Projects

Short Description:

Overall goal

The project objective is twofold: 1) Improved access to nutrition services aimed at preventing, identifying, and treating severe and moderate acute malnutrition among under 5-year-old children and pregnant & lactating women (PLW); 2) Improved prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in crisis affected communities.

Expected results

1. Rehabilitation of 15,686 children under five years old and pregnant & lactating women (PLW) affected by moderate or severe acute malnutrition through establishing and/or strengthening therapeutic and supplementary feeding centers in the target project area;

2. Provision of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) post violence services in crisis affected communities.

Target group / Beneficiaries

Target group/Beneficiaries/Partners/Location

Recipients of the project will include individuals from households of both IDP and host communities residing in the two target districts. A total of 32,754 individuals (24,506 F, 8,248 M) will directly benefit from the project:

• 2,504 children (1,306F, 1,198M) treated for severe acute malnutrition (SAM);

• 8,336 children < 5 (4,251F, 4,085M) and 4,846 PLW treated for moderate acute malnutrition (MAM);

• 23 OTP sites and 8 SC strengthened to provide emergency nutrition and SGBV services;

• 62 (39F, 23M) health workers -Outpatient Therapeutic Programs (OTP) & Stabilization Centers (SC)- will receive on job and formal training on management of acute malnutrition;

• 18,716 individuals (15,794F, 2,922M) provided with child nutrition and hygiene education including key messages on COVID-19 prevention;

• 198 individuals (community members and health workers) will be trained on Protection against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and GBV;

• 24 individuals (Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) nurses and Health Extension Workers) will be trained on clinical management of rape (CMR);

• 6,324 women and girls will receive dignity kits;

• 1,500 women and girls receiving individual or group MPSS services at safe spaces;

• 18,716 individuals (15,794F, 2,922M) reached by SGBV response services information.

The family members of the targeted individuals will indirectly benefit from the project.

Implementing Partners of the Applicant: CARE International in Ethiopia.

Exact Location: Afar Region, Zone two, Afdera, Kori, and Megale districts.

Activities

Result 1:

1. Screening of children under the age of five and PLW for acute malnutrition;

2. Admission and treatment of 2,504 children (1,306F, 1,198M) affected by SAM at SC and OTPs;

3. Admission and treatment of 8,336 children < 5 (4,251F, 4,085M) and 4,846 PLW affected by MAM at food distribution sites/OTPs;

4. Procurement of corn soya blend plus (CSB++) and oil to treat MAM cases without disruption;

5. Procurement of necessary equipment and supplies to strengthen existing or establish new therapeutic feeding centres (TFP) (23 OTP and 8 SC) sites;

6. Provide on job and formal training on management of acute malnutrition;

7. Provide child nutrition and hygiene education for 18,716 individuals (15,794F, 2,922M) at food distribution points, OTP and SCs.

8. Installation/rehabilitation of water source connections at health facilities

Result 2:

1. Rapid Gender Analysis (RGA);

2. Distribution of dignity kits for girls and women of a reproductive age;

3. Provide SGBV post violence services such as awareness raising on available SGBV services and referral of survivors to health facilities for post violence and rape services (Women/Girls);

4. Provide training on SGBV/PSEA to health staff, project staff and community representatives.

5. Provide of mental health and psychosocial support (MPSS) services at newly constructed women and girls safe space.

Context

The Afar Region is facing complex humanitarian emergency with both conflict and drought impacting the local population. Armed clashes across Zone 2 of Afar region have resulted in thousands of people displaced since mid-December 2021 among them many women, girls and children who are particularly at risk for sexual exploitation and abuse and are exposed to negative coping mechanisms such as child labor, transactional sex, and harmful practices. According to regional authorities, 300,000 people were displaced during the conflict. While the Peace Agreement is allowing for increased humanitarian assistance and the re-establishment of basic services, recovery of severely eroded livelihoods in Afar will not occur quickly. Find and treat campaign results indicate global acute malnutrition rates of 28.62%, 39.25%, and 41.49% for children, and 58.27%, 69.65%, and 66.82% for pregnant and lactating women in the Kori, Afdera, and Megale woredas. The three health centers and 28 health posts in the project area all have been looted and/or damaged, and only two facilities are functional. This affects access to health services and raised the need for a humanitarian response.