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: Cluster
Year of activation: 2000
NCC: UNICEF P5, FT
Deputy: UNICEF NOC, TA
IMO: UNICEF NOB, TA
The Emergency Nutrition Coordination Unit (ENCU) is a Government unit supported by UNICEF and housed within the Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission (EDRMC). It leads cluster coordination in addition to being the technical emergency nutrition arm of the Government of Ethiopia (GoE). As such, the ENCU leads and coordinates nutrition partners at federal, regional and district levels for a coherent, effective emergency nutrition preparedness and response to save lives and improve the nutritional status of vulnerable populations during emergencies. There are sub-national/Regional ENCU (RENCU) coordination staff (coordinators and IMO from government) in 7 regions of Ethiopia - Afar, Amhara, Central Ethiopia, Oromia, Somali, South Ethiopia and Tigray regions. UNICEF as a CLA, supports at subnational level the RENCU teams in the coordination functions.
The coordination mechanism is set-up through different technical working groups at national level including the SAG, CMAM TWG, IYCFE TWG, NIS TWG and CVA for nutrition outcomes taskforce.
Highlights from Ethiopia
The July newsletter is out! Summer is starting to wind down, but our nutrition efforts never do. In this edition, we share news, team member spotlights, updated resources, and an Advocacy Focus country – where we share our response and the joint efforts w..
Read this newsJanuary to June 2024
o Ethiopia is facing a complex multifaceted humanitarian crisis, driven by multiple factors such as recurrent drought, floods, conflicts, displacement, disease outbreaks, and economic situation due to inflation. These factors have adversely affected the food security, livelihoods, health, and nutrition status of millions of people, especially children under five, pregnant and lactating women, and other vulnerable groups.
o The severity of acute malnutrition is observed in 30 zones from 8 regions, with a very high prevalence of global acute malnutrition (GAM) at greater than 15% percent in some zones of Tigray and between 10% and 15% percent in other zones in the region. Oromia region reported an increase in severe acute malnutrition (SAM) cases in children under five in last months in 2023. From January to August 2023, the number of deaths among children related to acute malnutrition in stabilization centers had increased in Afar, Amhara, Oromia, and Somali regions, mainly due to co-morbidities and late referrals in relation to conflict and humanitarian access.
o In the last 12 months, 13 SMART surveys have been conducted in several livelihood zones and woredas of 5 regions, Somali, Amhara, Afar, Oromia, and Tigray. The findings of the surveys show very high prevalence of global acute malnutrition (WHZ)(>15%GAM) in 3 zones: Afder in Somali, Northwestern and central in Tigray[1], high (GAM <15 and >10%) in 4 zones: Teru/Fati Rasu in Afar, East Bale in Oromia and Southern East and East zones in Tigray, and medium (5 - <10%GAM) in Wadla woreda in South Wollo, Amhara and southern zone in Tigray. The unique survey conducted in IDP sites in Tigray (all zones) showed a worrisome situation in the displaced population living in sites, 26.5% of GAM rates.
o Pre-existing gender inequalities increased in the last crisis and can still increase, making it more difficult for some groups to access assistance than others. At the same time, changes in employment conditions can lead to some men, women, girls, and boys to take on non-traditional gender roles.
o Gender roles in households shifted as a result and some men and women have taken on non-traditional gender roles such as housekeeping plus infant care by men and generating income activities have been taken on by women, which cause increased calorie and nutrition needs. Inadequate and insufficient nutrition affects all populations with pregnant and lactating women, and children under five.
In summary, overall country-wide, from January to May 2024:
A total of 265,912 children with severe acute malnutrition are admitted to therapeutic feeding programme units. This makes 29% percent of the HRP target for the year for Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) cases management.
Besides more than 900,000 with Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) and more than 400,000 malnourished Pregnant and Lactating Women (PLW) have been assisted.
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The response that was provided by the nutrition cluster members was partially aligned with the needs and objectives, but faced several challenges and constraints, such as:
• Inadequate funding[2], which limited the scale and quality of the response, as well as the procurement and distribution of nutrition supplies, mainly for MAM supplementation in children and supplementation in pregnant and lactating women
• Insecurity and access restrictions, which hampered the delivery and monitoring of nutrition services, especially in conflict-affected areas, even if the mobile health and nutrition teams were deployed.
• Dwindled the number of Health workforces
• As the Health workers are not receiving their monthly salary regularly, they are not willing to work overnight to continue the nutrition service (SC) 24/7.
• Acute malnutrition prevention efforts in a humanitarian context are not enough
• Interventions from other sectors to mitigate causes of malnutrition are needed- insufficient coverage
• Simplified approach protocol was endorsement process took one year
• Limited consensus about the multisectoral nutrition-centered situation at the regional level
• Low awareness and knowledge, which could prevent the reduced demand for nutrition services
The Cluster has been promoting and implementing the inter-cluster sectoral collaboration approach with 5 clusters and NGO as implementing partners in 7 woredas in the Somali region and in Oromia. Currently, the scaling-up uptake is ongoing with 7 clusters and one common outcome: reduced burden of malnutrition and mortality. (Agriculture, Food, Education, health, Nutrition, child protection and WASH). A call for Action has been developed.
Total Partners
list of important documents
The Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) developed the first Protocol for the Management of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) in 2007, and the Guideline for the Management of Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) in 2012. This National Guideline for the Management of Acute Malnutrition in Ethiopia replaces...