UNHCR/ENN Research on the Prevention and Reduction of Anaemia and Micronutrient Deficiencies in Refugee Populations
A collaboration with UNHCR with the ENN team providing technical support and analytical services for the assessment of anaemia and micronutrient malnutrition and the implementation of nutritional services.
Visit here for the Standardised Nutrition Survey Guidelines and Operational Guidelines on Anaemia Interventions produced as part of this collaborative project.
Project history
The ENN joined this project in July 2010 after it had been up and running for over one year, with Thom Banks (ENN Operations Officer) taking on the role of budget monitoring, reporting and logistics support and Andy Seal (ENN consultant) providing technical advisory oversight and Carlos Grijalva-Eternod, Melody Tondeour and Ismail Arte Rage Kassim working as technical consultants. The ENN team supported the implementation of survey and surveillance work on micronutrient malnutrition at the regional and camp level.
A draft standardised survey protocol for the measurement of anaemia and malnutrition, including core and optional indicators in nutrition surveys conducted by UNHCR and its implementing partners had been developed as part of the 2009 sub-agreement. It was planned that this would be field tested during 2010 in surveys in Algeria, Chad, and elsewhere, however consultation, UNHCR Geneva decided to expand the standardised survey protocol to include 2 additional modules on WASH and Mosquito Net Coverage measurement, as well as the draft anthropometry and anaemia measurement sections. Due to the added complexity associated with the measurement of these multiple indicators, it became necessary to adopt a new approach to the project. This led to the development of the concept of the UNHCR Standardised Nutrition Survey Guidelines; a survey package which incorporated the different survey modules and, in addition, provided the overall framework for the design, implementation, and analysis of a complete survey. The draft guidelines were tested in four nutrition surveys conducted by an ENN consult in Algeria in October/November, 2010. The draft Standardised Nutrition Survey Guideline was compiled and will be finalised and field tested during forthcoming work in 2011.
A training event, based primarily on the SMART survey guidelines and software, was held in Naivasha, Kenya in October 2010. It provided a thorough training in ENA software and survey design. It also introduced participants to the modules contained in the Standardised Nutrition Survey Guidelines and allowed for discussion of the design and feasibility of the proposed multi-indicator approach. ENN provided technical staff to advise and/ assist in the implementation of nutrition surveys in various project countries. In Algeria, Djibouti, and Yemen, ENN consultants were directly involved in coordinating the surveys on the ground.
The Operational Guidance on anaemia interventions was further developed during 2010 (from an existing draft in place before ENN joined the project) and the current version reflects the latest developments in product availability and use in this rapidly changing area of nutrition. The ultimate aim of this process is to ensure that the approach of different agencies is as complementary and consistent as possible.
Phase two of the project started in March 2011 and the ENN have increased their technical management role in the project with Andy Seal taking on an increased role plus additional technical advice from Carmel Dolan. Sarah Style has also joined the project as a technical consultant.
Key outputs for phase 2 have included the completion of the Standardised Nutrition Survey Guidelines, which will be piloted in Dadaab and Kakuma in 2011, and the completion of the Operational Guidance.
