SOMALI NUTRITION CLUSTER

Minutes of National Nutrition Cluster Meeting 21st April 2021, Mogadishu

Agenda #1 Preliminary/introduction Welcome and introductions: The Nutrition Cluster Coordinator, welcomed and thanked the participants for attending/devoting their time to the monthly national cluster meeting. He also called UNICEF and WFP colleagues to give their opening remarks:

UNICEF: requested partners to share their quarter 2 supply needs requests so that distribution of supplies can be processed on time. UNICEF through zonal offices is mapping the near to expiry PDs in some locations to know how they can be supported. UNICEF is also in the process of advocating for funds to supports the gaps in the country.

WFP: There are gaps in the prevention Programme across the country. WFP received CERF funds, and this will cover gaps in the priority districts.

• Approval of the provisional agenda: participants approved the provisional agenda in consensus. No other additional agenda raised. Agenda #2 Revision of Action point from Previous meeting minutes Discussions Follow up action points Documents/links Previous National Nutrition Cluster and Sub-national Cluster action were - IOM to share list of reviewed and endorsed collectively: Nutrition sites closed - The IMAM guideline cascade training started March this year and in Jubaland and so far Jubaland and Somaliland conducted the trainings while Puntland. other states planned to conduct in the coming. Agenda #3 Update from regional coordination hubs Discussions Follow up action points Documents Challenges and achievement from sub-national nutrition cluster hubs - Warsame from were presented and discussed in length. Puntland to share - IOM closed some health and nutrition sites in Jubaland and modified Puntland due to funding constrains. The state level MOH simplified Covid-19 confirmed to continue supporting the sites voluntarily. SCI is also guidelines for nutrition planning to start integrated health, nutrition, and some wash programing or components in Kismaayo in early May 2021. This may cover some evidence from of the gaps in the Kismaayo. other countries - Herale and Hurshe villages in Galgaduud; SCI is securing funding to support the gap in this villages. SCI will ask additional supplies from UNICEF to cover this villages as UNICEF is ready to provide where necessary and amend the SCI PD. - Although the simplified protocol aimed at reducing the spread of Covid-19 is put in place and Cluster Strategic Advisory Group

SOMALI NUTRITION CLUSTER

discussed post implementation bottlenecks, still some areas (especially Puntland) are complaining of reduced admission caseload due to MUAC only admission criteria. The cluster advised that since there are no revisions to the global and local guidelines for nutrition services for implementing partners and the pandemic of COVID – 19 is still around and is posing a huge risk the partners are therefore advised to continue using the simplified guidelines to reduce spread of pandemic. Similarly, this was also discussed and agreed in last SAG meeting. Besides, WFP aims to resume the scope registration. - Although some facilities received SHF funding, there are still health and nutrition gaps in Puntland especially some facilities in Sool region of Puntland side. Generally, there are overall funding gaps in the country. Agenda #4 IM update (Update on reporting achievement, challenges) Discussions Follow up action points Documents Cluster IMO presented the nutrition cluster progress and achievements. - Cluster to publish Once the suggested indicators are captured in the dashboard, the Nutrition Cluster dashboard will be published in mid-February 2021 and can be accessed dashboard in the in the cluster website. cluster website for - When compared Jan-March 2021 admission with the same period partners to access

in 2020 and 2019 the admission figures were low comparatively. - WFP to share list of This may be attributed to number of sites that operational based MAM implementing on funding, reporting issues and Covid-19 guidelines simplified partners at district protocol. level for the cluster to - WFP has an active FLA in Bari region of Puntland and Qadhala follow up partners district was not included due to previous access issues. However, which are not WFP now has access and implementing relief Programme and reporting pushing for inclusion of nutrition Programme too. - UNICEF in coordination with WFP will looks ways to consider EAC programs areas where WFP cannot access due to security constrains. Agenda #5 MoH Update Discussions Follow up action points Documents MoH colleagues could not attend the meeting. However, the nutrition cluster updated the forum on behalf of MoH - MoH is planning to finalize costed nutrition strategy and an international consultant will be hired to complete this process. - The translation of IMAM protocol into Somali version has been finalized and ready for distribution to the facilities.

SOMALI NUTRITION CLUSTER

- Cluster also pledge to support IM unit of nutrition wing based on the available resources and capacities. In this regards a capacity Mapping will be done to identify areas of support needed or what kind of support may be required. In this regard, the cluster may approach partners for support regarding their technical capacity and areas of mandate. - Since the Covid-19 vaccination campaign is initiated by Gov’t, the cluster tabled the recommendation to vaccinate nutrition frontline workers who are providing nutrition lifesaving services to the community to be included in the plan. MoH confirmed to vaccinate all health workers including nutrition cluster staff hence the cluster is requesting state level partners and focal point to coordinate with respective state level ministries to ensure all staff receives the vaccination. Agenda 6 Cluster Coordinator Update

Funding; The nutrition cluster will - SHF: the nutrition cluster coordinator thanked OCHA secretariat continue to have and CRC members for tireless support in facilitating the process. discussion with agencies The nutrition cluster got 1 million for nutrition specific and a on strengthening the portion of 1 million IERT with the health cluster, this funding will coordination hubs at both cover major gaps in Gedo, Banadir, Lower Juba Sool and Togdheer region and state level. regions. It was awarded to the cluster NGO partners. The implementation will start early May 2021 latest. - CERF – it consisted of anticipatory action and rapid response component and based on the guidelines shared by OCHA both these were to be used for nutrition supplies and hence the proposal from WFP and UNICEF, as they are managing the supplies, were solicited. Sub-national Coordination Hubs - Following nutrition cluster’s presentation in mid-2020, the nutrition cluster intends to strengthen state/regional coordination architecture. The cluster had initiated discussion with WFP with their capacity of co-lead to support this initiative. WFP pledged to support Jubaland and Banadir level coordination hubs. TORs: the nutrition cluster has recently updated the TORs for both region and state level coordination. Closure Remarks

No other additional agenda items and the was adjourned.

SOMALI NUTRITION CLUSTER

Key Action points Responsible Timeline Status IOM to share list of Nutrition sites closed in Jubaland and Puntland. IOM/Abdiwali ASAP Done Warsame from Puntland to share modified simplified Covid-19 guidelines for MoHPL/Warsame Pending nutrition programing or evidence from other countries Cluster to publish Nutrition Cluster dashboard in the cluster website for partners Cluster IOM Next week Done to access WFP to share list of MAM implementing partners at district level for the cluster to WFP/Peris ASAP Open follow up partners which are not reporting The nutrition cluster will continue to have discussion with agencies on NCC ASAP Progressing strengthening the coordination hubs at both region and state level.