Yemen Nutrition Cluster كتله التغذية اليمن https://www.humanitarianresponse.info https://www.humanitarianresponse.info /en/operations/yemen/nutrition /en/operations/yemen/nutrition
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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
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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
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• 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
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• 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
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• SMART Technical Committee (under the MoPHP/MoPIC, however as SMART assessments are the responsibility of the NC, it is also included in the NC structure) • Humanitarian Pooled Fund Technical Committee, chaired by the NCC
The WGs and TFs are established and dissolved by the Cluster partners based on needs. They are accountable to the Cluster partners.
6. Cluster membership The nutrition cluster membership is based on operational relevance of nutrition stakeholders and will include, but is not limited to key humanitarian partners in Nutrition, especially those with expertise and capacity in Nutrition in emergencies and response. Close coordination and collaboration with MOPHP is expected.
UNICEF is the cluster lead while MOPHP is co-lead of the nutrition cluster. Technical staff from these agencies and related clusters such as WASH, Health, Food Security and Agriculture, Protection Clusters are strongly encouraged to attend the meetings.
Cluster membership is categorized into three main types namely cluster partners cluster members, and observers.
Cluster Partners are organizations currently providing or supporting nutrition services in the affected areas. They can be UN agencies, NGOs and relevant technical Ministries • They are expected to participate in the Sub Working Groups, to have a role in defining the strategic and operational direction of the cluster. • They will be eligible to participate in cluster related fundraising efforts, such as the YHRP, Technical Review Committee, etc. • Cluster partnership is granted to organizations rather than individuals. • Each partner organization is responsible to nominate one focal person and one substitute to ensure consistency in representation and facilitate communication within the cluster. • Each partner is entitled to a single vote on cluster related matters. Partners can be elected to belong to working groups within the cluster.
As of 23 April 2018, NC has 35 partners: ACF, ADO, ADRA, BFD, CSSW, FMF, HAD, IMC, INTERSOS, IOM, IRC, IRY, MC, MDM, MMF, MoPHP, PU-AMI, QRCS, RDP, RNHAR, RI, SAJAYA, SAWT, SCI, SHS, SOUL, TAYBA, TFY, UNCHR, UNICEF, VHI, WFP, WHO, YDN, YFCA.
Members: • Organization who doesn’t implement any nutrition activities, but are interested in sharing information, organization who are planning to implement or starting Nutrition activities. If organization starts implementation of the nutrition activities and starts reporting to the cluster, its status will be changed to a cluster partner.
Observers:
Yemen Nutrition Cluster كتله التغذية اليمن https://www.humanitarianresponse.info https://www.humanitarianresponse.info /en/operations/yemen/nutrition /en/operations/yemen/nutrition
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• Organization that doesn’t want to be affiliated with the cluster regarding their own mandate, but does want to share information. Observers (MSF and ICRC) are encouraged to attend regular cluster related meetings. • Main donors and other important stakeholders in Nutrition, (i.e. ECHO, DFID, USAID, OFDA and JAPAN)
Participating organizations are expected to be proactive partners in assessing needs, developing strategies and plans for overall concerted nutrition response, implementing agreed priority actions, and adhering to core commitments and standards. Nutrition cluster members will share tasks and are delegated responsibilities to support specific functions, actions or tools, and may act as ‘member focal points’ in this regard.
7. Contact list of cluster coordination teams at national and sub-national level, as well as contact list of national level focal points for all members, partners and observers is available from the following link: https://goo.gl/D7l3N3
8. Frequency of cluster meetings: 9. Meetings of partners and members at national level every three months Operational meetings of partners at national level: bi-weekly Sub-national Cluster meetings: monthly Ad-hoc meetings as needed
10. Expected outputs from nutrition cluster
• Streamlined decision making with respect to emergency nutrition assessment and response • Strengthened programme linkages, information sharing and coordination • Joint action plan prepared, implemented and resources mobilized • Nutrition preparedness and response in the field are well coordinated • Standard guidelines, protocols, procedures in place and are used by all partners • Needs assessment, gaps and priority actions identified and recommendations for addressing these needs are presented • Nutrition trends/data base updated bi-annually as well as mapping of partners - who does what and where • Cluster management structure is in place: CT, Sub-national clusters/TWGs (if needed), SAG, TWGs, Task forces (if needed), including clear ToRs • Cluster, SAG, TWG meetings are organised: agenda, minutes, action points prepared and shared • Roles, responsibilities and commitment of partners identified • Contingency plan at national and zonal levels prepared • Operational and technical capacities at national and zonal levels built • Nutrition emergency stocks are in place at national and zonal levels as per contingency plan
11. Accountabilities of the partners
Yemen Nutrition Cluster كتله التغذية اليمن https://www.humanitarianresponse.info https://www.humanitarianresponse.info /en/operations/yemen/nutrition /en/operations/yemen/nutrition
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To support the Cluster Coordinator in achieving cluster objectives, specifically by: a. Supporting emergency preparedness, response, early recovery and developments activities; b. Working in partnership to prevent and reduce malnutrition and related mortalities and morbidities; c. Sharing monthly reporting in timely manner; d. Mobilizing resources and filling gaps according to cluster recommendations; e. Participating actively in meetings, tasks force, working groups to appropriate sectorial coordination; f. Ensuring evidence-based, accountable, predictable, timely and effective emergency and long term actions; g. Identifying essential advocacy concerns, including resource requirements, and contributing to key messages for broader advocacy initiatives of the cluster; h. Advocating to donors on behalf of cluster collective; i. Supporting training of national and international cluster member staff, and promoting transfer of skills to national cluster members. j. Employing standardized cluster tools.