Tor Yemen Nutrition Cluster Revi
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Yemen Nutrition Cluster كتله التغذية اليمن https://www.humanitarianresponse.info https://www.humanitarianresponse.info /en/operations/yemen/nutrition /en/operations/yemen/nutrition XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX YEMEN NUTRITION CLUSTER TERMS OF REFERENCE Updated 23 April 2018 1. Background Information: The ‘Cluster Approach1’ was adopted by the interagency standing committee as a key strategy to establish coordination and cooperation among humanitarian actors to achieve more coherent and effective humanitarian response. At the country level, the aim is to establish clear leadership and accountability for international response in each sector and to provide a framework for effective partnership and to facilitat strong linkages among international organization, national authorities, national civil society and other stakeholders. The cluster is meant to strengthen rather than to replace the existing coordination structure. In September 2005, IASC Principals agreed to designate global Cluster Lead Agencies (CLA) in critical programme and operational areas. UNICEF was designated as the Global Nutrition Cluster Lead Agency (CLA). The nutrition cluster approach was adopted and initiated in Yemen in August 2009, immediately after the break-out of the sixth war between government forces and the Houthis in Sa’ada governorate in northern Yemen. Since then Yemen has continued to face complex emergencies that are largely conflict-generated and in part aggravated by civil unrest and political instability. These complex emergencies have come on the top of an already fragile situation with widespread poverty, food insecurity and underdeveloped infrastructure. Since mid-March 2015, conflict has spread to 20 of Yemen’s 22 governorates, prompting a large-scale protection crisis and aggravating an already dire humanitarian crisis brought on by years of poverty, poor governance and ongoing instability. This escalation of the conflict has affected the provision of the nutrition services, and increase the children vulnerability to malnutrition due to the deteriorated access to the safe water supply, food and basic health services, which is further complicated by the increased cost of living. The Nutrition cluster is currently well established at national level, with five sub national clusters at the zonal level in Hodeidah, Ibb, Aden, Saada and Sanaa, holding regular scheduled meetings and calling extraordinary meetings when necessary. The nutrition cluster is co-led by UNICEF and MOPHP. The nutrition cluster is guided by the UNICEF’s conceptual framework for analysing and addressing the causes of malnutrition through a multi-sectoral approach hence enhanced collaborations with key sectors/clusters such as Health, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Food security and Agriculture. 1 The cluster approach aims to strengthen humanitarian response by demanding high standards of predictability, accountability and partnership in all sectors or areas of activity. It is about achieving more strategic responses and better prioritization of available resources by clarifying the division of labour among organizations, better defining the roles and responsibilities of humanitarian organizations within the sectors, and providing the Humanitarian Coordinator with both a first point of call and a provider of last resort in all the key sectors or areas of activity. Yemen Nutrition Cluster كتله التغذية اليمن https://www.humanitarianresponse.info https://www.humanitarianresponse.info /en/operations/yemen/nutrition /en/operations/yemen/nutrition XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX The Nutrition Cluster is a member of the Inter Cluster Coordination Mechanism, which is headed by OCHA at central and zonal levels and continuously contributes to updating the humanitarian situation and response in Yemen. 2. Vision, Purpose and Objectives: The vision of the nutrition cluster is to safeguard and improve the nutrition status of emergency affected populations by ensuring an appropriate response that is predictable, timely, and effective and at scale. The primary purpose of the nutrition cluster is to support and strengthen a coordinated multi-sectoral approach in nutrition strategic planning, situation analysis and response both in emergencies and non- emergency situations. This necessitates developing and enhancing coordination structures, appropriate nutrition guidelines /policies and strategies that meet acceptable minimum standards within different and ever-evolving contexts in Yemen. The objectives of the nutrition cluster (referenced to in the 2018 YHRP) include: • Reduce the prevalence of acute malnutrition through systematic identification, referral and treatment of acutely malnourished boys, girls under five and PLWs • Strengthen humanitarian life-saving preventive nutrition services for vulnerable population groups focusing on appropriate IYCF practices in emergency, micro-nutrient, BSFP interventions and optimal maternal nutrition • Strengthen capacity of national authorities and partners to ensure effective decentralised nutrition response • Ensure a predictable, timely and effective nutrition response through strengthening robust evidence based system and nutrition needs analysis and advocacy, monitoring and coordination 3. Mandate: The nutrition cluster in Yemen is committed for and has the following mandates to ensure quality coordination mechanism in Yemen: a) Ensure an effective and timely response to nutritional emergencies in the country through systematic coordination, operational planning, preparedness, response and monitoring b) Follow the globally accepted humanitarian principles that include the following principles: • Humanity: upholding the principle that all girls, boys, women and men of every age shall be treated humanely in all circumstances by saving lives and alleviating suffering, while ensuring respect for the individual. • Impartiality: ensuring that assistance is delivered to all those who are suffering, based only on their needs and rights, equally and without any form of discrimination. • Neutrality: a commitment not to take sides in hostilities and to refrain from engaging in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature. Yemen Nutrition Cluster كتله التغذية اليمن https://www.humanitarianresponse.info https://www.humanitarianresponse.info /en/operations/yemen/nutrition /en/operations/yemen/nutrition XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX • Operational independence: Humanitarian action must be autonomous from the political, economic, military or other objectives that any actor may hold with regard to areas where humanitarian action is being implemented. c) Facilitate national and local partners to expand and strengthen cluster approach at national and zonal levels d) Mainstream gender and social inclusion including children and young people participation in disaster management cycle 4. Cluster Core Functions: The six core functions of the Nutrition Cluster are: 1. To support service delivery by: • Providing a platform that ensures service delivery is driven by the Humanitarian Response Plan and strategic priorities. • Developing mechanisms to eliminate duplication of service delivery. 2. To inform the HC/HCT’s strategic decision-making by: • Preparing needs assessments and analysis of gaps (across and within clusters, using information management tools as needed) to inform the setting of priorities. • Identifying and finding solutions for (emerging) gaps, obstacles, duplication and cross-cutting issues. • Formulating priorities on the basis of analysis. 3. To plan and implement cluster strategies by: • Developing sectoral plans, objectives and indicators that directly support realization of the overall response’s strategic objectives. • Applying and adhering to common standards and guidelines. • Clarifying funding requirements, helping to set priorities, and agreeing cluster contributions to the HC’s overall humanitarian funding proposals. 4. To monitor and evaluate performance by: • Monitoring and reporting on activities and needs. • Measuring progress against the cluster strategy and agreed results. • Recommending corrective action where necessary. 5. To build national capacity in preparedness and contingency planning 6. To support robust advocacy by: Yemen Nutrition Cluster كتله التغذية اليمن https://www.humanitarianresponse.info https://www.humanitarianresponse.info /en/operations/yemen/nutrition /en/operations/yemen/nutrition XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX • Identifying concerns, and contributing key information and messages to HC and HCT messaging and action. • Undertaking advocacy on behalf of the cluster, cluster members, and affected people. Accountability to Affected Population 5. Nutrition Cluster Structure The Cluster is co-led by UNICEF and MoPHP and operational at national and hub (Hodeidah, Ibb, Aden, Saada and Sanaa) level. The following working groups, task forces and committees are established under the nutrition cluster to support its operations and are governed by relevant ToRs: • Strategic Advisory Group, chaired by the NCC • CMAM Working Group, co-chaired by UNCIEF and MOPHP • IYCF Working Group, co-chaired by SCI/UNICEF and MOPHP • Assessment Working Group, co-chaired by ACF and MOPHP • Accountability to Affected population TF (temporarily), chaired by SCI Yemen Nutrition Cluster كتله التغذية اليمن https://www.humanitarianresponse.info https://www.humanitarianresponse.info /en/operations/yemen/nutrition /en/operations/yemen/nutrition XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX • SMART Technical Committee (under the MoPHP/MoPIC, however as SMART assessments are the responsibility