1. S Sudan: Overcoming challenges to information management (IM) GNC Annual meeting 13-15 October 2015

2. Overview S Sudan context and NC governance Challenges to IM (2013) How IM challenges were addressed – Nutrition Information Working Group – Nutrition Information System (NIS) – Integrated Phase Classification system (IPC) – Food Security and Nutrition Monitoring system Learning Remaining challenges

3. Context Dec 2013: intense fighting, L3 declared Over 1.64 million displaced (2015) Nutrition situation:

4. NC governance Full time NC staff (5) – NCC (UNICEF), co-lead (ACF), Deputy NCC (WFP) – NC IMO (UNICEF) – M and E specialist (OCHA) SAG 3 Working groups (WG): CMAM, IYCF, Nutrition Information State level coordination focal points (UNICEF)

5. Partners and nutrition capacity UNICEF Nutrition/IM team – Nutrition specialist, IMO, 2 IM assistants 67 NGO partners in the cluster, most with technical nutrition capacity in Juba who contribute to the NC

6. Challenges to Nutrition Information 2013 Limited role of the Nutrition Information Working Group (NIWG) and variable engagement of members Assessments not always representative of county Distinction between pre/post harvest assmts? Lack of robust survey validation modalities Limited technical capacity in assessments Separate reporting mechanisms (UNICEF/WFP) Lack of timely reporting of programme data

7. To address challenges… Strengthened role and capacity of NIWG Revised survey validation process Developed new Nutrition Information System Harmonized reporting tools (WFP/NC) Integrated nutrition in IPC Improved Food Security Monitoring System

8. NIWG SMART and coverage survey trainings Mandate strengthened to include – Review and validation of SMART surveys – Technical support on surveys – Repository of nutrition information – Discussion forum on nutrition information issues – Lead the nutrition component of IPC – Develop annual survey plans and priority areas – Advise on survey timings

9. Survey validation process New process- engagement of CDC and Global SMART team – Partners share survey proposals- reviewed by NIWG – Preliminary reports and data sets – reviewed by NIWG and CDC, comments on validity- 1-2 week process – Findings communicated to NC every 2 wks – All partners on-board Now, CDC engagement limited to contentious survey results

10. New NIS Improved programme data system – UNICEF, WFP, NC harmonised reporting – Monthly stats reported in meetings, identifying who has not reported – New on-line reporting function Reports now received from 85% of sites in 65 of the 79 counties NIWG provides on-going support to partners

11. Integrated nutrition into IPC Addition of weight and height to IPC Level of acute malnutrition agreed collectively based on several information sources

12. Improved FSNMS Joint collaboration (UNICEF, FAO, and WFP)- 3 assessments/year 2014 included anthropometric indicators Still working out quality issues but improving

13. Learning Sustainably improving Nutrition Information Systems takes time, staff and funding Strong team work between NC and UNICEF Nutrition team supports collaboration/coordination Large number of technical staff within UNICEF and partners allows NC to focus on cluster functions

14. Learning Separation of line management and office space between the NC and UNICEF Nutrition Section allows for element of independence Honest, open discussion among partners has allowed for identification of effective solutions Collective review and discussion of survey results fosters transparency and credibility

15. Remaining challenges Lack of understanding and capacity in information management in government (national and state level) Limited capacity in coverage surveys High turn-over of partner staff – WG implications Sustainability of support to NIS Funding to maintain the IMOs especially if SSD will be downgraded to L2 Insecurity limits coordination and assessments in conflict affected states Restructuring and decentralization of states boundaries Data cleaning- over cleaning Limited internet in places hinders reporting and communication Limited engagement and collaboration with long term development actors with respect to information preparedness and planning

16. Moving forward…. Strengthen the government capacity on information management cycle Integrate nutrition information systems with HMIS and transfer programme data to MoH Roll out of the NIS to all states and counties Introduce systems for enhancing reliability and quality of data. Strengthen utilization and sharing of nutrition information at all levels Linking emergency nutrition information with long terms information programming