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OCHA Policy Brief on Gendered Drivers, Risks and Impacts of Food Insecurity in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (2023) CC

It is widely understood that the food insecurity crisis in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa is one of the world’s fastest growing and most neglected crises. It lacks sufficient global focus, resources and urgency. As in so many crises, women and girls are disproportionately affected and shoulder t...he consequences of protracted neglect, with unconscionable impacts on their safety, life chances and agency. Gaining a holistic view of the gendered drivers, risks and impacts of food insecurity in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa is difficult. This is due to a lack of data and prioritization, and the large geographical and socioeconomic terrain covered by both regions. However, what we do know about this crisis is more than enough to urgently address the needs of women and girls. An OCHA discussion paper on this topic (which will be published imminently, and from which this policy brief is drawn) found that there is: A strong risk of profound regression in gender equality gains made to date in the countries of concern, including on education, sexual and reproductive health, and the economic independence of women and girls (with knock-on effects on broader humanitarian and development outcomes). An increasing challenge to reverse what must be recognized as a protracted and growing gender-based violence (GBV) emergency in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa. The food insecurity crisis in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa is protracted, multidimensional and highly gendered, with spiralling impacts on gender equality and food security outcomes. It is driven by interwoven and overlapping factors, including climate change, political instability, conflict, socioeconomic conditions, migration and displacement and, more recently, COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine. Interlinked with these factors are gendered structural drivers of food insecurity, including deeply entrenched gender inequalities and harmful social norms. Gendered risks and impacts of food insecurity include alarming limitations on access to education, sexual and reproductive health rights, women’s agency and participation, and dramatic increases in different existing forms of GBV and the emergence of new ones. Recognition of such gendered dimensions of food insecurity and of the need for a multisectoral approach in the response is key to addressing the crisis, along-side sustained commitment and adequate allocation of resources. This policy brief draws out key findings from the OCHA discussion paper on this topic, which includes a desk review of studies, assessments and reports, and interviews with local women’s organizations on the front lines of the food insecurity crisis in communities across both regions. Below are the most pressing gendered drivers, risks and impacts of food insecurity (not in order of priority), as well as key gaps in the current humanitarian response to food insecurity, and recommendations to take forward. more

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Pulse survey on continuity of essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic: interim report, 27 August 2020
recommended

World Health Organization WHO (2020) CC

The results of a WHO survey conducted to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on up to 25 essential health services in countries show disruptions of essential health services in nearly all countries, and more so in lower-income than higher-income countries. The great majority of service disrup... more

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The impact of residual infections on Anopheles-transmitted Wuchereria bancrofti after multiple rounds of mass drug administration

D. K. de Souza; Ansumana, R.; Sessay, S.; et al. Parasites & Vectors (2015) CC

Many countries have made significant progress in the implementation of World Health Organization recommended preventive chemotherapy strategy, to eliminate lymphatic filariasis (LF). However, pertinent challenges such as the existence of areas of residual infections in disease endemic districts pose... more

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Fast Facts on Climate Change and Health

World Health Organization WHO (2021) C_WHO

Climate change is resulting in poorer health outcomes, increasing mortality and is a driver of health inequities. However, health is well placed to be a significant part of the solution; the positive health impacts from stronger climate change action can motivate stronger global ambition; health sys... more

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Interim Guidance on Public Health and Social Measures for COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Operations in Low Capacity and Humanitarian Settings

Inter-Agency Standing Committee IASC (2020) C1

This Interim Guidance outlines how key public health and social measures needed to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread and the impact of the disease can be adapted for use in low capacity and humanitarian settings. The recommendations outlined here need to be adjusted to the scale of transmission, co... more

Qualitative assessment of community health workers’ perspective on their motivation in community-based primary health care in rural Malawi

Ndambo, M.K.; Munyaneza, F.; Aron, M.B. et al. BMC Health Services Research (2022) CC

Background: Community Health Workers (CHWs) have a positive impact on the provision of community-based primary health care through screening, treatment, referral, psychosocial support, and accompaniment. With a broad scope of work, CHW programs must balance the breadth and depth of tasks to mainta...in CHW motivation for high-quality care delivery. Few studies have described the CHW perspective on intrinsic and extrinsic motivation to enhance their programmatic activities. Methods: We utilized an exploratory qualitative study design with CHWs employed in the household model in Neno District, Malawi, to explore their perspectives on intrinsic and extrinsic motivators and dissatisfiers in their work. Data was collected in 8 focus group discussions with 90 CHWs in October 2018 and March–April 2019 in seven purposively selected catchment areas. All interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, coded, and analyzed using Dedoose. Results: Themes of complex intrinsic and extrinsic factors were generated from the perspectives of the CHWs in the focus group discussions. Study results indicate that enabling factors are primarily intrinsic factors such as positive patient outcomes, community respect, and recognition by the formal health care system but can lead to the chal- lenge of increased scope and workload. Extrinsic factors can provide challenges, including an increased scope and workload from original expectations, lack of resources to utilize in their work, and rugged geography. However, a posi- tive work environment through supportive relationships between CHWs and supervisors enables the CHWs. Conclusion: This study demonstrated enabling factors and challenges for CHW performance from their perspec- tive within the dual-factor theory. We can mitigate challenges through focused efforts to limit geographical distance, manage workload, and strengthen CHW support to reinforce their recognition and trust. Such programmatic empha- sis can focus on enhancing motivational factors found in this study to improve the CHWs’ experience in their role. The engagement of CHWs, the communities, and the formal health care system is critical to improving the care provided to the patients and communities, along with building supportive systems to recognize the work done by CHWs for the primary health care systems. more

The Impact of COVID-19 on Food Security and Nutrition

UN Secretary-General; UN Sustainable Development Group UNSDG (2020) C1

Policy Brief 2 June 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic is a health and human crisis threatening the food security and nutrition of millions of people around the world. Hundreds of millions of people were already suffering from hunger and malnutrition before the virus hit and, unless immediate action is tak... more

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Policy brief on digital health data

World Health Organization WHO (2023) C_WHO

The new Consolidated guidelines on person-centred HIV strategic information: strengthening routine data for impact 1 aim to help countries improve how routine patient data are collected, analysed and used. They propose a minimum dataset that captures key events in an individual’s interaction with ... more

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Neonatal health in Nepal: analysis of absolute and relative inequalities and impact of current efforts to reduce neonatal mortality

Paudel, D., Shrestha, I.B., Siebeck, M. & Rehfuess, E.A. (2013) CC

Nepal has made substantial progress in reducing under-five mortality and is on track to achieve Millennium Development Goal 4, but advances in neonatal health are less encouraging. The objectives of this study were to assess relative and absolute inequalities in neonatal mortality over time, and to ... more

Global report on health data systems and capacity, 2020
recommended

World Health Organization WHO (2021) C_WHO

31 Janaury 2021 SCORE for health data technical package. The first global assessment on the status and capacity of health information systems in 133 countries, covering 87% of the global population. It identifies gaps and provides guidance for investment in areas that can have the greatest impact ... more

Third round of the global pulse survey on continuity of essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Summary of the results
recommended

World Health Organization WHO (2022) C_WHO

Round 3: Key informant findings from 129 countries, territories and areas - Quarter 4 2021 Countries reported disruptions in all health-care settings. In more than half of countries surveyed, many people are still unable to access care at the primary care and community care levels. Significant dis... more

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Impact of climate change on global malaria distribution

Cyril Caminade, Sari Kovats, Joacim Rocklov et al. PNAS (2014) CC

PNAS | March 4, 2014 | vol. 111 | no. 9 Malaria is an important disease that has a global distribution and significant health burden. The spatial limits of its distribution and seasonal activity are sensitive to climate factors, as well as the local capacity to control the disease. Malaria is also ... more

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WHO European framework for action on mental health 2021-2025: draft for the Seventy-first Regional Committee for Europe

World Health Organization WHO (2021) C_WHO

The framework sets out a response to current mental health challenges arising from the negative impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on population mental health and well-being. The EFAMH provides a coherent basis for intensified efforts to mainstream, promote and safeguard mental well-being as ... more

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Impact of climate change on human infectious diseases: Empirical evidence and human adaptation

Xiaoxu Wu, Yongmei Lu, Sen Zhou et al. (2016) CC

Environment International Volume 86, January 2016, Pages 14-23 Climate change refers to long-term shifts in weather conditions and patterns of extreme weather events. It may lead to changes in health threat to human beings, multiplying existing health problems. This review examines the scientific e... more

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Impact of COVID-19 on young people in the EU

Sándor, E.; Patrini, V.; M. Mascherini, et al. Eurofund (2022) C1

Following a long recovery from the economic crisis (2007–2013), young people in the EU proved to be more vulnerable to the effects of the restrictions put in place to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Young people were more likely than older groups to experience job loss, financial insecur... more

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Guidelines on sanitation and health
recommended

World Health Organization WHO (2018) C_WHO

The new WHO Guidelines on Sanitation and Health summarize the evidence on the effectiveness of a range of sanitation interventions and provide a comprehensive framework for health-protecting sanitation, covering policy and governance measures, implementation of sanitation technologies, systems and b... more

Bearing the brunt: The impact of COVID-19 on older people in low- and middle-income countries – insights from 2020

HelpAge (2021) C1

The report shows that older people are not getting the healthcare treatments they desperately need. The COVID-19 response has disrupted services for non-communicable diseases such as cancer and diabetes, communicable diseases such as malaria, and much-needed services for mental health. Combined with... more

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Third round of the global pulse survey on continuity of essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic
recommended

World Health Organization WHO (2022) C_WHO

Countries reported disruptions in all health-care settings. In more than half of countries surveyed, many people are still unable to access care at the primary care and community care levels. Significant disruptions have also been reported in emergency care, particularly concerning given the impact... more

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Creating mental health and related services free from coercion, violence and abuse WHO QualityRights training to act, unite and empower for mental health (P I L O T V E R S I O N)
recommended

World Health Organization WHO (2017)

This document provides training and guidance on the reasons for, and the impact of, violence, coercion and abuse within mental health and related settings. It also provides guidance on how to implement strategies to end the use of coercion, violence and abuse in these settings.

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Situational Brief: Impact of Covid-19 on forcibly displaced persons inside Syria

Marzouk M., Rayes D., Y. Douedari et al. Lancet Migration (2020) CC

Over nine years of protracted and violent conflict in Syria has decimated its health system,killed an estimated 586,000 people and forcibly displaced more than half the 22 million pre-war population from their homes. As of June 2020, a total of 6.2 million Syrians (of whom 40% are children) are inte... more

Pulse survey on continuity of essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic: interim report, 27 August 2020 recommended

Global report on health data systems and capacity, 2020 recommended

Third round of the global pulse survey on continuity of essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Summary of the results recommended

Guidelines on sanitation and health recommended

Third round of the global pulse survey on continuity of essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic recommended

Creating mental health and related services free from coercion, violence and abuse WHO QualityRights training to act, unite and empower for mental health (P I L O T V E R S I O N) recommended

Pulse survey on continuity of essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic: interim report, 27 August 2020
recommended

Global report on health data systems and capacity, 2020
recommended

Third round of the global pulse survey on continuity of essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Summary of the results
recommended

Guidelines on sanitation and health
recommended

Third round of the global pulse survey on continuity of essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic
recommended

Creating mental health and related services free from coercion, violence and abuse WHO QualityRights training to act, unite and empower for mental health (P I L O T V E R S I O N)
recommended