Capitalization and HEA institutionalization strategy in the 5 countries (Nigeria, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Chad)

Capitalization and HEA institutionalization strategy in the 5 countries (Nigeria, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Chad)

Background

The Sahel is one of the poorest regions in the world, where in Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Niger, and Senegal almost 40% live on less than $1.90 a day. The region faces chronic food and nutrition insecurity, growing armed conflicts and forced displacement, whilst also being acutely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, natural hazards and epidemics.

Children, as well as the poorest and most marginalized communities, are particularly vulnerable to the incremental impacts of climate change. Sahel countries are facing temperature increases at an alarming rate, 1.5 times higher than the global average, exacerbating a pattern of historically low and decreasing rainfall and recurrent droughts. The increasing frequency and severity of recurring climate shocks in the region is placing unrelenting pressure on communities and their livelihoods to survive as crops and livestock fail to withstand the rapid and drastic change in conditions. Together with the deteriorating security situation, on-going armed conflicts, including intercommunal local conflicts that have continued to spread throughout large parts of the region, the poorest people in the Sahel are increasingly vulnerable. The latest figures from the Cadre Harmonisé (CH) for the period between June and August 2020 show that almost 20 million people will be in food and nutrition insecurity (Cadre Harmonisé analysis, March 2020). This is a 76% increase compared to the same period one year ago, in 2019.

Since 2010, Save the Children has been leading a regional, multi-agency effort, known as the Household Economic Analysis (HEA) Sahel project, originally funded by ECHO, and co-funded by OFDA since 2013. The project has been implemented in eight phases, which have gradually contributed to increasing institutionalization of HEA in the region. In particular, there has been a gradual increase in the capacity of carrying out HEA analyses, and in using HEA information in Early Warning (EW) systems at the region. In addition, the project informs the CH analysis by providing timely HEA results in all countries covered by the project where the CH analysis was undertaken (Burkina, Chad, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Mauritania, Senegal, and recently the Gulf of Guinea countries).

The third year of the HEA institutionalization strategy is a critical stage in the transfer of expertise from the SC-led consortium to integrate this within national Early Warning Systems (EWS) in five countries in the Sahel region. It is vital to build on success of the strategy to date, supporting the national EWS to be in a position to take forward the application of HEA at the end of this year in some countries, as well as the progressive inclusion of HEA in some national EWS budgets.

The institutionalization of the HEA framework in Sahel countries and the progressive disengagement of international NGOs, and greater civil society involvement, are critical steps to build a sustainable food and nutrition security system in Sahel countries.

Global objective of consultancy

In order to support the sustainability and effectiveness of HEA in the Sahel, first, it is very important that critical learnings are gathered from all key stakeholders, recommendations are shared and adopted by partners in the region and more widely. Moreover, HEA’s strategy country specific and sustainability action plans, are developed and adopted by national institutions in each country (Tchad, Niger, Nigeria, Mali and Mauritania).

Specific objectives

1. Produce a HEA capitalization study that documents best practices and lessons learnt on the HEA institutionalization process in the five countries and disseminate in countries and across the region to support future replication of success.

2. Develop and adopt national HEA strategies endorsed by national and regional EWS and build the roadmap for local ownership of HEA. The plans will document the vision of each EWS regarding HEA.

Scope of work

A. Since the start of HEA activities in the country what has worked? what are the best practices (key lesson learnt) that have been proven? Conversely, which aspects have worked less well and which so far are experiencing real difficulties.

B. What are the most significant advances and achievement thanks to the implementation of HEA activities? What is the benefit (Added value) of adopting the HEA approach in state Food security policy.

C. Today what strategy to sustain the HEA within Early Warning system? What vision at 5 years? What are the objectives of EWS for HEA tools? What are the needs in terms of analysis and the desirable evolutions to meet these needs? What are the challenges to take up?

D. Once having identified objectives, how to reach them? What are the necessary means to achieve these goals? The main technical/political/funding gaps and needs assessment, resources secured and outstanding needs for the next three years.

E. Finally a day workshop will present briefly the capitalization and will validate the national HEA strategy and the milestone to secure HEA

Capitalization process and strategy will have to be developed in the five countries with national EWS representatives and the HEA WGs and validated by government and CILSS (and Permanent Interstates Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel).

deliverables

content

Inception report**

This report will provide more detail on the consultancy methodology, the people and structures to be consulted, the different sections of the report, a re-planning of the study etc.

Preliminary report

The first draft of the study report will compile each expected items from the countries

Final report

The final report of the study will draw a regional trend over HEA Institutionalization