Request support on coordination, information management, integration for nutrition outcomes or technical nutrition in emergencies assistance.
التماس الدعم لتنسيق التغذية وإدارة المعلومات والتغذية في حالات الطوارئ
Demander un appui pour la coordination de la nutrition, la gestion de l'information et la nutrition dans les situations d'urgence
Buscar apoyo para la coordinación de la nutrición, la gestión de la información y la nutrición en situaciones de emergencia
Solicite apoio para coordenação em nutrição, gestão de informação e nutrição em emergências
Coordination mechanism: Sector
Year of activation: 2021
NCC: MoH lead sector coordination with UNICEF Nutrition Manager double-hatting as support
Co_Lead: GOAL Zimbabwe
IMO: Currently no IMO
Sub-national level sector coordination mechanisms in place in the provinces.
January to June 2024
Link to HNO (not available yet)
Zimbabwe is facing the impact of a strong El Nino event which started in December 2023 and has caused above average temperatures and below average rainfall, with a historic mid season dry spell. This El Nino is being compared to severity to the 2015/2016 El Nino. The El Nino induced drought resulted in an extremely poor harvest with over 60 percent of the crops planted this season lost. Trends in admissions for wasting from the previous comparable El Nino event (2015-16) show that malnutrition is likely to rise from the start of the lean season (Sep-Oct 2024) and remain elevated until well into the harvest season in 2025 (Apr-May 2025), with a preceding window of opportunity to protect child diets and prevent an increase in life-threatening wasting. UNICEF started anticipatory action for prevention of malnutrition in 2023 (in 6 ERVHIZ districts with EU funding), scaling up to an additional 5 drought and malnutrition-prone districts (of the Government 29 high-priority districts) from January 2024 with CERF funds. In line with the National Emergency Preparedness and response plan, priority supported activities in the 29 high-priority districts included scaling up of the national Care Group approach and early identification and referral to treatment of children with wasting, resulting in 6516 functioning Care Groups reaching 234 230 caregivers with counselling and referral services across the 29 districts, 1504493 children screened in the community and 6793 children were referred and treated for wasting. Further, through partnerships with World Vision International and Nutrition Action Zimbabwe, UNICEF supported training for the integrated management of acute malnutrition (IMAM) for xx staff in xx facilities. With support from the Health Resilience Fund (HRF), UNICEF supported increased screening, early identification and referral of children with wasting for treatment in 19 of the high-priority districts, and Proxy-GAM and SAM was generated for xx districts using the screening data, showing xxx. A continuing challenge to scale up emergency response is the funding gap against the response plan of 95%.
UNICEF with in-kind support from Nutrition International and the Government of Canada provided supplies for the Vitamin A Supplementation (VAS) programme, through which 816778 children (398545 boys and 418233 girls) were reached representing 85% of the target. Vitamin A is supplemented at facility level and community level through Village Health Worker task sharing in an effort to reach more children aged 24-59 months, where VAS coverage remains low. Further engagements and efforts are required for the institutionalization of VAS on the immunization schedule, especially for the campaign-based initiatives where older children are more readily reached. As part of the El Nino emergency response, 250,000 boxes of Micronutrient Powders (MNPs) were procured and distributed through Care Groups reaching xx children (xx boys; xx boys).
For nutrition response to the cholera outbreak, UNICEF worked closely with MOHCC and partners (Mercy Corps, Christian Care, Africa Ahead, WHH and OXFAM) to integrate nutrition interventions. Nutrition in cholera information/communication materials were printed with support from the Government of Japan and distributed to xx clinics in xx districts. Between January and May, a total of 3670 children <5years were screened for wasting at cholera treatment centres and hygiene kit distribution points, and 59 children were identified, referred and treated for cholera with wasting, while 661 pregnant and breastfeeding mothers were provided with nutrition counselling services on the importance of continuing breastfeeding during cholera treatment. In addition, 256 village health workers were trained on MUAC screening for wasting in children with cholera and referral of those identified with severe wasting for appropriate treatment.
UNICEF has continued to support Nutrition Sector Coordination throughout 2024, with monthly plus ad-hoc coordination meetings (12 meetings held) co-chaired by MoHCC, an up-date of the 5W’s matrix and a review of the action points identified in the 2022 Cluster Coordination Performance Monitoring (CCPM) survey and coordinated nutrition inputs to the UN El-Nino Flash Appeal.
Although nutrition commodities were generally available at the national level, there were challenges of inconsistent distribution and supply chain with some facilities reporting stock-outs of RUTF and MNPs, hence the need for stronger liaison with the logistics team at Provincial and National levels.
Advocacy Survey | |
Country Advocacy Strategy developed | No |
Link to document | |
Advocacy activities included in annual work plan | Yes |
Specific WG leading advocacy work established | Yes |
Preparedness | |
Contingency plan or ERP plan developed/updated | Yes |
Link to document | Link |
Intersectoral Collaboration (ISC) | |
Intersectoral projects currently under implementation | Yes |
Clusters engaged | |
Social Policy, WASH and Child Protection |
Total Partners