Multi-Sector Response for Improved Nutrition Outcomes MC will implement an integrated program to address critically poor nutrition outcomes in vulnerable populations through targeting severely and moderately acutely malnourished children under five years old (U5) and pregnant and lactating women (PLW), severely food insecure households, and communities in need of access to water and sanitation services. Through a triple-pronged approach, the program directly supports the priorities outlined in the Second Standard Allocation Strategy Paper as well as the 2016 Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan (YHRP), focusing squarely on improving nutrition outcomes, while addressing underlying causes of malnutrition and meeting urgent needs that, if not met, can contribute to malnutrition or worsened acute malnutrition. MC will contribute to improved nutrition outcomes of vulnerable households in target areas of Taiz and Sana’a through life-saving nutrition services, provision of food and agriculture assets, and restoration of essential WASH facilities – all complemented by health, nutrition, and hygiene education aimed at behavior change. 

MC proposes to continue nutrition programming for children U5 and PLW in Mokha and Mawza Districts in Taiz Governorate. MC recently re-started its nutrition services in Mokha and Mawza through UNICEF, and the proposed program will target complementary areas to help ensure full overage across the districts. The proposed program will also add two locations for nutrition support: Al Qahirah in Taiz and Bani Matar in Sana’a. The program’s overall approach to nutrition is Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM), as such MC will partner with local Yemeni organizations on the community mobilization component.

Support for food insecure households will include provision of supplementary food for children U5 and PLW, Food for Training (provision of food baskets via vouchers), creation of low input back yard vegetable gardens (plus distribution of seeds and tools), and training for households on best agriculture practices. Food for Training (FFT) will be provided to food insecure households with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) and severe acute malnutrition (SAM) cases not receiving general food distributions from other programs. The dual approach of meeting immediate food needs and ensuring household dietary diversity through food production of nutritionally diverse fresh vegetables will help alleviate the pressures of underlying causes of malnutrition, including micronutrient deficiencies.

WASH support will be provided at the health facility and community levels, restoring basic and essential water and sanitation services through system rehabilitation, incorporating use of solar pumps. At health facilities this will include rehabilitation of drinking water supply systems and sanitations systems (including toilets, handwashing and waste management). In communities, this will include rehabilitation of community water points. Hygiene promotion through community health and hygiene volunteers will encompass all WASH interventions. Furthermore, given the program’s targeting of the most vulnerable households, hygiene kits and dignity kits will be provided to households with children or PLW enrolled in the outpatient therapeutic programs (OTPs) or supplemental feeding program (SFP).