Strengthening functional capacities in the way we work: The example of the CAADP Nutrition Capacity Development Initiative

Charlotte Dufour, FAO(and large multi-stakeholder team)

Modalities for capacity development on functional capacities

Training and experience sharing workshops Webinars Study tours “twinning” countries Exchange of experiences in online forums and teleconferences Experts for punctual support Longer-term technical assistance Online videos and e-learning opportunities On the job learning

Key: how to use these modalities as part of a strategic process?

CAADP Nutrition Capacity Development Initiative objective and modalities

Overall Purpose Enhance the nutritional impact of the agriculture sector

Specific objective

Assist countries in integrating nutrition in their CAADP process and investment plans (from design to implementation)

Modalities

3 sub-regional workshops (mix of regional & country workshops) West Africa : Senegal (Nov 2011) - 18

Countries, 180 participants East & Central Africa : Tanzania (Feb

2013) - 18 countries, 220 participants Southern Africa : Botswana ( Sep

2013) - 14 countries – 200 participants

Rationale for the initiative

Huge investments in agriculture which could, but are often not, leveraged for nutrition

Agriculture components of national nutrition plans just words on paper if not part of agriculture investment plans & budgets

Challenges to agriculture’s engagement in nutrition coordination: Lack of clarity on role / what can be done concretely Low ownership of nutrition “Competing” priorities (productivity, economic growth, employment) Not held accountable for nutrition

Lack of understanding from nutritionists about how agriculture functions and difficulty engaging in dialogue

Rather than pulling “agriculture to nutrition table”, bring “nutrition to agriculture table” to foster dialogue and coordination

Objectives & broader purpose

To transfer knowledge and understanding of the role of agriculture for improving nutrition…?

Broader purpose: make nutrition part of “normal” agriculture work

Build ownership of nutrition in agriculture

Build motivation to work with others on nutrition

Requires to… Foster dialogue and support coordination Build trust and develop (co)-leadership Set grounds for transparent accountability mechanisms Share knowledge of what can be done and how

What does it mean in terms of approach? (1)

Building trust and developing leadership

CAADP as entry point Agriculture as the convener of a nutrition process

Pre-workshop preparation led by CAADP Focal Point with support of SUN FP, REACH facilitators, FAO staff and partners (country papers + case study preparations) Create a “team spirit”

Fostering country team discussions in context of regional exchange Creation of a “neutral space” for learning and dialogue

Practical discussions on what to do dispels fears of competition and highlights opportunities for synergies

Partnership & coordination at different levels

At regional level: multi-stakeholder steering committee led by NEPAD, strongly supported by RECs

Linking to global processes: SUN Movement (& REACH) Country level: careful participant selection through existing nutrition

and agriculture coordination mechanisms opportunity for dialogue (Support from FAO at all levels and through different divisions, including investment center)

What does it mean in terms of approach? (2)

Knowledge sharing

Review of agriculture investment plans includes discussions on relevant M&E indicators, capacity development needs

Clarification of roles supports accountability Preparation of roadmaps: mutual commitment for follow-up

Transparent accountability mechanisms

Combination of plenary sessions (technical guidance); parallel sessions on case studies; mixed-country group (challenges and solutions); country group work (coordination at the country level);

“hands-on” practical work on the investment plans supported by guiding questions and tips, and peer review of roadmaps

Key features of process: A strong organizing team, with strategic thinking (change management expert) Capitalization of lessons learnt & improvement of process between workshops Genuine team work with many partners – success is collective

Setting the scene (I): - What is nutrition? What is the CAADP?- Why agriculture and nutrition?- What are the main nutrition problems?

What to do in the field? What kind of interventions? (II)

What capacities are needed? (V)

What are the costs? How do we fund it ? (VI)

How do we work with others? (III)

Tuesday

Thursday

Thursday

OUR WORKSHOP

Recommendations

What information do we need for planning and M&E? (IV)

Roadmap

Agriculture investment plans that address nutritionNAFSIP

NAFSIP funded

NAFSIP implemented

Follow-up

NCP

Country preparation

Monday

Wednesday

Wednesday

Workshop process

Preparation 5 -day Regional workshop Follow up

At regional level• Partnerships• Fund-raising• Content &

Methodology•Guiding country• Logistic

At country level•Multi-stakeholder

country team •Nutrition Country

Paper for analysis of the situation (1)

Key themes for integrating nutrition & agriculture Technical presentations & case studies Setting the scene

Key interventions (2)

Institutional arrangements & coordination (3)

Capacity Development (4)

Costing & funding (5)

Translation into recommendations for integrating nutrition and Agriculture

•Main challenges and solutions (mixed-country sessions)

• Preparation of country road-maps supported by guiding questions and tips (country sessions)

At regional level •Advocacy•Normative work• Support

implementation of country road maps

At country level •Decision-makers•Opportunities

within the CAADP process• Implement Country

roadmap

Sept 2012 25 Feb 2013 4th March 2013

East and Central Africa

1 2

Strengthening/leveraging the initiative at regional and global levels

Strengthening and broadening ownership amongst partners at regional level (build up from one workshop to the next) Creation of regional champions

Raise profile of nutrition in AU/NEPAD

Global level:• Raising profile of CAADP Nutrition Capacity Development in ICN2

(strong focus on food systems in Rome Declaration and FFA)

• Sharing of CAADP Nutrition Capacity Development Initiative in Committee for World Food Security (CFS)

• Sharing lessons learnt amongs Communities of Practice

Reach agriculture stakeholders through various fora

Inspire other regions & enhance ownership of process amongst African representatives

Impact of the process & success factors

Depends on the country: “Opening the door” for nutrition in agriculture

Refining technical content of existing plans

Enhancing commitment of decision-makers

Only one step in a broader process Importance of that step depends on (success factors):

Existence of strong country coordination mechanisms (SUN/REACH)

Champions (not necessarily “high level”)

Presence of other initiatives / partners promoting nutrition-sensitive agriculture at country level

Level of buy-in in Ministry of Agriculture before

Commitment of individuals to follow-up

Follow-up

Country level: Many development partners implementing / supporting nutrition-

sensitive agriculture Continued support to mainstreaming nutrition in agriculture policies Partnership with International Finance Institutions (WB, IFAD)

Regional level: Nutrition in CAADP Results Framework Continuation of CAADP Nutrition Task Force Establishment of knowledge sharing platform (in process) Capacity development on Nutrition in Ag M&E; Nutrition in Extension

Global level: Promotion of « Key Recommendations for Improving Nutrition through

Agriculture” and associated guidelines E-learning modules on nutrition-sensitive food and agriculture (& joint

planning)

Cultivating functional capacities…

Like agriculture: requires good seed, soil, irrigation, weather, pest management, human skills, group work

It takes time

It ebbs and flows

So… Don’t give up Keep smiling