Our Services
Food Security
Selected households received commodity vouchers that can be redeemed for a food basket equivalent to the full minimum expenditure basket (MEB) comprising the following per person, each month: Cereal 12kgs , Plant protein (beans) 2.4kg, Cooking oil 750ml, Animal protein (dried kapenta) 1kg, Brown sugar 1 kg, Iodised salt 0.25kg, based on the verified number of people per household, covering the four months of the peak lean season (December-March). The commodity basket is aligned with the national MEB, national and international standards for lean season assistance, and local preferences.
Nutrition Support
Integrated nutrition response in the action was in twofold: (1) Enhancing malnutrition treatment services: – the action will incorporate on the job refresher trainings and mentorship sessions to enhance the capacity of health facility staff to manage and treat malnutrition as part of the integrated management of malnutrition. (2) Nutrition education and messaging on meal planning, dietary diversity and optimal nutrition practices for infants and young children will be included alongside project distributions and during community level cooking demonstrations.
Protection
Protection– including prevention, risk mitigation, and response – activities were address the elevated protection risks, especially in relation to enhanced GBV risks associated with drought. The action engaged trained counsellors that provided psychosocial support and referrals to survivors and people at-risk during distributions and community mobilization activities. A toll-free line, staffed by trained and qualified counsellors for support and referrals was be available throughout the action. Key protection messaging and referral routes was integrated into all food and nutrition distribution and mobilization activities and reinforced through information, education, and communication materials in key public and community spaces and through community radio stations
Integrated response
An integrated nutrition and protection response was facilitated through detection of severe vulnerabilities and facilitation of household targeting. Collaboration with the Department of Social Development and the Ministry of Health and Child Care was facilitate identification of vulnerable groups, e.g. people with disabilities, older persons, child headed households and GBV survivors. Food security and nutrition indicators supported identification. Pre-identified households were triangulated against data from village health workers, health institutions, department of social services. The project invested heavily in strengthening robust multi-sectoral referral mechanisms, enabling smooth transitions between the food assistance, nutrition, and protection components