Global Emergency Nutrition Program - Action Against Hunger 2021-2023

January 2021 approximately 235 million people worldwide will need humanitarian assistance and protection due in part to ongoing conflicts natural disasters and recent disease outbreaks. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has exacerbated the needs globally and placed further strain on an already stretched humanitarian system. In response to the unprecedented level of humanitarian needs GAC’s humanitarian assistance provides predictable multi-year multi-country support to longstanding partners to deliver quality programming in protracted humanitarian contexts globally. With GAC’s support Action Against Hunger (ACF) provides lifesaving assistance to address the urgent needs of up to 2 000 000 crisis-affected people in multiple countries across the globe for three years. This project focuses on improving the nutritional status of vulnerable populations through delivering emergency nutrition and complementary health and water sanitation and hygiene services. Project activities include: (1) providing treatment of severe acute malnutrition for girls and boys under the age of five and women of reproductive age; (2) providing gender-sensitive health support for women girls and boys such as access to baby and child-friendly spaces and gender-based violence referral pathways; (3) providing gender-sensitive water sanitation and hygiene services at the community level and in health facilities; (4) providing sexual reproductive health and rights services and support for the decision-making role of women; and (5) providing mental health gender-based violence-related support for women girls men and boys.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) an estimated 220 000 acutely malnourished women girls men and boys received malnutrition prevention and treatment services; (2) 50 000 crisis-affected people have access to safe drinking water; (3) 260 000 women girls men and boys participated in gender-sensitive sanitation and hygiene promotion sessions; (4) provided sexual reproductive rights and maternal services to 75 000 adolescent girls and women; and (5) an estimated 75 000 community members and local leaders attended sessions promoting gender equality and greater decision-making role for women within households. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.