Save The Children International

Afghanistan Joint Response DRA Project Endline Assessment

Afghanistan is confronted with the challenges of climate changes and drought, which has a massively impact on agricultural livelihoods and food security. Kandahar, a province greatly impacted by the issue, faces challenges in accessing water, which negatively impacts agricultural output and livestock farming. Different survey uncovered significant levels of food insecurity within households, characterized by severe hunger and decreased food consumption. These issues were further intensified by conflicts and economic difficulties. A survey conducted in northern provinces previously (mix method study) emphasized the influence of increases in food prices, the COIVD-19 pandemic, and droughts on water and sanitation concerns. The WASH cluster has identified pressing requirements, particularly in Kandahar, for a secure water provision. Save the children executed the Afghanistan joint response (DRA) in Kandahar, specifically targeting the adverse effects of conflict and displacements onvulnerable populations. The DRA baseline 2022 survey revealed pervasive challenges in fulfilling fundamental necessities, inadequate dietary diversity and acute hunger. During the endline, project primary outcomes indicators are assessed with a specific focus on WASH, health and nutrition, household food security, MPCA and humanitarian aid, and accountability. Data were collected from 370 households in four districts in Kandahar, by interviewing the head of households and caregivers of children aged 5 years old or younger. The key takeaways by outcomes are as below

Harmonized Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance to Meet Critical Basic Needs of Flood and Conflict Affected Communities in Jonglei and Unity States, South Sudan

The Harmonized Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance Project was carried out in Jonglei and the Unity States of South Sudan from January to December 2023, implemented through a consortium consisting ofAction Against Hunger, International Rescue Committee and Save the Children, with funding support from ECHO. A “cash-plus” approach combined household cash transfers with additional complementary activities to maximize the impact of the interventions. The project results includes, meeting multiple basic needs of target households that are affected by complex and interlinked factors in target locations especially high food insecurity, severe malnutrition, grave protection, and associated protection concerns as well as strengthening coordination of cash assistance among the Cash Collaborative Delivery members and other agencies in the sector working with the Cash Working Group. Assessment objective: The assessment aimed to measure the overall effect of the cash assistance provided and determine if the project goals are achieved i.e. to do comparison of baseline (before the project implementation period) and endline (end of project implementation period) among the target populations in the target areas of project implementation. Methods: Both quantitative and qualitative data collection methodologies employed for this assessment through household surveys, Focus Groups (FGDs), and Key Informants (KIIs). The assessment targeted flood and conflict/violence-affected households, including Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), refugees, returnees, and host communities.

NSA CASE Project- Organizational Structures that Maximize Accountability

With the endorsement of the National Nutrition Program (NNP) by the Federal Government of Ethiopia (FGoE), which emphasizes a multi-sectoral approach to nutrition programming and coordination, various signatory sector ministries, including the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), have taken steps to fulfil their roles outlined in the national program. Despite clear directives in NNP I, NNP II, Seqota Declaration, and the NSAS to integrate nutrition into sectoral strategic plans and activities, Ministries like the MOA faced organizational and capacity limitations at federal, regional, and district (woreda) levels for operationalizing the NNP and NSAS. The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) with its distinctive organizational structure comprising four major divisions overseen at the state minister level, all reporting to the Minister. The organizational setup of the regional Bureau of Agricultures (BOAs) aligns with the federal structure. Various directorates in the regional BOAs maintain a clear line of communication with the corresponding divisions and directorates at the federal MOA. However, a similarly organized and functional structure for nutrition at the regional level and beyond was lacking. At the regional level, existing structures lacked organization and functionality, hindering effective coordination, mainstreaming, and integration of nutrition initiatives. There was a lack of accountability between federal and regional nutrition structures, impacting communication and linkages. Additionally, nutrition focal points at the regional level lacked the mandate and capacity to coordinate effectively, limiting their influence on prioritizing and integrating nutrition into regular agriculture programs and plans. Lastly, the absence of government (Civil Service Commission and MOA)-approved federal and regional food and nutrition structures and positions impeded FNCO and BOAs from coordinating and operationalizing the NSAS implementation. NSA CASE project in coordination with Ministry of Agriculture and regional Bureau of Agriculture strategized to establish and strengthen organizational structure both at the federal MOA and regional BOAs that can deliver on nutrition.

Refugees and Migrants at the Balkans Route Regional Overview October-December 2023

Data and Trend Analysis (DATA) Refugees and Migrants at the Western Balkans Route Regional Overview October-December 2023 describes key trends in migrations in the region, detailing information about the number of people on the move, demography (age, sex, country of origin, etc.), behavioural patterns, and routes in use – with a focus on children, particularly unaccompanied children. Key trends showcased in this report: Cold months lead to decreased numbers of refugees and migrants compared to the summer. When comparing the number of registered refugees and migrants over the same quarter in 2022 and 2023, an increase can be noted in the EU countries – Greece, Romania and Croatia. In the other seven countries, fewer people were registered compared to 2022. The situation in Greece is indicative of the whole route since this is most often the first country of entry to Europe and the Balkans. Refugees and migrants use Croatia, Romania and Hungary to leave the region and continue their travel towards their countries of destination.

No War Forward, No Way Back: A qualitative study of the conditions, aspirations and capabilities of Ethiopian youth and child migrants and returnees in Metema

This report focuses on the needs, protection risks, journeys and intentions of Ethiopian child and youth migrants and returnees transiting or effectively stranded in Metema, an Ethiopian town in the northern Amhara Regional State (henceforth the “Amhara region”) that lies on the border with Sudan. Drawing on interviews and focus group discussions conducted in Metema, the report offers recommendations to policymakers, humanitarian programming actors and other migration stakeholders. This study puts forward the following key findings: The vast majority of Ethiopian child and youth migrants residing in and transiting Metema originate from drought-stricken areas elsewhere in the Amhara region. Frequently cited reasons for leaving home related to poverty, hunger, inability to attend school, family responsibilities, peer pressure and a culture of migration, risks related to intercommunal violence and a perceived lack of life prospects. Almost all the children and youth interviewed said they had engaged with brokers who facilitated all or parts of their journey, particularly for movements out of Ethiopia and through Sudan. Since they tend to travel with minimal financial resources, little knowledge and few contacts—in Ethiopia as well as in Sudan—a cycle of dependency is created, leaving children and youth vulnerable to abuse. Children and youth returning from Sudan generally spend less time in Metema than those who are seeking to move on to Sudan, who often find themselves in the town for extended periods. The reasons for immobility in Metema include the current conflict in Sudan, emerging economic opportunities in Metema, lack of financial resources to pay a broker, reluctance to return home empty-handed, and—especially in the case of women—having married and started a family in Metema. None of the interviewed children and youth who intended to move on to Sudan said they had received services in Metema. Returnees fared better, although they said the assistance provided was insufficient, especially with regard to shelter, medication and food. Because of the conflict in Sudan and their lack of savings, most of this study’s participants said they intended to stay and work in Metema for the foreseeable future. Very few were considering returning to their areas of origin in the Amhara region, because to do so empty-handed would constitute a humiliating failure to not have achieved their migration objectives.

2024 SC Malawi Child Centered Social Accountability Success Story

Insufficient platforms for children, as rights holders, to express their concerns regarding education and protection issues and engage with relevant duty bearers have posed a significant challenge, hindering the full realization and enjoyment of child rights in many communities in Malawi. Nevertheless, guided by technical assistance from Save the Children (SC), the transformative efforts spearheaded by the Women’s Legal Resources Centre (WOLREC) are beginning to yield positive outcomes in Salima District.

NSA CASE Project-Enhancing Leadership, Ownership, and Accountability in Implementing System-Based NSA Projects

Undernutrition remains a challenge in Ethiopia and a strategic barrier to ending poverty. Despite years of food and nutrition security interventions, the rate of undernutrition appeared to worsen. A report from the recent Ethiopian National Food and Nutrition Strategy baseline survey (2023) reported a 2% increase in the rate of stunting from 37% to 39% with an average increment as high as 6% in some regions. The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) developed a Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture Strategy (NSAS) in 2016 and has been operationalizing the implementation of the strategy at the national and sub-national levels. The Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture- Capacity Strengthening in Ethiopia (NSA- CASE) project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) (2018-2025) was designed to support the ministry to operationalize the NSA strategy. The MOA has been spearheading efforts to institutionalize and operationalize the NSAS, along with implementing nutrition-sensitive interventions aimed at bolstering the country’s food and nutrition security and improving the population’s nutritional status. However, the ministry has encountered challenges due to a lack of both technical expertise and financial resources, hindering its ability to effectively lead the food and nutrition agenda and implement the NSAS from the national to local (kebele) levels. This has resulted in limited governance, ownership, and accountability among policymakers, the FNCO, and other relevant directorates. Several factors contributed to the limited engagement, ownership, and accountability of the Ministry. One of the primary reasons was the traditional funding mechanism, in which partners held most of the funding and took the lead in planning and executing NSA activities. To address this challenge, NSA CASE created a grant-under-grant (GUG) mechanism as the primary funding mechanism of the NSA-CASE project. This innovative approach aimed to rectify the prevailing issue and build implementation and project management.

2025 - 2027 Strategic Goal 3: Strengthen resilient livelihoods and disaster risk management for children

The goal intends to address the multiple threats to food and nutritional security. The clear link between shocks and hunger reveals the fragility of current food production systems and their vulnerability to disruptions. To break this cycle, it is necessary to protect livelihoods from shocks, and to make food production systems more resilient and more capable of absorbing the impact of, and recovering from, disruptive events and to secure sustainable development gains.

Somalia Child Protection and Education Budget Analysis Report 2023

Somalia faces huge developmental challenges with consistent cycles of conflict and disaster -impeding Somalia’s ability to ensure access to all rights for all its children. This impedes Somalia’s ability to ensure access to all rights for all its children – in particular, access to adequate protection, health, development, and education services for all children. Purpose The purpose of this study was to appraise government strategies for education and child protection; assess how far government budgets match the strategies; and, if implemented, how far the government’s plans and budgets would address the specific education and protection needs for children in Somalia