Transcript Slide 1

Enhancing the Effectiveness of School
Feeding/Nutrition Programmes through Rights-based
Approaches
A Project Note
SCN – Working Group on Nutrition, Ethics and Human Rights
Rome, 25 February 2007
► Background
Outline
► Proposed Methodologies
►Outputs
►A Programme Assessment Checklist
► Partnerships
Background
►Study:
undertake a comparative analysis of school feeding
and school-based nutrition programme using human-rights
based indicators for the purpose of evaluating the
effectiveness of those programmes.
►Objective: contribute to the capacity of countries to
implement effective school feeding and school-based nutrition
programmes that meet the needs of vulnerable school aged
children.
► Expected output:
methodology, plus a set of tools and
training materials, for human rights-based assessment and
monitoring of social safety net programmes to achieve
improved programme implementation and impact in line with
human rights principles.
Background
► Rationale
School feeding and school-based nutrition programmes are
implemented in many countries demanding considerable resources.
– SFP have nutritional, health and educational goals
– SFP are often part of national safety net and poverty reduction
strategies
– SFP/nutrition programmes address three human rights: the right
to food, the right to education and the right to health
► However, SFP may..
– not always reach needy and vulnerable children
– not provide adequate quantity and quality of food
– experience leakages and delivery failures
– have inadequate participation by the community
– provide poor or no information about entitlements
– lack adequate accountability mechanisms
Background
► Question: Are SFP that are more compliant with human rights principles more
effective than others?
► Human-rights based assessment – what does it add?
– Focus on whether: (a) programme implementation processes and impacts are in
line with human rights principles, and (b) the legal, institutional and policy
environment of the programme facilitate HR approach to SFP
– Questions:
• Are programme design, implementation, M &E participatory?
• Is there accountability with regard to SFP performance and utilization of
resources?
• Is there equity in the distribution of resources: non-discrimination? Do
school meals conform with the nutritional standards set at national level?
• Is there transparency in the management, decision making, definition and
application of programme entry and exit criteria, and in the administration of
SFP resources
• Are programme benefits applied in line with human dignity?
• Are children and parents empowered in the process?
• Is the programme being implemented in line with the rule of law and are
there recourse mechanisms for parents and children to claim entitlements?
► PANTHER
Proposed Methodologies
► Short questionnaire to FAO Offices in selected countries
► Programme assessment checklist developed
► Desk review of a number of SFP (national and donorsupported) – 16 countries
► Consultations with key informants and experts on
specific issues
►Workshop: validation of synthesis report, proposed
normative outputs, identification of in-country capacity
strengthening needs [in-country stakeholders, agency
partners]
Outputs
► A methodology developed and validated that applies human rights
principles in assessing and monitoring SFP
► A synthesis report with findings and conclusions, and a set of rightsbased indicators for comparative analysis of SFP
► A methodological reference guide to be used in assessing and
monitoring SFP by in-country stakeholders
► A normative handbook for the development and implementation of
HR-based SFP
► Materials for capacity strengthening for in-country analysts and
monitors
Programme Assessment Checklist
► Focus on human rights-related aspects of the design,
implementation and impacts of SFP
► Meant as a reference guide for the assessment of SFP in this project
► Menu – 10 Thematic Modules
▪Food and Nutrition Security Situation
▪Legislative and Budgetary Framework
▪Institutional Framework
▪Normative Programme Basis
▪Social Control Mechanisms
▪Recourse Instruments and Institutions
▪Programme Design
▪Duty Bearers
▪Programme Implementation Processes
▪Programme Impacts
Partnerships
► SFP involve three interrelated ES Rights: Food, Health, Education
► Within FAO: Right to Food Unit, and Nutrition and Consumer
Protection Division (AGN)
► Partnerships with UN Agencies
? SCN: Inter-agency advisory group: make it part of the work plan of
the WG on Nutrition, Ethics and Human Rights; the WGNEHR could
function as an advisory group; validation workshop sponsored by
the WGNEHR
► In-Country Partners (Examples)
Guatemala: human rights ombudsman office is in the process of finalising a rightsbased assessment of school feeding programmes
India: mid-day meals – re-contacting people identified in country surveys. We need
support.
Brazil: CONSEA and Ministry of Education: SFP rights-based assessments
Thank you!
☺