2014 Report on the seasonal nutrition prevention programme in the Sahel February 2015 Table of Contents Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..3 Overview of Blanket Supplementary Feeding activities in 2014 Timeline of BSFP activities in the Sahel region in 2014……………….……………………………………………..4 Geographic targeting criteria utilized for BSFP activities…………………………….……………………………..4 Beneficiary selection criteria…………………………………………….……………………….……………………………..4 Global results……………………………………….…………………………………………………………………………………..5 Performance Analysis……………………..………………………………………………………………………………………..6 Overview of Blanket Supplementary Feeding activities by Country in 2014 Burkina Faso…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………… 8 Chad…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………..10 Mali…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….………..12 Mauritania……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………..14 Niger ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……..16 Senegal……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……..18 The Gambia……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……..20 Conclusion..……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..22 INTRODUCTION The Sahel region spans several sub-Saharan countries and stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea. Extending through West and Central Africa, the Sahel includes Burkina Faso, Chad, the Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal. In general, the climate in the Sahel alternates between a short wet summer season and a very long dry winter season which ends when the rains begin. The dry season is very intense in the Sahel because many communities do not receive any rainfall during several consecutive months. These two seasons strongly influence agricultural production and the livelihoods those in the Sahel and, in turn, directly impact food and nutrition security at the household level. The nutritional status of children under five in the Sahel is characterized by a high prevalence of wasting with a peak in the prevalence of acute malnutrition observed during the agricultural lean season. At this time of year the peak in acute malnutrition is caused by different factors, such as reduced food consumption and increased incidence of childhood diseases. The populations most vulnerable to undernutrition during this time of the year are pregnant and lactating women (PLW) and children under the age of five, specifically those aged 6 to 23 months (because of the increased care and quality food required for their growth needs). The chronically high incidence of acute malnutrition among young children in the Sahel corresponds in the long term to levels of stunting and child mortality rates that are among the highest in the world. To prevent this rise in acute malnutrition among children under two years of age and pregnant and lactating women, WFP implements blanket supplementary feeding programmes in the most vulnerable countries and regions to target the most vulnerable populations. These prevention activities include the distribution of foods rich in protein and micronutrients paired with the promotion of good infant and young child feeding practices. These seasonal blanket supplementary feeding programme activities align with Strategic Objectives 1 and 2 of the WFP 2014-2017 Strategic Plan, and target more than one million women and children across seven countries in the Sahel this year. This report presents an overview of BSFP activity achievements in each country in 2014, with regard to figures initially planned and challenges encountered in the process. 3 Overview of Blanket Supplementary Feeding Activities in 2014 Timeline of BSFP activities in the Sahel region in 2014: Blanket Supplementary Feeding activities have been ongoing in most Sahelian countries since May or June. In northern Mali, programmes targeting children aged 6-59 months and pregnant and lactating women commenced in January. In Senegal, BSFP activities continued until December due to the delay in the commencement of operations in some locations. Table 1: Calendar of BSFP activities implemented in 2014 BSFP Implementation Period Country JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC Burkina Faso Chad Mali Mauritania Niger Senegal Gambia Geographic targeting criteria utilized for BSFP activities Geographic targeting is primarily based on the prevalence of acute malnutrition among children under 5 years of age, although other underlying factors (i.e. food insecurity, poverty, access to care, etc.) are also considered. Although there are specific factors to consider for each country, targeting criteria is generally based on: The prevalence of global acute malnutrition (GAM): greater than 15% (emergency threshold), or greater than 10% with aggravating factors (according to data collected from SMART surveys) The consideration of additional relevant factors like food insecurity, livelihoods, income levels, health conditions, the incidence of disease, etc. (according EFSA surveys, HEA, and analyses of the Harmonized Framework for the Analysis and Identification of Areas at Risk and Vulnerable Groups in the Sahel). Beneficiary selection criteria Beneficiary selection criteria may vary greatly depending on the context and the problems specific to a targeted region. Overall, though, the following populations are targeted by BSFP activities: Children aged 6 to 23 months Pregnant and lactating women 4 Beneficiaries planned and registered Planned caseload figures are based on assessments of needs, according to criteria described above. The numbers presented in this report are those identified in project documents. Each distribution is preceded by a census of all children in the targeted age group that live in areas covered by BSFP activities. This is represented in the “registered” columns below. Most countries use this as an opportunity to perform a screening of beneficiaries in order to determine their nutritional status, based on MUAC readings. Individuals that are determined to be malnourished are referred to health centers for treatment and (depending on the country) are enrolled in prevention programmes. Global results Overall, the coverage of BSF activities in the Sahel was negatively impacted by the level of resources available for programme implementation. In most countries, initial plans were not realized due to pipeline breaks in the specialized nutritious foods recommended for children under two for the prevention of acute malnutrition (Plumpy’Doz and Super Cereal Plus). Several strategies have been adopted by various countries in order to deal with this problem. These include: - Changes in rations: this was the case in Niger, Mali, Chad and Senegal. - Reducing the number of beneficiaries: in five of the seven countries presented in this report, the lack of resources has forced a reduction in the number of beneficiaries reached. Reductions in numbers have been greater than 60% of planned figures in Niger, Chad and Senegal. In Mali, after a steady expansion of coverage in the first half of the year, the lack of resources and the simultaneous deteriorating security situation in the north of Tombouctou led to a drastic reduction of the coverage of the programme. - The suspension of activities: in Burkina Faso, Mauritania and the Gambia, prevention activities were suspended, while in Chad, pregnant and lactating women were not reached. Table 2: Number of children aged 6-23 months assisted vs. planned, January-December 2014 Children aged 6-23 months – January to December 2014 Country Number of Number of beneficiaries beneficiaries January February March April May June July August September October November December planned registered Burkina Faso 65,000 65,015 4,524 6,335 Activities suspended Chad 200,000 89,654 53,660 61,255 79,757 25,156 Mali 100,000 109,879 27,480 41,820 75,550 108,172 74,106 65,818 58,893 44,156 94,242 80,292 Mauritania 70,095 34,451 30,063 34,330 34,451 5,337 Niger 126,000 42,577 37,260 37,088 36,082 37,664 Senegal 82,000 31,211 31,132 34,441 33,330 30,284 44,275 51,436 51,436 Gambia 22,500 - 14,969 20,967 20,906 Activities suspended TOTAL 665,595 - 41,820 75,550 108,172 78,630 148,110 240,645 239,379 230,180 247,284 149,723 51,436 51,436 5 Table 3: Number of pregnant and lactating women assisted vs. planned, January-October 2014 Pregnant and Lactating Women : January-October 2014 Country Number of Number of beneficiaries beneficiaries January February March April May June July August September October planned registered Chad 60,000 Activities suspended Mali 50,000 75,404 8,943 21,707 38,262 51,464 48,967 49,978 33,972 28,721 44,625 58,340 Niger 145,000 76,166 25,384 27,061 26,344 27,283 Senegal 50,000 Information not available TOTAL 352,565 8,943 21,707 38,262 51,464 48,967 75,362 61,033 55,065 71,908 58,340 Performance analysis The results show that for most countries, initial planning figures were greater than the actual number of beneficiaries assisted. Beneficiary registration The registration of beneficiaries takes place at each distribution for some countries, and for other countries only once at the commencement of activities. Ideally, registration should take place before each distribution in order to better track cohorts, thus allowing programmes to reach children attaining 6 months of age and those children exiting MAM treatment programmes. Pipeline management Various difficulties were experienced over the past year in managing the pipeline of specialized nutritious foods for prevention programmes. This was especially the case in Burkina Faso,