and vulnerability” is preferred to “food security” because:  “food security” directs too much attention towards food production and Ministries of Agriculture;  “vulnerability” allows the incorporation of risk into hunger analysis;  vulnerability assessment and analysis (VAA) allows more differentiated policy responses to shocks, trends, and life-cycle stages.

Protection Prevention Promotion Springboards Safety nets Responding to Hunger & Vulnerability

Regional Hunger & Vulnerability Programme For more information:

Regional Hunger & Vulnerability Programme Framework & Evidence Frank Ellis

RHVP POLICY CHANGE ENHANCED CAPACITIES EVIDENCE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK knowledge and its application VAA and broader approaches adoption broader policy options and mainstreaming them in PRSPs

omaking the best use of existing studies and investigations  synthesizing existing work to inform capacity building or policy debate oidentifying and bridging national knowledge gaps  i.e. gaps that are likely to vary from one country to another oidentifying cross-cutting themes that are worth pursuing across all countries  e.g. where lessons learned in one or more countries can be usefully applied in the remaining countries Evidence 1 THREE MAIN KNOWLEDGE DIMENSIONS

Evidence-related activities will: obe centred on national focal points oinvolve national and international partners orespond to national gaps and priorities oevaluate the accuracy of predictive approaches opursue 3-4 cross-country themes of broad regional applicability Evidence 2

Regional Hunger & Vulnerability Programme For more information:

Regional Hunger & Vulnerability Programme Strengthening and Broadening VAA for Policy Gary Sawdon

RHVP POLICY CHANGE ENHANCED CAPACITIES EVIDENCE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK knowledge and its application VAA and broader approaches adoption broader policy options and mainstreaming them in PRSPs

Southern Africa Context: Information Use and VAA  Over the past few years, significant progress has been made in improving VAA, (e.g. concepts, improved methods, livelihood approaches, access, etc)  However, stakeholders recognise that improved VAA has not had the desired impact in relation to: (1) policy formulation, (2) social protection & (3) the identification of appropriate responses & interventions  VAA information remains largely confined to guiding the ‘emergency’ with food aid responses

2004/05- consultations, reviews, investigations...  In order to address these perceived constraints, several separate & collaborative research initiatives have been undertaken: DFID’s RHVP Scoping Study SADC-RVAC 3 Step Consultation Process UN’s Humanitarian Strategic Framework for Southern Africa SADC RVAC Methodological Review SADC VAC 5 Year Programme to Strengthen VAA UNICEF’s Study of Social Safety Nets & Cash Transfer Programmes (East & Southern Africa) Final design and implementation of the Regional Hunger and Vulnerability Programme (RHVP)

Common Conclusions & Findings  Resulting from these investigations, three common themes have been identified in relation to strengthening VAA: Building linkages with national policies and improving programme interventions, Improving technical and analytical capacities, Strengthening institutional frameworks.

Future Directions  The overall purpose of RHVP is to... ‘improve national & regional policies and systems for addressing hunger and vulnerability in the SADC Region’ in order to achieve this, technical capacity of VAA systems must be strengthened and institutional frameworks established across the region.

Future Directions Resource Allocation for Enhanced VAA Areas of Concentration  ‘Monitoring the Food Security and Livelihood Crisis’ – strengthening VAA systems, with increased use of harmonised methods, monitoring tools and national data sets  ‘Deeper layer of analysis’ – detailed VAA’s relating to chronic and transitory food insecurity: (focusing at the sub-national level or specific sectoral studies)  Initiatives for evidence based policy formulation (e.g. high level advocacy programmes, based on the use of VAA information and/or exploration of social protection options.  Innovation in the use of VAA information to support programming options and policy formulation (e.g. in-depth analysis of cash vs. food options for the protection of rural livelihoods in chronically vulnerable areas

Future Directions: Broadening evidence-based analysis for policy formulation and programme interventions Areas of Concentration:  Strengthen VAA technical & analytical capacities which lead to a broader range of policies and programmes to address hunger and vulnerability in the SADC Region.  Support VAC mandates and appropriate workplans, including the provision of technical support and funding within agreed common parameters  Work through SADC RVAC and other national and regional bodies to establish institutional frameworks for the NVACS, including dedicated secretariats, embedded in existing government structures  Support regional learning opportunities to ensure VAA outputs links to improved and enhance national policy uptake

Future Directions: Improving technical and analytical capacities  By utilising livelihood based approaches to VAA, RHVP will assist to strengthen the capacities of National VAA initiatives to regularly monitor populations at risk to food insecurity.  With an aim of supporting evidence based analysis for national policy formulation, RHVP will provide support for specialised VAA’s relating to chronic and transitory food insecurity A strong emphasis on the development of economical & sustainable systems, with increased use of improved monitoring tools & national data sets A special emphasis placed at the sub-national level or ‘geographical hotspots’, where a more informed analysis on chronic and transitory food insecurity is required. The aim being to improve the targeting of both emergency and development type responses, with a particular emphasis on identifying ‘predictable vulnerable populations’ with appropriate interventions. With a deeper layer of analysis, a main aim is to improve long-term policy formulation that addresses the underlying causes of food insecurity & chronic vulnerability

Future Directions: Institutional Frameworks  In order to legitimise and ensure VAA information is used to inform policy & guide social protection programmes, the institutionalisation of the NVACs within National Government Structures is essential.  RHVP will act as a catalyst for on-going efforts to institutionalise the NVACs, sharing positive experiences and encouraging dialogue between SADC member states How to achieve this? RHVP proposes: Support to NVACs Facilitation and advocacy support from the SADC RVAC, including consensus building on the importance of institutional frameworks for the NVAC’s. Peer Advocacy through the SADC Council of Ministers Exchange visits of senior policy makers and politicians Successful Criteria: RHVP proposes: Dedicated NVAC Secretariats Formal recognition by national government Inclusion in national budgets Public service staffing commitment Evidence of the use of VAA for programming and/or policy formulation Mandated to provide VAA information to relevant stakeholders in household food security, poverty reduction, etc,

Regional Hunger & Vulnerability Programme For more information:

Regional Hunger & Vulnerability Programme Policy Change for Hunger & Vulnerability Philip White

RHVP POLICY CHANGE ENHANCED CAPACITIES EVIDENCE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK knowledge and its application VAA and broader approaches adopting broader policy options and mainstreaming them in PRSPs

From broader VAA to broader policy response  With broader and better VAA a broader range of response options can be considered  This means policies and programmes can be more appropriately matched to context  Predictable (chronic) hunger and vulnerability can be tackled using predictable (on-budget) resources  Tried and tested programming options (e.g. safety nets) can be scaled up to address hunger  New policy instruments can be introduced, based on experiences in other countries  Policies on short and longer term hunger and vulnerability can be designed in advance - and included in NDPs and 2nd-round PRSPs.

Diversifying responses to hunger and vulnerability  Food aid – a vital role in food emergencies where markets constrained  But more appropriate in other contexts can be cash…. conditional/unconditional cash transfers for poorest, cash for work, ‘cash for assets’, pension schemes etc.  …or other policy instruments Insurance and diversification mechanisms Targeted subsidies Care programmes for special needs groups Promoting regional grain trade Microfinance schemes Tackling social marginalisation and protecting rights ….etc. etc….  … instruments can cover different sectors and time frames  … and promote resilience and social change as well as protect

How will RHVP support policy change?  Assess national stakeholders’ understanding of hunger & vulnerability  National advisory groups (NAGs): influential policymakers and practitioners  NEPAD-CAADP policy forum  Regional hunger & vulnerability network: Interactive web portal Newsletter, policy briefings Mass media – including a voice for hungry & vulnerable people Targeting decision-makers directly Lobbying Consultative Groups Regional learning opportunities (policy workshops, study tours, regional NAG meetings etc.)  Opportunities to feed into national policy processes

RHVP POLICY CHANGE ENHANCED CAPACITIES EVIDENCE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK knowledge and its application VAA and broader approaches adopting broader policy options and mainstreaming them in PRSPs

Regional Hunger & Vulnerability Programme For more information:

Regional Hunger & Vulnerability Programme GROUP TASK

Task objectives   By the end of the session we will have: Discussed RHVP and its intended activities; and Suggested areas of both content and process where RHVP can add value at both the national and regional levels

Task Identify and suggest areas (of both process and content) where RHVP can add value at both national and regional levels Presentation should include a maximum five practical steps to ensure success.

Process 4 groups, 15 people in each, names on the door outside, 3 breakaway rooms, start at 14:00 immediately after lunch Report back in plenary a maximum of 2 flip chart pages