Global Cluster Meeting Nairobi, Kenya 23 March 2011 The Nutrition Cluster in Zimbabwe Operating in a Transitional Environment

Background – Basic Indicators Population: ~13 Million HDI rank: 169/169 Life expectancy at birth: 47 HIV prevalence (15-49): 13.7% Under-five Mortality: 96/1000 Maternal Mortality: 790/100,000 Stunting: 34% GAM: 2.4%

Background – Basic Indicators

Background – The Crisis Late 1990’s: Unprecedented decline in the economy, infrastructure, food security, and delivery of basic social services Early 2009: The situation peaks Inflation in the trillions Unemployment > 80% Cholera outbreak affected 100,000 people Half the population required food assistance Civil servants salaries reduced to nothing - flight

Background – The Causes Recurring Drought HIV/AIDS Controversial Land Reform Politically motivated violence Dispute over 2008 election results Sanctions (ZANU Position) Persons Parastatals Government Significant Implications for funding flows

Background – The “Transition” Late 2008: Power sharing agreement Early 2009: Government of National Unity Late 2009 to Present Currency stabilized - dollarization Food assistance requirements drop – improved harvest Basic social service infrastructure improving –health retention scheme Outbreaks, but not at levels experienced in 2008 and 2009 Joint Early Recovery Opportunities Assessment (JROA) Project Donor interest is shifting from humanitarian to development funding streams (ECHO – EU) Emergence of “sector” coordination mechanisms alongside clusters (WASH, Health) Evolution of “transitional” funding mechanisms such as the Education Transition Fund and Health Transition Fund

Background – The “Transition ?”

The Nutrition Situation Chronic Malnutrition: 34% Global Acute Malnutrition: 2.4% Exclusive Breastfeeding: 6% Minimal Acceptable Diet: 8% Meal Frequency: 28% Dietary Diversity: 31% Adequate FCS: 67% Prevalence of Diarrhea: 13% Cough: 15% Fever: 14% Significant Differences: Sex, Residence, Socio-economics

The Crisis and Nutrition Defying Standard Emergency Metrics Identified as top priority in the 2011 CAP - perceived as medium to long-term need

The Nutrition Cluster in Zimbabwe Responding to Needs Objective: Support the government in the coordination of efforts to achieve optimal nutritional status for all Zimbabweans Result 1: Improved situational analysis and planning; Result 2: Improved information sharing and accountability; Result 3: Improved technical capacity; Result 4: Increased visibility and resources for programming; and, Result 5: More effective emergency response Dual mandate by design – near, medium, and long term programming Co-chaired by the Head of the National Nutrition Department

From Cluster to Sector Coordination Nutrition Cluster uniquely positioned: dual mandate + co- leadership by government = evolution to sector coordination Cluster coordinator’s role is evolving into a TA role – Build coordination capacity within established government entities Priority 1: Food and Nutrition Council (cross-sector coord) Priority 2: National Nutrition Department (intra-sector coord)

Priority 1: Cross-Sector Coordination FAO, WFP, UNICEF Collaboration Commits all stakeholders to the UNICEF Conceptual Model for Causes of Malnutrition as an Organizing principle Provides a platform for development of a national food and nutrition policy – currently under development Provides an institutional framework for multi-sector analysis and coordination moving forward

Priority 1: Cross-sector Coordination Institutional Framework Food and Nutrition Council ZimVac NutritionSocial Protection AgricultureWASHHealth Task Force Cabinet (Finance, Etc.) MoA MoLSS Etc.

Priority 1: Cross-sector Coordination Institutional Framework Food and Nutrition Council FNSAU SAG ZimVac NutritionSocial Protection AgricultureWASHHealth Task Force Cabinet (Finance, Etc.) UN Heads Donors NGO Government MoA MoLSS Etc. Food and Nutrition Policy and Strategic Framework Direct Nutrition Interventions Technical Advisors (2)

Priority 2: Intra-sector Coordination National Nutrition Unit Minister of Health Champions Cabinet Food and Nutrition Taskforce Donors Permanent Secretary Principal Director (Preventive) IMCI NND RHHIV/TB Principal Director (Curative) Etc. Principal Director (Policy and M&E) Provincial Medical Directors

Priority 2: Intra-sector Coordination National Nutrition Unit Minister of Health Champions Cabinet Food and Nutrition Taskforce Donors Permanent Secretary Principal Director (Preventive) IMCI NND RHHIV/TB Principal Director (Curative) Etc. Principal Director (Policy and M&E) Provincial Medical Directors National Nutrition Strategy and Accountability Framework

Key Achievements – 2009 to Present

Key Challenges Donor interest and funding (ECHO) Evolving funding modalities (pooled funds) Lack of consensus regarding status of the emergency Humanitarian space vs. Government leadership UNICEF Segregation of duties (coordinator is taking on traditional UNICEF leadership roles) Conflicting priorities No dedicated budget No support personnel

Final Thoughts Different clusters may be responding to very different emergencies – E.g. WASH, Protection, Nutrition Clusters must evolve to accommodate the context – beware of over-standardization Standard emergency metrics may impede our ability to respond to actual needs and raise monies in protracted contexts Fit the CAP to the situation, rather than fit the situation to the CAP