Philippines: Learning from
Typhoon Haiyan
GNC Annual meeting
13-15 October 2015
Overview
• Philippine context
• Nutrition response to Typhoon Haiyan
– Initial Response
– Revised response
• Learning from Haiyan
• Nutrition Cluster moving forward
Context: The Philippines
• Middle income country vulnerable to natural
hazards
• Nutrition situation: wasting 8%, stunting 30%,
34% EBF, 15% MDD, 39% and 25% anemiainfants (6-12 months) & PW
• 2007- government adopted Cluster Approach
• ‘Clusters’ = sectoral working groups until
international response requested- then IASC
support
Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda)
• 8th Nov 2013: Typhoon
Haiyan
• Strongest typhoon ever
recorded: 4.1 M affected
(1.7 M children U5) in 3
regions
• Hit at a very vulnerable
time
• International support
and clusters ‘activated’
by IASC (November 18th
2013)
Nutrition Cluster (NC)
• 2013 National Nutrition Council (NNC)
became government lead agency for NC
• 20 cluster partners
• Strategic Core Group
• 4 working groups: CMAM, IYCF, Advocacy,
Assessments
Nutrition Response to Haiyan
Initial Response: Nov 2013
• Limited capacity within government
• National and 3 sub-national clusters
• Initial response:
– CMAM: children and PLW
– Breastfeeding support and BMS Donation
– MNS: children and PW
Revised response (Feb 2014)
• SMART survey (+3 mo) lower GAM (4%) than expected and
high Stunting (31%)
• Refocused SRP
– managing SAM with preventive IYCF,
– capacity building for IYCF, CMAM and NIE
– IYCF counseling-BF+CF (+MN)
– Strengthening health systems for nutrition service delivery
• Implications
– Revised SRP
– SRP Targets recalibrated
– PCAs reviewed/revised
– Excess stock of RUTF re-allocated
Learning (1)
• Management of acute malnutrition is not
necessarily the most appropriate response to a
natural disaster
• Shifting programme strategies in the middle of
SRP takes time and is an intensive process
(Partner capacity + Admin)
• Building systems and capacity from outset is crucial
to support future transition (IM)
Learning (2)
•
•
•
Implementing Partner selection process should be
documented and discussed with government and
cluster members at national and regional levels
Capacity mapping should be part of NC
preparedness activities
A capacity development plan (supporting existing
systems and mechanisms) is useful to develop early
on in the response (Provides framework and
guidance)
Learning (3)
•
•
Standardized training packages (NiE and IM) for
responding to nutrition emergencies should be
integrated into existing packages
IYCF response needs more guidance for non-BF,
SOPs for reporting Code violations, support to CF
during emergency response
Learning (4)
• Nutrition cluster (and TWGs) provided an
opportunity for policy advocacy and national
guidance/systems (eg: IMAM, IYCF-E)
• Challenging to raise funds for preparedness (NonEmergency times)- need to link to SUN and CRF
• Double hatting provided opportunities for linking
emergency and development programmes and
funding
Philippines NC: Moving forward
• ‘Transitioned’ back to govt leadership
• Remains active with a focus on
– Preparedness
– long term nutrition programming linked to SUN
• Challenges for govt, UNICEF, partners
– Funding?
– staffing numbers and capacity?
– Lack of recognition of weaknesses (govt)