NUTRITION CLUSTER

ADVOCACY

Objectives of the session:

1. Brief introduction to Advocacy and Humanitarian Advocacy

2. Presentation of the Nutrition Cluster Advocacy Strategic Framework

3. Discussions in working groups and plenary

4. Validation of the Advocacy Strategic Framework

1. WHAT IS ADVOCACY?

Advocacy is the strategic and tactical process of influencing decisions

Communication is a tool through which advocacy is manifested

Engagement is the partnership and collaboration required to make advocacy most effective

KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF ADVOCACY:

• It is about change (in policy, practice, attitudes and political enabling environment)

• Aims to achieve lasting and positive change in peoples’ lives

• It is strategic. It is planned. With clear goals and objectives

• It is a long term process rather than a one-off event

• It is not an end in itself

• It draws legitimacy and credibility from knowledge and experience (evidence-base)

KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMANITARIAN ADVOCACY

Generally carried out by humanitarian organisations with operations in-country

Organisations rely on the host government to operate in the countryThis complicates advocacy towards the host government

One-programme approach Strong linkages operations-advocacyLegitimacy for advocacy comes from operations in the field

Humanitarian principles tends to be the starting point for advocacy

Allied to thematic concerns on which there are established positions

Timing is essential In sudden-onset crisis messages tend to be ‘lowest common denominator’ and very broad for the first days and more detailed as more information becomes available Humanitarian advocacy is most effective when it is based on information gathered at the field level

“ Whilst engaging on discussions about the right balance between operations and advocacy work, it should be acknowledged that there never has to be a clear choice between ‘maintaining programmes’ and ‘speaking out’. It is hard to imagine a situation in which it is impossible to engage in advocacy – the question is more about how advocacy is best carried out [Source: Oxfam Humanitarian Advocacy Toolkit 2010]

The emphasis is on the right choice of advocacy approach and mitigation of risk

HUMANITARIAN ADVOCACY RISKS & MITIGATORSRISKS MITIGATORS

Security risks/restrictions to ability to operate

Consider private advocacy approaches over public statementsEmphasise negotiations (collaboration) rather than confrontation

Relationship risk/damage to long-standing relationships

Ensure advocacy is based on knowledge and expertise from the field

Reputational risks/damage to organisational reputation

Expectation risks/creation of unrealistic expectations

Most change comes incrementally. Manage expectations of rapid change to avoid disillusionment or anger

Other observations:

• Nutrition cluster composed by NGOs and UN Agencies – different mandates, mission and aims and relationships with governments (may not always hold the same line)

• Collaborative advocacy is felt to be ‘essential’ in emergencies

• Take advantage of the complentarity between organisational approaches – NGOs maybe more outspoken that UNICEF/sometimes it helps playing different roles

• UNICEF ‘double hat’ problem that arises from representing both an agency and a Cluster does not seem to matter for advocacy in the same way as it does when it comes to fundraising

• Established policy frameworks and messaging allows general thematic issues to be easily and quickly allied to specific messages about a particular crisis

UNICEF Humanitarian Advocacy Review: Organisational Comparison paper. 2011

2. NUTRITION CLUSTER

ADVOCACY STRATEGIC

FRAMEWORK

Participatory and inclusive process:

1. Advocacy Session during the GNC Working Group Meeting in March 2015 to identify key cluster priorities for advocacy

2. Online questionnaire developed based on output from Working Group Meeting to gather broad views from cluster coordinators and partners on identified priority areas for advocacy (51 response from all agencies actives in the cluster)

3. Advocacy Workshop in Geneva in July with GNC SAG, GNC-CT and global partners to work on the first draft of the Advocacy Framework base on responses to the questionnaire

4. Validation of the Advocacy Strategic Framework by the collective during the GNC Annual meeting

THE PROCESS

NUTRITION CLUSTER DEFINITION OF ADVOCACY

Humanitarian nutrition advocacy is a strategic and evidence-based process aiming to make lasting changes to policies, practices and behaviours that safeguard and improve the nutrition of individuals affected by emergencies

ADVOCACY STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK PURPOSE

• To provide a high level overall strategic direction and focus for nutrition cluster advocacy efforts

at all levels for the period 216-2019

• To serve as a global roadmap to support the development of common positions and messages to influence the global nutrition agenda

• To act as an umbrella for more context-specific advocacy at a national level aligned as much as possible with global goals and objectives for which key messages/positions would be progressively developed and which could also inform national work

• An overall framework to support operational advocacy at all levels to advance and support programmatic priorities

FORMAT AND CONTENT OF THE ADVOCACY STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK • Goal areas - Aligned with the GNC Strategic Plan

Broad statements of the change we want to see. Communicate a distinctive set of priorities to provide focus for national and global advocacy and to support linkages [thematic]

• Objectives and results- Specific statements that contribute to the achievement of a

“bigger”. [Current external context, opportunities ahead, GNC contribution to date]

• Indicators to support Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation

HOW WILL BE THE FRAMEWORK IMPLEMENTED?

• Priorities and activities defined as part of the GNC annual planning process

• Cross-team and cross-partner working and planning at both global and national levels

• Maximise the capacity of cluster partners to engage and support advocacy at both global and national level

• Creation of an Advocacy Taskforce –ideally formed by advocacy staff from partner organisations- to lead on advocacy

• Monitoring of progress

• Advocacy toolkit

GOALS RATIONALE

GOAL 1: Humanitarian response is well coordinated, aligned and integrated for an effective, timely and quality nutrition response to address the nutritional needs of emergency affected populations

Focus on policy change for an effective response for nutrition impact, ensuring response to the nutritional needs of all population groups in all emergency contexts.Focus on changes at operational/coordination level (including inter-cluster linkages) rather than at the humanitarian system level to ensure it falls within the Nutrition Cluster responsibilities. Seeks to enhance internal alignment within the Nutrition Cluster and with overall humanitarian actors.

GOAL 2. Sufficient resources are mobilised for an effective, timely and quality nutrition response to address the nutritional needs of emergency affected populations

Focus on resource mobilisation for nutrition in emergencies, with a specific focus on nutritional impact and resource mobilisation for identified underfunded areas such as contexts of protracted crisis and low GAM levels.Resource mobilisation refers to financial and human resources as well as supplies.

GOAL 3: Appropriate preparedness, response and recovery strategies are included as part of the global and national nutrition agendas to safeguard the nutritional needs of emergency affected populations

Focus on preparedness, response and recovery to link up nutrition in emergencies and development within the cluster mandate ensuring that the expertise, technical knowledge and role played by the Nutrition Cluster is captured

3. WORKING GROUPS

DISCUSSION

30 mins discussion6 groups – approx. 12 people per group

Groups 1&2 – discussion on Goal 1

Groups 3&4 – discussion on Goal 2

Groups 5&6 – discussion on Goal 3

5 mins feedback to plenary

Questions:

1.Does the goal, objectives and results respond to the challenges to nutrition impact in emergencies?

2.Is any major challenge not reflected? (If so, propose wording)

3.Additional comments on current external context, opportunities ahead, activities

4.Any other comments on this Goal or the Strategic Framework in general

GOAL 1 Coordination, integration and alignment for effective humanitarian nutrition response

OBJECTIVE RESULT

OBJECTIVE 1.1: Nutrition analysis are consistently included in the Humanitarian Country Team decision-making processes for appropriate cluster activation to respond to the nutritional needs of emergency affected populations rather in contexts with low GAM levels

Result 1: The Nutrition Cluster is appropriately activated in new nutrition emergencies as per the nutritional needs of emergency affected population

OBJECTIVE 1.2: Clearly articulated nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive approaches are systematically included in emergency responses of other relevant clusters (in particular WASH, Food Security and Health Clusters)

Result 1: Nutrition-sensitive objectives are included, implemented, monitored and evaluated in relevant cluster plans (WASH, Food Security and Health Clusters in particular)

Result 2: IYCF-E interventions are systematically included, implemented, monitored and evaluated in emergency responses of the Nutrition Cluster and other relevant clusters

GOAL 2 Resource mobilisation for nutrition in emergencies

OBJECTIVE RESULT

OBJECTIVE 2.1 Increased allocation of resources for nutrition in emergencies in underfunded areas

Result 1: Increased funding for neglected nutrition interventions (e.g. IYCF-E, micronutrients supplementation)

Result 2: Increased funding to address the nutritional needs of neglected population groups (e.g. the elderly, pregnant and lactating women,..)

OBJECTIVE 2.2 Increased allocation of resources for nutrition in emergency response in protracted and slow-onset crises

Result 1: Nutrition response has adequate resources in protracted and slow-onset crises

GOAL 3 Preparedness, response and recovery strategies included in the global and national nutrition agendas

OBJECTIVE RESULT

OBJECTIVE 3.1: Improved transition of emergency nutrition programmes to development from cluster coordination to sector coordination systems at sub-national, national, regional and global levels including improved government leadership

Result 1: Preparedness, response and transition for NiE is included in costed and adequately funded national nutrition plans and coordination mechanisms

OBJECTIVE 3.2 Strategic engagement with development actors to improve preparedness, response and transition in crisis prone and affected countries in the humanitarian-development continuum

Result 1: Countries within the SUN Movement mobilize support for NiE as an essential component of national and/or sector plans and actions to address malnutrition in crisis prone and affected countries

Result 2: The REACH Approach is spearheaded by neutral facilitators who work closely with the UN country team and government officials, including the SUN focal point, and other stakeholders to facilitate improved multi-sectoral nutrition governance in twelve countries.

Result 3.3: Resources for capacity building include Nutrition in Emergencies in pre- and in- service education and training curricula

Global Advocacy- Provides themes for advocacy and establishes positions (humanitarian system and nutrition thematic)- Supports country-specific advocacy at the international fora (ie: increases donors support for assistance/protection; ensures humanitarian access, support reform of international humanitarian system)

National Advocacy-Context-specific

-Aligned as possible with wider thematic frameworks for which key messages/positions exits

LINKAGES GLOBAL/NATIONAL ADVOCACY