Rapid Nutritional Assessment

Rapid Nutritional Assessment

/ RAPID NUTRITIONAL ASESSMENT /
  1. TITLE AND DEFINITION OF THE ACTIVITY

RAPID NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT

1.1. DEFINITION

Activity aimed at the rapid assessment of the nutritional situation during an emergency.

1.2. INTERVENTION CRITERIA

Natural disaster, drought, population displacement with possible implications on the population nutritional status.

  1. METHODOLOGY

2.1. Sector:Health and Nutrition

2.2. Sub-sectorSurveys, monitoring and assessment activities.

2.3. Beneficiaries

Direct: Ministry of Health (MoH) and International community if the information is disseminated.

Indirect: Malnourished children detected and referred to a nutrition facility.

2.4. Estimated length:3 to 10 days

2.5.Counterparts: Local and international NGOs, local authorities, all levels of Ministry of Health.

2.6.Specific goals:

To determine/estimate the seriousness of the nutrition situation.

To collect reliable data (quantitative and qualitative) that enable to measure the need for an intervention by providing the information needed for decision-making.

To define the strategic intervention priorities. To formulate an action plan and determine the resources needed.

To ensure a nutritional response that is adapted to the populations needs.

To inform the MoH and the international community about the assessment results.

2.7.Activities:

2.7.1. Direct on-the-field activities:

Anthropometric assessments

Gathering quantitative and qualitative information

Direct assessments of structures and services

2.7.2.Staff training to implement a rapid assessment.

2.8.Indicators:

% of children with global acute malnutrition (for rapid assessments)

Presence of aggravating factors:

The portion of the general food ration is under the nutritional minimums(< 2,100 kcal person/day)

Rise in the prevalence of acute malnutrition≥ 5% of the baseline

The crudemortality rate is:

≥ 1/ 10,000 people/ day→ ALERT

≥ 2/ 10,000 people/ day→ URGENT

The 0-5 years mortality rate is:

≥ 2/ 10,000 children/ day→ALERT

≥ 4/ 10,000 children/ day→URGENT

Outbreak of epidemics (measles, cholera...)

High prevalence of respiratory infections or diarrhoea illnesses

Situations of extreme cold and inadequate or insufficient shelter or refuge

Unstable situation: rise in the number of refugees, population displacement

2.9. Expected results:

Precise, reliable information on the current nutritional situation has been gathered for proper decision-making.

2.10. Sources of verification:

Assessment report and appendices

Reports/data from counterparts

  1. RESOURCES

3.1. HUMAN

3.1.1.“Rapid Anthropometric Assessment” team: (1 to 5 teams)

Purpose / Status / No. of staff members / Length / Purpose
Programme staff
Rapid Assessmentmanager / Expat / 1 / End of assessment and report / Nutrisurvey.ena user
Supervisor/registrar / National / 1 (x no. of teams) / End of assessment / For anthropometric assessment
Measurer / National / 1 (x no. of teams) / End of assessment / For anthropometric assessment
Interviewer / National / 1 (x no. of teams) / End of assessment / For data gathering

3.1.2. Community participation:

Community participation is required for planning the assessment, notifying the communities and preparing locals for the interviews.

3.2. MATERIAL

This kit includes the complete material for five teams:

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Nutrition Rapid Nutrition Assessment Activity Sheet

/ RAPID NUTRITIONAL ASESSMENT /
  • 100 MUAC tapes
  • Enough forms for data gathering
  • 500-sheet package of paper
  • 10 pencil cases
  • 10 rubbers
  • 10 rulers
  • 10 pairs of scissors
  • 10 pencil sharpeners
  • 1 box of paper clips
  • 5 hard folders
  • 5 assessor diaries (notebook)
  • 5 rucksacks
  • 5round staffs110 cmlong
  • 1 string measuring 5mm x 100 m
  • 5 boxes of chalk

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Nutrition Rapid Nutrition Assessment Activity Sheet

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3.3. FINANCIAL

In order to draw up the budget related to this activity, the following should be kept in mind:

  • Programme and support staff.
  • Programme materials.
  • Possible rental of facilities and/or warehouses and/or vehicles.
  • Visibility of donors.
  • Training.
  • And other expenses to support implementation of the activity.

Keep in mind the format and rules of each donor.

  1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
  • Logistic fileon Emergency Response SystemKits
  • Humanitarian Standards Pocket Guide. The Sphere Project, June 2006
  • Sphere project, Sphere Project Handbook, 2004:
  • Federation Disaster Emergency Needs Assessment: WFP Emergency Field Operations Pocketbook:
  • UNDAC Disaster Assessment and Coordination Field Handbook:
  • Global Nutrition Cluster. Nutrition in Emergencies Tool Kit, June 2008
  • IRA format from the Global Nutrition Cluster, May 2008
  • ER Formatfrom the ACH-E Emergency Pool.

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Nutrition Rapid Nutrition Assessment Activity Sheet