1. Interagency Contingency Planning and Emergency Preparedness: Challenges and Lessons Learnt V. Harutyunyan M.D. Head of Health / Merlin Global Nutrition Cluster Annual Meeting Geneva, 9 – 11 July 2013

2. Contingency Planning and Emergency Preparedness: definitions Contingency planning is a management tool used to analyse the impact of potential crises and ensure that adequate and appropriate arrangements are made in advance to respond in a timely, effective and appropriate way to the needs of the affected population(s). (IASC) Emergency preparedness consists of all activities taken in anticipation of a crisis to expedite effective emergency response. This includes contingency planning, but is not limited to it. (HPN paper No59)

3. Relevance of the Issue EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database

4. Relevance of the Issue Commonly accompanied by food scarcity (Sphere 2011) Disaster Data: A Balanced Perspective. Cred Crunch issue 31. March 2013

5. Relevance of the Issue Uppsala Conflict Data Program

6. Nutrition in disaster prone and conflict affected countries GAM is above 10% in 54% of conflict affected and 25% of disaster prone countries GAM >10%Stunting >40% Haiti, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Chad, Eritrea, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Yemen, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Benin, Burundi, Central African Republic, DR Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, India, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Yemen Childinfo.org, UNICEF Uppsala Conflict Data Program EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database

7. Overview of Nutrition Cluster Contingency Planning Status (process) 23 humanitarian nutrition coordination groups, including 21 NC-s currently active: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, CAR, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, DRC, Ethiopia, Guinea, Indonesia, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Pacific Region, Pakistan, Philippines, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Yemen Sources of data: UNICEF, OCHA, individual NC web sites, Google search Criteria: documented CP, indicative elements of CP, timelines of developing CP

8. Overview of Nutrition Cluster Contingency Planning Status (results)

9. Challenges Resistance to conduct Contingency Planning Increasing number of actors, diversity of approaches and formats Complexity of inter-cluster contingency planning Uneven technical and operational capacities of cluster partners Rapid staff turnover, loss of institutional memory Ambiguity of roles and responsibilities Weak involvement of government Limited CP guidance, capacity to facilitate CP Underfunding

10. Recommendations / Lessons Learnt Advocate with the HCT, Donors, cluster partners and governments in support of CP/EP Give greater attention to the process of CP Provide leadership to the CP process and encourage others to do the same Integrate CP within response planning cycle

11. Make CP a participatory, multiagency exercise to: Secure partners’ buy-in and support Mobilize technical and operational capacity of the cluster Build Capacities Enhance quality of humanitarian response Increase NCC legitimacy and teamwork within the NC

12. Recommendations / Lessons Learnt Advocate with the HCT, Donors, cluster partners and governments in support of CP/EP Give greater attention to the process of CP Provide leadership to the CP process and encourage others to do the same Integrate CP within response planning cycle Make CP a participatory, multiagency exercise Agree level of detail in advance, keep it simple Ensure clear allocation of roles with regard to the CP Regularly test and update CP

13. Discussion What challenges have you faced with enhancing preparedness of nutrition cluster / sector to respond to new emergencies? How you have addressed them? What GNC can do to facilitate / improve country level Nutrition Clusters contingency planning?