Food Security Crisis - Gender-Responsive Nutrition – CARE Canada 2022 -2023

March 2022 – Prior to the onset of coronavirus (COVID-19) global humanitarian needs including those related to food security and nutrition had already reached unprecedented levels. The pandemic has exacerbated the situation by disrupting food production supply and distribution; destabilizing food prices; and reducing country and consumer purchasing power exacerbating undernutrition in low- and middle-income countries including in South Sudan Sudan Somalia the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Yemen. With GAC’s support CARE Canada aims respond to acute malnutrition needs in five countries through the community-based management of acute malnutrition approach (including through community outreach and mobilization; management and treatment of severe and moderate acute malnutrition; and targeted supplementary feeding programs). In addition the project will provide more equitable access to critical basic health and water sanitation and hygiene services in communities targeted with nutrition programming (especially for children under 5 and pregnant and lactating women and girls) to reduce the risk and support the successful treatment of malnutrition. Project Activities include: (1) providing life-saving nutrition services through the community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) approach the components of CMAM being community outreach and mobilization management of severe acute malnutrition without medical complications through outpatient therapeutic programs inpatient management of severe acute malnutrition with medical complications at stabilization centres and outpatient targeted supplementary feeding programs to manage moderate acute malnutrition; (2) providing primary health care services with clear nutrition outcomes; and (3) providing safe water basic hygiene items and hygiene promotion campaigns.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased and more equitable access to gender responsive nutrition services for children under five and pregnant or lactating women and adolescent girls in South Sudan Sudan DRC and Yemen; (2) increased and more equitable knowledge of community nutrition practices especially infant and young child feeding among caregivers community members and nutrition and health workers from the DRC Somalia South Sudan Sudan and Yemen health ministries; and (3) increased and more equitable access to critical basic health and water sanitation and hygiene services in communities targeted with nutrition programming especially children under five and pregnant or lactating women and adolescent girls to reduce the risk and support the successful treatment of malnutrition in South Sudan Sudan Somalia DRC and Yemen. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises.