Nutrition

In 2019, the nutrition situation for children and women in South Sudan has deteriorated significantly, exceeding the World Health Organization’s emergency threshold of 15 per cent for acute malnutrition and 2 per cent for severe acute malnutrition. 

The persistent food insecurity is an important contributor to the high levels of malnutrition among women and children. Poor feeding practices and high morbidity are also important factors. The protracted conflict further exacerbated the prevalence of acute malnutrition due to the reduced ability of children under the age of 5, pregnant and lactating women, and chronically ill persons to meet their nutritional needs because of displacement and increased morbidity caused by disease outbreaks, lack of access to clean water, sanitation facilities and basic health services.

Between 2020 – 2022, HDI South Sudan Nutrition Programme targets over 10,000 people with nutrition assistance and services. With the aim to reduce suffering, morbidity and mortality related to malnutrition among vulnerable populations in South Sudan, the HDI Nutrition Programme will increase equitable access and utilization of quality preventative nutrition specific service delivery for children, adolescents and women in prioritized locations.

HDI Nutrition Programme activities will also focus on increasing equitable access and utilization of quality lifesaving nutrition services for early detection and treatment of acute malnutrition while enhancing coordination and joint programming with other HDI sectors (Health, WASH, FSL, Education and Protection) for nutrition-sensitive interventions. To ensure quality of HDI South Sudan Nutrition Programme, the sector will also strengthen the nutrition information system for evidence-based nutrition response.

To this end, HDI South Sudan Nutrition Programme will prioritize life-saving treatment services targeting under-5 children, pregnant and lactating women, and chronically ill persons as the most vulnerable groups to acute malnutrition due to their increased biological and physiological needs. Prevention activities that address the immediate and underlying causes of malnutrition will be enhanced.

The response will expand on nutrition-specific interventions, as well as reinforce integration and linkages with other clusters to address the key drivers of malnutrition: food insecurity, sub-optional childcare and feeding practices, morbidity, and lack of safe water and sanitation. HDI’s Nutrition Programme will also prioritize areas where a high prevalence of acute malnutrition, conflict and internal displacement coexist. The nutrition response will consist of a package of treatment and prevention services delivered through the health facility/nutrition site and community platforms, as per South Sudan nutrition national guidelines.

HDI Nutrition Programme will continue to enhance multispectral collaboration already in place with other clusters to ensure an integrated approach that aims to improve access to nutrition, food, water, sanitation, hygiene, health and protection services.

Imparting efforts towards a people-centered approach to mainstream AAP, Gender and Age considerations into nutrition programming will be conducted while programme responsiveness to evolving and varied needs of the affected population will be improved.

1. Firstly, AAP and Gender will feature more prominently within the roles of the programme staff for enhanced accountability in the response.
2. Secondly, HDI nutrition plan will strengthen local capacity, including the Ministry of Health staff at State and County levels, project staff and community nutrition volunteers.
3. Thirdly, HDI Nutrition Programme will strengthen community participation in periodic situation assessments, response planning and monitoring. Protection risks for nutrition programs beneficiaries in South Sudan are extremely high. Gender mainstreaming will therefore be enhanced by HDI through consultation with women on site selection, increased efforts on