These insights in turn led to the realization that both cash transfers and nutrition treatment programs that focused on seasonal hunger needs were not enough to create resilience to periodic hunger cri- ses and that longer-term development interventions focused on building absorptive and adaptive coping strategies would be required. This learning continues to inform our programming and practice in Niger and beyond.
Learning from Wollo and Wolayta, Ethiopia In the Dessie Zuria woreda, or district, South Wollo Zone, Amhara Region, the stunting rate is 54 percent, higher than the national aver- age of 44 percent. The woreda is chronically food insecure, with approx- imately 40 percent of the population dependent on social safety nets. Between 2000 and 2010, annual surveys show the prevalence of glob- al acute malnutrition dropped only once to less than 10 percent. Rural livelihoods, especially of the extreme poor, are often vul-
nerable to risks and shocks. Climate variability, human and livestock diseases, pests, flooding and landslides present risks and limit liveli- hoods. In 2011, 86,359 rural households in Wolayta Zone, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region (SNNPR), faced critical food shortages for more than six months, and many depended on the government’s Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP). These vulnera- ble communities’ major coping mechanisms included PSNP, begging, eating unpalatable wild fruits, and daily labor. Concern has managed interventions across the relief-devel-
opment spectrum for many years in Ethiopia, ranging from emergen- cy response to health-system strengthening projects. Over time, Concern staff in Ethiopia have come to understand the need to cre- ate resilient communities through multisectoral interventions that align with the Ethiopian government’s strategies. This integrated approach has helped strengthen vulnerable communities’ adaptive capacity to manage both short-term shocks and stresses that lead to short-term food and nutrition insecurity and long-term trends and changes, such as environmental degradation that result in chronic hunger and malnutrition.
Many important lessons have emerged from our work in Ethiopia: > Use a multisectoral approach to maximize linkages between nutri-
tion and other sectors such as agriculture, health, gender, and water and sanitation.
> Use existing institutional coordination and administrative arrange- ments to help promote sustainability and a sense of ownership among all key stakeholders.
> Map resilience outcomes in real time to create evidence for new and better programming, and develop research and innovations that can be shared and used to influence policy change.
> Promote resilient livelihoods by addressing the environmental driv- ers of risk and using disaster risk reduction technologies and prac- tices for sustainable food production.
> Address gender issues that are critical to achieving resilience. Take into account women’s greater vulnerability to disasters (Neumeyer and Plümper 2007), as well as their different roles in fostering a cul- ture of disaster resilience.
> Put a contingency plan in place and define surge capacity to help respond to small-scale disasters or provide an initial response to large-scale disasters. Support local governments with early warning systems, and communicate during even small disasters to ensure that food security is not threatened by the cumulative effects of less- er shocks or stressors.
The above learning from the programs in South Wollo and Wolayta will help to ensure even better outcomes for the people and communities with whom Concern works in Ethiopia in partnership with the govern- ment and other stakeholders.
Toribio Hualla Quispee Colquepata District, Peru
“I remember that in 2010 we suffered a lot. First we had heavy rainfall and hailstorms. It rained almost every day, causing our potato crops to become infected with many diseases. In July and August we faced a tough frost season, which affected the wheat and barley and ultimately led to the loss of our crops. We had no food to eat, and you could see the sadness in peoples’ faces.”
“It is necessary for the young people to return to the wisdom and practices of our ancestors. We need to change our attitude, stop wasting water and burning the prairies, and recover and grow our native varieties because they better resist pests and diseases. Our authorities must be prepared to help us immediately when disasters happen.”
2013 Global Hunger Index | Chapter 04 | Building Community Resilience to Undernutrition 41
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66