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

1. 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)

2. 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?

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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)

7. 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

8. 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)
Road
map
Agriculture investment plans
that address nutrition
NAFSIP
NAFSIP funded
NAFSIP implemented
Follow-up
NCP
Country preparation
Monday
Wednesday
Wednesday

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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)

13. 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