Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Session 5.1. Response Options Analysis

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Learning Objectives After this session, participants should be able to:  Identify the various response options open to WFP  List and explain the four steps key to conducting an analysis of and nutrition insecurity response options  Conduct a SWOT analysis of response options 2

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Where are we? 3 EFSA Process Adapt conceptual framework & objectives Prepare analysis plan: indicators, data, sources Collect, review secondary data Collect primary data Conduct situation analysis Conduct forecast analysis Analyse response options Make response recommendations Prepare report

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Link between assessments & programming Appropriateness Feasibility Situation analysis and Forecasting Response Option Analysis Project Design Operational Planning Needs Assessment Appropriateness Feasibility Situation analysis and Forecasting Response Option Analysis Project Design Operational Planning

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Key objectives of an EFSA  To know whether there is a need to intervene to save lives and/or livelihoods  To recommend interventions if required In addition, for WFP:  To know whether food aid, cash or vouchers have a role to play and their comparative advantage in addressing risks to lives and/or livelihoods  Evaluate their comparative advantages compared to other options

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme The underlying question… Has shock disrupted or threatened: food availability? household food access? livelihoods? nutritional status? AND: are the affected able to cope with their own means?

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme 7 Response analysis the process 1. Define needs for assistance to address current & forecasted risks to lives & livelihoods 2. Review intervention plans & capacities of government & other actors & identify gaps 3. Identify range of response options that fill gaps & prioritise them 4. Identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities & threats associated with each response option

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Step 1 8 Define needs for assistance to address current and forecasted risks to lives and livelihoods 1

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme 9 Groups identified to be at current risk: determined through the situation analysis process Groups identified to be at future risk: determined through forecasting process

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme To determine response options, identify for each group at risk: 1. The FS dimensions (food availability, access, consumption, utilization) that are contributing to risks to lives & livelihoods (also known as “entry points”), and 2. The types of intervention needed based on (a) whether the cause is immediate, underlying, or basic (as per the Framework) & (b) livelihood characteristics of those at risk Response analysis

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme  Food availability problem (crops, livestock, market supplies, communications)?  Entry points: agriculture, markets, infrastructures, food aid  Food access problem (income, wages, market prices and terms of trade)?  Entry points: income support (incl. cash/vouchers, food aid), markets functioning  Food utilization problem (dietary intake, disease, cooking)?  Entry points: food consumption (incl. cash, food aid), health, water, sanitation, cooking means, care practices Food Security Dimensions (or entry points) Main factors increasing risks to lives & livelihoods

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme For entry points identified and each group concerned, determine which livelihood assets, strategies and context: need to be strengthened or protected (vulnerabilities) can be supported/built upon (capacities) Human, social, financial, physical and natural assets Food and income sources Location, institutions, services, markets Types of intervention

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Priorities of people at risk

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Outcomes Immediate causes Underlying causes at HH/family level Basic causes at societal level At which level to intervene?

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Human assets as opportunity or constraint: Malawi 23 percent of severely food insecure are labour constrained

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Food access problem Example: Malawi

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme A: Response options: inadequate food access, livelihoods at risk Free (general or targeted) food distribution Food for work (FFW) Cash for work (CFW) Cash transfer programmes Food vouchers Market support Non-food support to livelihood activities

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme B: Response options: inadequate food access for certain individuals School feeding Food to other social service institutions Neighbourhood care programmes (NCP)

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme C: Response options: nutritional problems Targeted supplementary feeding take-home ration feeding on site Blanket supplementary feeding take-home ration on site feeding Therapeutic feeding programme (TFP) on-site Community-based therapeutic care (CTC) Micronutrient supplementation

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme 20 Entry points for interventions - example Severely wasted children under-5 years Food insecure households Vocational training Curative health care Care practices Credit Preventative health Care services Water sector

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Step 2 21 Review the intervention plans and capacities of government and other actors, and identify gaps 2

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Identify stakeholders Who are the typical stakeholders in food security response programmes? What is their capacity to intervene? 22

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Typical stakeholders in food security response  Government – national, regional and local  Non-state authorities (e.g. in situations of civil conflict)  UN agencies OCHA, FAO, UNICEF, UNHCR, WFP  ICRC, IFRC and National RCRC Societies  International NGOs  National NGOs  International Financial Institutions (World Bank, ADB,..)  Donors Financial, human & material resources as well as willingness to respond 23

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Compile table of ongoing interventions 24

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Compile table for specific groups at risk 25

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme 26 Step 3 Identify a range of response options and prioritise them 3

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme 27 Identify, prioritise recommendations – according to urgency of need: 1. First priority: current risks to lives 2. Second priority: current risks to livelihoods and near future risks to lives 3. Third priority: more remote future risks to lives and livelihoods.

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Relief and recovery priorities Example: Sri Lanka

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Additional EFSA outputs required: implementation modalities 1- Targeting  Criteria: general geographic, priority areas or regions  Criteria to select communities, households or individuals 2- Duration of the intervention: when to start, for how long 3- Partners, other inputs required such as seeds, tools etc.

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Exercise 5.1.a. Selection of Most Appropriate Interventions Review EFSA conclusions; choose 2 population groups at risk (i.e., food insecure) and respond to following: 1. Identify factors/causes determining risk (availability, access and utilization) 2. Determine sectors & types of interventions needed to address determining factors of food insecurity & risks 3. Identify interventions of other agencies or communities & possible problems & gaps 4. Select priority interventions, based on urgency of needs Use table to summarise results.

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme SWOT Analysis Ssssswhat analysis? 31 S trengths W eaknesses O pportunities T hreats

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Pertinence of response options:  Relevance: is it oriented towards causes?  ‘Do no harm’  Is it culturally and socially acceptable?  Does it risk stigmatising participants?  Is it coherent, does it build synergies with other interventions? Strengths and Weaknesses (1)

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Strengths and Weaknesses (2) 2) Feasibility of response options:  Timing  Targeting criteria  Resources available or that can be mobilized on time  Previous experience

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Opportunities and Threats Reflect external factors Opportunities Signature of peace agreement Improvement of transportation Policies to facilitate trade Harvest Threats Insecurity Policies that limit trade Infrastructure not repaired Decreased interest from donors

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Formulation of recommendations for interventions Interventions: type, target group, amount, duration Targeting criteria:  Pertinence/need for targeting  Criteria: zone/area, livelihoods… Monitoring: indicators, sources, frequency Re-assessment: when, focus/coverage

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Example of SWOT analysis Food distribution Example of SWOT analysis for a targeted food distribution StrengthsWeaknessesOpportunitiesThreats -Directly address the food consumption problem -Help decrease market food prices -Partially compensate for loss of income (economic transfer) -May be difficult to target the 30% of population of interest - Logistic difficulties can delay distributions - Can distort supply of food on market - Food can be bought locally from producers who were not affected - Distribution can be done together with nutritional, education and other programmes, thus also helping to tackle malnutrition - Very weak government capacity - Transportation difficult due to destroyed bridges and roads - Floods can cause epidemics and reduce nutritional benefits from food consumed

Advanced EFSA Learning Programme Exercise 5.1.b Response Options SWOT Analysis Analysis of response options from Exercise 5.1.a.