Emergency Nutrition Response in 3 Woredas of Amhara Region The proposed project is to provide Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) support to 3 woredas in Amhara region. Full CMAM support will be provided to Argoba woreda, South Wollo and Bati woreda, Oromia zone and minimum support (OTP/SC support) to Legambo woreda, South Wollo. The project is a proposed 4 month extension to the grant ETH-15/DDA-3379/CP/N/INGO/2068 originally awarded by OCHA HRF to Concern for an 8 month period to provide emergency nutrition response in 8 woredas of Amhara region - Enebsie Sar Midir, Enarj Enawuga and Shebel Berenta woredas of East Gojam zone, Dabat woreda of North Gondar zone, Argoba, Legambo and Mekdela woredas of South Wollo zone and Bati woreda of Oromia special zone. The project ends on 15th July 2016. Funding has been secured from USAID/OFDA to continue the CMAM interventions in Enebsie Sar Midir, Enarj Enauga, Shebel Berenta and Dabat. Mekdela woreda is no longer in need of support as it has low numbers of SAM and MAM, adequate Belg production is predicted, water shortages have decreased, there is good SAM coverage and the woreda benefits from TSFP as it is a WFP Second generation woreda. Legambo is also a second generation woreda and while Belg crop is expected to be sufficient and there is improved water availability, lowland parts of the woreda are Meher dependent (as opposed to the Belg dependent highland areas) and July to October is the traditional hunger season. There remains a low proportion of screened SAM cases being admitted as a result of slow community outreach work and lack of supervisory visits due to MOH prioritization of activities. Concern proposes to continue minimal support to this woreda on the understanding with the MOH that they prioritize joint supervision with Concern and support improved outreach work in order to achieve an improved rate of admission for screened SAM children. Concern will strengthen joint supervision and provide feedback to health workers in order to improve service quality. We will support the woreda health office to reach the hard to access areas during the monthly screening and improve programme coverage. Concern’s CMAM nurse will work closely with HEW and health workers to provide on the job training on the management of SAM and to provide support on timely reporting. Bati and Argoba woredas are both P1 woredas where there is a need for full CMAM implementation until the Meher harvest period. This cost extension request is therefore to extend emergency operations in these 3 woredas until the forthcoming Meher harvest in November/December 2016. 

The project will provide full CMAM services to Bati and Argoba woredas (community mobilization, TSFP distribution, OTP and SC technical, material and logistical support) and limited CMAM support to Legambo woreda (OTP and SC technical, material and logistical support). The overall objective of this 4 month intervention is to continue supporting the Ministry of Health (MOH) to deliver life-saving emergency nutrition services using the CMAM model to target the most vulnerable children under-five and pregnant and lactating women (PLW). In Bati and Argoba woredas Concern will continue to provide technical and logistical support to the woreda health offices (WoHO) to deliver TSFP services. Health officials will also be supported to deliver inpatient and outpatient therapeutic feeding services for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in all target woredas. Community mobilization will take place to promote active case finding, health education and IYCF messaging for improved child feeding and carrying practices.  

A total of 6,622 women and children will receive MAM and/or SAM treatment at 17 stabilization centers, 81 OTP sites and 25 TSFP distribution sites. Direct beneficiaries are selected on the basis of their nutritional needs and vulnerability.