Nutrition International reviews its technical assistance portfolio in light of the COVID-19 pandemic

* Originally published by Nutrition International

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nutrition International’s Nutrition Technical Assistance Mechanism (NTEAM) has conducted a thorough review across its portfolio of current or planned Technical Assistance (TA) to determine, and implement, the necessary modifications that could optimize their contribution to national COVID-19 impact mitigation responses. The review also included a readjustment of TA workplans, in the event that the original deliverables no longer constitute a priority due to COVID-19, or where activities are no longer feasible, such as travel, workshops, in-person meetings with government, etc.

For NTEAM’s largest technical assistance project, the TAN project – funded with UKaid from the UK Government – the review was a collaborative effort with SUN Focal Points, Nutrition International Country Directors and TAN TA providers and, in some cases, heads of nutrition in government. Consultations with them have been led by TAN Regional Project Teams in Asia and Africa, and supported by TAN staff based in Ottawa, Canada (at headquarters). To share information and ensure alignment with other efforts, Nutrition International is also holding coordination calls with the SUN Movement Secretariat to share what we’ve learned about the in-country context and resulting TA adaptation.

So far a total of 21 TAs that are either on-going or starting soon have been reviewed in four Asian countries (Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan and the Philippines) and six African countries (Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria and Senegal), as well as the TA provided to the SUN Movement Secretariat in Geneva, and to the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community.

We are reassured by the reaffirmation by the ten countries of the continued relevance of the agreed TA, and their agreement that it should continue. In some cases, SUN Focal Points felt that the TA has gained even greater relevance in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as support for the development of Indonesia’s National Food and Nutrition Action Plan 2020-2024. However, in several assignments, the approach taken to deliver TA has had to adapt to the limitations imposed by COVID-19 response measures, for example:

• To support TA provision at the subnational level in Ethiopia and Kenya, where trips to the subnational level cannot be undertaken, funds earmarked in TA budgets for travel are being re-allocated to internet and telephone credit, for improving communication with subnational teams, and to printing, which can be done at the subnational level to ensure access by the intended beneficiaries
• Dissemination workshops in Pakistan are being replaced with virtual exchanges, and in Kenya the Guidance Manual being developed to help county officials develop Nutrition Action Plans (CNAPs) will include information to ensure that these CNAPs will also be responsive and adaptive to emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic
• In several countries routine face-to-face working meetings are being replaced with phone or video calls
• In the Philippines, support to subnational entities with nutrition budgeting exercise for 2020 is being provided via virtual platforms such as Zoom
• In some situations, selected activities such as training, have been postponed for two to three months, while the situation is regularly re-assessed

Finally, the TA review has identified additional needs for support to national COVID-19 responses which have been incorporated into TA workplans, as detailed in this article. As the COVID-19 situation evolves, the TA review will continue with all the countries that have ongoing or upcoming TA, to ensure each TA’s workplan reflects up to date COVID-19 considerations.