LRAP: Lessons for the Region Scott Drimie

Introduction Deriving lessons from LRAP for the region: An example of “good practice” Engages vulnerability holistically - not “HIV exceptionalism” Influencing policy through practical interventions Embraces “new” concepts such as social protection Deriving lessons from LRAP for the region: An example of “good practice” Engages vulnerability holistically - not “HIV exceptionalism” Influencing policy through practical interventions Embraces “new” concepts such as social protection

Underlying Situation in Region Series of episodic shocks Floods Rainfall variation 2001|2002 harvest failure Maize growing area Area of extended drought

Factors generating vulnerability in SADC and Lesotho  Triggered by ‘climatic variability’ BUT driven by:  Soil degradation / environmental stress  Economic shocks (price of staples)  Reduced employment opportunities  Growing poverty  HIV/AIDS  Governance / policy failure  Land access  Essentially a complex of “entangled crises” - stress exposing the underlying vulnerability  Triggered by ‘climatic variability’ BUT driven by:  Soil degradation / environmental stress  Economic shocks (price of staples)  Reduced employment opportunities  Growing poverty  HIV/AIDS  Governance / policy failure  Land access  Essentially a complex of “entangled crises” - stress exposing the underlying vulnerability

Increasing vulnerability to food insecurity:  The prevailing situation demonstrates how risk is driven upwards by often silent but intensifying conditions of political, socio-economic and environmental vulnerability  In this context, a modest external threat, such as a rainfall failure, may trigger widespread suffering  As a developmental relief response to this situation, LRAP provides lessons that can be shared elsewhere  The prevailing situation demonstrates how risk is driven upwards by often silent but intensifying conditions of political, socio-economic and environmental vulnerability  In this context, a modest external threat, such as a rainfall failure, may trigger widespread suffering  As a developmental relief response to this situation, LRAP provides lessons that can be shared elsewhere

Building on research and analysis:  LRAP emerged on a solid research base and analysis of long-term trends and dynamics  Raises the importance of information and analysis for decision- making  Analysis around livelihoods and not just “food gaps” - assets & activities, differentiation, context  Embraces “multiple stressors”: employment, environment, HIV/AIDS, institutions  LRAP emerged on a solid research base and analysis of long-term trends and dynamics  Raises the importance of information and analysis for decision- making  Analysis around livelihoods and not just “food gaps” - assets & activities, differentiation, context  Embraces “multiple stressors”: employment, environment, HIV/AIDS, institutions

Mainstreaming HIV and AIDS:  Definition of mainstreaming emerged through “doing”: “mainstreaming is not a series of fixed activities, rather it is a process of changing attitudes and deepening understanding about complex issues…this requires continual learning and reflection”  Brought certain issues, perspectives and conceptual frameworks to the core of the organization’s commitment and behaviour - beyond token “add-ons”  Practical response around how interventions could help prevent infections, ensure care & support for those already infected and to lessen the impact of the epidemic  HIV/AIDS awareness, commitment & action mainstreamed into policies and practices of partners including government  Definition of mainstreaming emerged through “doing”: “mainstreaming is not a series of fixed activities, rather it is a process of changing attitudes and deepening understanding about complex issues…this requires continual learning and reflection”  Brought certain issues, perspectives and conceptual frameworks to the core of the organization’s commitment and behaviour - beyond token “add-ons”  Practical response around how interventions could help prevent infections, ensure care & support for those already infected and to lessen the impact of the epidemic  HIV/AIDS awareness, commitment & action mainstreamed into policies and practices of partners including government

Building on existing institutions  Clear links to existing institutions at community and government level  Building partnerships is core to the approach  Symbiotic relations to transfer experiences  Essential for scaling up  Shared goals = greater funding opportunities  Clear links to existing institutions at community and government level  Building partnerships is core to the approach  Symbiotic relations to transfer experiences  Essential for scaling up  Shared goals = greater funding opportunities

Towards Social Protection Social protection describes:  All public and private initiatives that provide income or consumption transfers to the poor,  protect the vulnerable against livelihood risks, and  enhance the social status and rights of the marginalised Has the objectives of reducing the economic and social vulnerability of poor, vulnerable and marginalised groups (Devereux & Sabates- Wheeler, 2004). Social protection describes:  All public and private initiatives that provide income or consumption transfers to the poor,  protect the vulnerable against livelihood risks, and  enhance the social status and rights of the marginalised Has the objectives of reducing the economic and social vulnerability of poor, vulnerable and marginalised groups (Devereux & Sabates- Wheeler, 2004).

LRAP as Social Protection Provides relief and helps avert deprivation  Addresses underlying causes of household vulnerability by providing a development response to a humanitarian challenge Enhances income and capabilities  Support mechanisms that can be provided by government and non-government agencies in the short and long term Addresses social equity  Supports and strengthens enabling policies  Enable vulnerable people to realise their rights to livelihood security. Provides relief and helps avert deprivation  Addresses underlying causes of household vulnerability by providing a development response to a humanitarian challenge Enhances income and capabilities  Support mechanisms that can be provided by government and non-government agencies in the short and long term Addresses social equity  Supports and strengthens enabling policies  Enable vulnerable people to realise their rights to livelihood security.

Framing expectations  LRAP is an example of a process of continual learning, synthesising, and acting:  not a single event  more than a series of events  a process that is long term, involving education, skills development, and new ways of thinking and working, so that staff and partners automatically seek to understand and address risks and vulnerabilities associated with HIV and AIDS and Food Insecurity  LRAP is an example of a process of continual learning, synthesising, and acting:  not a single event  more than a series of events  a process that is long term, involving education, skills development, and new ways of thinking and working, so that staff and partners automatically seek to understand and address risks and vulnerabilities associated with HIV and AIDS and Food Insecurity

Key lessons for the region:  Understanding complexity: food in broader context, enhancing resilience  Bi-directional relationship between AIDS and food security at the core  Mainstreaming embraced practically  More careful targeting, efforts to include marginalised  Widens vulnerability analysis: attention to health & nutrition  Pushing to work more with partners  Influencing external assistance - training partners on food security and HIV  Understanding complexity: food in broader context, enhancing resilience  Bi-directional relationship between AIDS and food security at the core  Mainstreaming embraced practically  More careful targeting, efforts to include marginalised  Widens vulnerability analysis: attention to health & nutrition  Pushing to work more with partners  Influencing external assistance - training partners on food security and HIV