Plan Senegal Annual Progress report

Plan Sene al PROGRAM AREAS

..

Content

Page N

INTRODUCTION:

'

p 3

Note from the Country Director

SECTION 1.

Plan Senegal presentation 1.1 Our Identity 1.2 Our Vision 1.3 Our Mission 1.4 Our history 1.5 Our approach 1.6 Where we work

'

p 5 p 5 p 5 p 5 p 6 p 6

SECTION 2. Key achievements 2.1 Quality Education 2.2 Child Protection 2.3 Safe and Secure Environment 2.4 Youth and women social and economic leadership

SECTION 3. Case studies

p 8

P10 P12 P14 :

i '

1. Malnoursihed Children Screening: a simple life saving action

P16 :

i

2.Hawa Fall, an onion producer economically empowered!

P18 •

:

-

INTRODUCTION.

Note f ram the C.ountry Director

-

T he year-long strike by school inspectors in Louga and Saint Louis affected some projects like the "Eau Maternite Daara" which was one of the most hit, as technical supervision and grading of students and teachers' performance was not properly conducted.

On a more positive note, it is worth to mention a strengthened synergy between Plan and the Government regarding child rights, particularly the rights of the most vulnerable. An ambitious project of modernizing Koranic schools (known as daara) was launched by the President this year with an aim to equip Koranic students with other skills like French and Mathematics and stopping child begging. This initiative falls in line with our ongoing education programme.

Other achievements include a week-long reflection and action planning regarding inclusive education as well as the first ever decentralized Child Rights Civil Society Organizations (CSO) forum hosted by Senegal to review the progress of this platform's objectives and assess progress regarding the African Charter for Child Rights and Welfare.

M.Amavi Akpamagbo Plan Senegal Country Director The operating environment in Senegal this year was characterized by significant social and political events. Some of these events directly affected Plan's work, include the local elections which paralyzed community partnership and created delays in some project implementation.

The third phase of the administrative decentralisation of the country, which came into force with these elections offers huge opportunities and challenges for Plan, as it directly affects the local structures that we work with particularly for youth and the most vulnerable.

Our participation in this forum was commended by both the CSO and the children for having invited and created space for children to freely express themselves regarding their rights and welfare.

In addition to the CSO forum opportunity, advocacy for child rights by children was also implemented during the BIAAG campaign activities and the Day of the African Child in all the five Programme Units (PUs). For a greater outreach, State and community members.

3

-

In our efforts to provide quality education for all children, the Early Child Integrated Development project in Louga and Saint Louis was extended to the remaining 3 Program Units this year with incorporation of lessons learned from earlier phases. Plan Senegal signed a formal agreement with the Directorate of the Early Child Education in order to create synergy and allow more children to benefit from this project.

Regarding child protection, on a strategic level, Plan was one of the partners who supported the Government of Senegal in child rights monitoring and validation of reports regarding child abuse and trafficking, conflicts and pornography.

Our work to combat and eradicate Tuberculosis is praised by our partners, namely the Global Fund who awarded us an "A" score after a rigorous evaluation process and by the Government of Senegal who proudly mentioned our successes during formal and media broadcasted events including the International TB day.

-

t ogether with the technical and financial supports of the National Offices, West African Regional Office, IH and the donors, we will work to accelerate programme delivery this year and catch up on delays in achieving our strategic objectives as set out in our Country Stragic Plan due to end in June 2016. Plan is in a good position to enjoy continued growth in Senegal and my team and I are ready, determined to work better, harder and more efficiently to help more children in Senegal realise their potentials.

Looking forward to your continued support and trust.

Amavi Akpamagbo Country Director P Ian Senegal

Final evaluation of the Youth Economic Empowerment (YEE) project resulted in Plan Senegal achieving more than the beneficiary target of 30,000 youths, with 45,000 youths (80% of whom are females), actually reached.

Plan Senegal has enjoyed a stable and peaceful FY 2014 both internally and externally; we hope the country and regional contexts will continue to provide favourable and conducive conditions for our work. With the above partnerships and experiences, our internal reforms to improve programme quality and accountability,

4

SECTION I: Plan Senegal -presentation 1.1 Our Identity Plan is an international humanitarian, child-centered development organization, without religious, political or governmental affiliation.

1.4 Our History The biginning

Founded in 1937 by British journalist John Langdon-Davies and refugee worker Eric Muggeridge, Plan's original aim was to provide food, accommodation and education to children whose lives had been disrupted by the Spanish Civil War. Plan has been operating in Senegal since 1982 helping poor children to access their rights to education, health and protection.

Plan works at grass roots level with children, families and communities to bring about long term sustainable development. Child sponsorship is the basic foundation of the organization

1.2 Our Vision Plan's vision is of a world in which all children realise their full potential in societies that respect people's rights and dignity. Plan aims to achieve lasting improvements in the quality of life of deprived children in developing countries, through a process that unites people across cultures and adds meaning and value to their lives

1.3 Our Mission Plan aims to achieve lasting improvements in the quality of life of deprived children in developing countries, through a process that unites people across cultures and adds meaning and value to their lives

Debbie Langdon-Davies, whose father founded in 1937 Plan, visit their sponsored child Dextel Zimbabwe. Debbie sponsors and writes Dextel since

• 1970 The name became " Ian International Gradually began working with deprived children throughout the World

1940

The name was changed to 'Foster Parents Plan Inc'

child sponsorship for children of war Launch child sponsorship in Spain

5

-

-

1. 7 Where we work

1.5 Our approach

Child Centered Community Development is "a rights based approach in which children, families and communities are active and leading participants in their own development.

It enhances their capacity and opportunity to work together with others to address structural causes and consequences of child poverty at all levels."

Pion works in 70 countries around the World: 50 programme countries in Africa (25); Asia (13); Latine America (12) supported by 4 Regional offices 22 donnor countries, (including 2 programme countries: Inda and Colombia) International Headquaters: United Kingdom

,, -

1.6 What we do

••

"

Healthy start in life

•

~ Sexual and reproductive ,. health including HIV-AIDS

y

f~~ Education

Ii

Economic security

Water and sanittaion

J\ , Child protection

'

Child paticipation protection and assistance in immergency

Oonnor conuntries programme conuntries programme conuntries and donnor counties

P.1en Sene el PROGRAM AREAS

1.8. The people The country office is located in Dakar : (# 91 Sotac Mermoz, Ancienne piste).

Total number of staff 131 Staff: 85 men et 35 women D 2 international staff D Total Caseload 35 659 D 30,044 sponsors D works with 18 donnor countries

7

SECTION 2: Key achievements

路-

Quality Education

The major interventions of our education programme in this year have been in the provision of quality education for all children, especially for girls, the results of which have positively impacted the quality of child development.

1. Supporting all communities in the creation of Integrated Early Childhood Development structures for children aged 0 to 6 years The lessons learned from the Integrated Early Childhood Development Project (IECDP) helped consolidate the gains in Plan Louga and St. Louis intervention areas and make an extension of the innovation relating to "play groups" in the Programme Units (PU) of Thies, Kaolack and Dakar Urbain.

Thus, for a CSP target of 26,250 children aged 0-6 years, 13,568 children are currently enrolled this year in IECD structures with 264 play groups (for children aged 0-3 years).

The 264 play groups have operated this year without substantial support from Plan Senegal. In local communities hosting play groups, communities, with the support of decentralized technical services and Plan's front line staff have ensured the functioning of groups. This clearly indicates an effective ownership of the initiative by the host communities.

Other outcomes such as the community involvement, organizational, technical and management acquired skills have inspired the government technical staff, who in turn are ready to replicate them in other areas of the country.

2. Contributing to the modernization of Daaras to gradually discourage forced begging and increase the number of Daara students who join a formal education cycle in the five regions covered by Plan

Amout communities benefiting EDUCATION professional teachers trained(# people) 610 community teachers (#people) 676 school management (#people) 520 school constructed # of structures 34

59 72 50 15

The USAID Basic Education Project (BEP) through its "Vulnerable Children" component (2008-2013) implemented in Dakar Urbain and Louga, has allowed children to enrol in cohorts 1 and 2 in these regions, to complete their normal 3-year cycle French classes in daaras.

8

In addition, the project called "Eau, Maternite, Daara" (EMO), resulting from a tripartite agreement with Anglo-America I Kumba KV and the Government of Senegal has offered a third year of French training to koranic learners, "talibes" of the third cohort enrolled in 22 daaras of Louga and 31 daaras of Dakar.

In addition to the EMO project, a scaling-up of the Basic Education I USAID project achievements helped enrol 481 daara students in the PUs of Kaolack and Thies which have received French courses. So far, for a target of 10 000 students, 4271 have been receiving French courses.

As part of the fight against begging, the sponsorship strategy for daara students developed by women called "ndeyou daara" which was strengthened through the EMO project has significantly reduced child begging; 838 students in Dakar Urbain and Louga benefitted from this project.

In order to draw lessons, disseminate and expand the "community daara model" initiative, Plan Senegal has conducted a study by external consultants. Key results include a significant decrease in child begging, better community ownership, and a cheaper and more sustainable model compared to the one the government is promoting.

1000 girls' project: students tutition classes

13. Supporting the Government of Senegal in developing a practical system to improve the quality of education in primary schools Plan

.___ ~路1 .:

:..

In order to ensure quality education for children in primary schools, Plan Senegal has supported the Government of Senegal in various areas including capacity building for teachers: about 140 teachers where trained in child participation pedagogical approaches (such as the TUSEME approach, TUSEME which means "express yourself' in Swahili), tutoring classes and the "child to child" approach.

Other support includes classroom construction, separate latrines for girls and boys, multipurpose training buildings. Keeping children with disability in mind, ramps were added where needed to the above infrastructures. Finally to allow easy and affordable access to school supplies, Plan supported the setting-up of 40 school shops and 15 libraries, all managed by children and school community based organizations

Daara-Koranic school in Kaolack rebuilt and equiped

9

SECTION 2: Key achievements

路-

Despite great challenges and limited funds, Plan Senegal has been active in influencing key stakeholders at the strategic level and partnering with them to prevent and address child protection issues.

A paradigm shift of interventions relating to protection has emerged this year with the development and implementation of a protection strategy in Plan Senegal. At the programmatic level, it helped to better articulate the goals of the Country Strategic Framework and Programme Units' logical frameworks with the objectives of Plan's child protection strategy.

Child protection

1- Participation at national level

Plan has maintained its participation in relevant national frameworks on child protection and especially in the consensus dynamics between all the institutional, social and political stakeholders involved in child protection and development partners. This has led to the approval of the national strategy on child protection and to the official establishment of the National Inter-agency Committee on Child Protection by the Prime Minister of Senegal, which is the governing body of the national child protection strategy.

Contributing to this new momentum is a major step to boost the sector in that it is a great showcase to increase Plan's visibility in its actions regarding child protection in Senegal.

At the same time, it reflects our commitment to assist the Government in its efforts to protect children through the availability of a five-year strategic paper whose implementation will bring significant changes in the care of vulnerable children . By having the Government take ownership of this, we are inviting it to engage in our endeavours for an effective child-centered development approach for increased protection of children.

School drama against child mariage

2- Monitoring child rights Number at people

communities benefiting

CHILD PROTECTION Partner staff trained (.#people) Community staff trained

262 1564

23 30

Plan's technical expertise in child rights implementation has been highly and nationally acknowledged . That is why it has been actively involved in the monitoring process of child rights in Senegal. Plan's technical contribution to the validation of the initial reports of Senegal on the involvement of children in armed conflicts, pornography and child prostitution has been welcomed by the Ministry of Women, Family, and Children and institutional stakeholders.

10

Also pursuant to our CSP objective to support initiatives in order to strengthen legal and institutional frameworks for child protection, Plan Senegal has provided significant support during the regional reflection dynamics on monitoring the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child .

With Plan's financial support, seven of the fourteen regions in Senegal have had to analyze the situation of child rights in their respective areas and to make recommendations to the State during technical workshops that brought together Government's decentralized technical departments, civil society organizations, children and women organizations, the territorial administration and opinion leaders. The recommendations have led to the development of an action plan and roadmap for 2015. • Main programme achievements Strengthening mechanisms and local protection systems have been effective with significant involvement of community stakeholders for child protection . This new momentum is reinforced by an organizational effort of communities in child protection local structures and supplemented by trainings in order to improve the knowledge level of actors involved in child protection and violence against children.

• Alignment with CRC and CCCD principles: As per the CCCD (Child Centered Community Development) principles, a strong emphasis has been placed this year on children's participation in activities undertaken at national and local levels. The Civil Society Organization (CSO) Forum of the African committee in charge of monitoring the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child was an exchange forum between African experts and 30 children from Dakar, Tambacounda and Kedougou. The children had the opportunity to advocate for the adoption of institutional, educational, legislative, social measures and for more allocation of financial resources for quality education for children in Africa .

The various panels held between children and education experts on the Day of the African Child on the 2014 theme "a child-friendly, quality, free and compulsory education for all children in Africa" served as quality exchange framework between adults and children on issues afflicting them . Also, through our birth registration approach in Plan's intervention areas, advocacy targeting local communities and partners, our support to child protection initiatives have provided meaningful results .

A dynamic partnership between Plan and local partners (members of CBOs, religious leaders, local authorities, government departments) has been developed in order to put more emphasis on the prevention of violence. This, along with the creation or strengthening of local structures through advocacy and any kind of capacity building, has helped them to be functional and consistent in their response.

Departmental child protection committees have also been set up in Thies and Louga for an integrated management system. There are also referrals of abuse cases, improvement in the care and support of abused children .

A sustained effort has been made on strengthening the diligent access of children to care structures in Plan's intervention areas. This new care approach, showed that, out of a total of 147 cases of abused children, 116 were referred for a timely and quality support and indeed have been supported by the relevant structures.

Senegal Minister of women and social welfare visiting Plan's stand

SECTION 2: Key achievements Safe and Secure Environment

路-

Plan Senegal has implemented a number of activities essentially in line with communities' health concerns highlighted in its Country Strategic Plan.

1. Community Nutrition Growth monitoring through monthly weighing The 2014 fiscal year coverage reached 32,020 children, representing 92% of the annual target. This level of coverage is a remarkable performance considering the goal of 90% coverage of the target set in the community nutrition programme. In relation to our CSP, it represents 8% of the target group of 5 year olds. The covered target is made of 16,344 girls (51%) and 15,676 boys (49%). 88% of children (28,202) gained adequate weight.

Quarterly malnutrition screening Malnutrition screening has covered 182,512 children representing 45% of the CSP target including 94,699 girls and 87,816 boys. The number of children screened has shown some increase compared to the FY 2013 where it stood at 149,237 of monitored children, thus representing a relative increase of 18%.

The malnutrition rate varies between 2 and 5% in the districts covered by Plan while at the national level, the average is of 10% as revealed in the last health surveys (SMART* and ENSAN 2013).

2. The Fight against Tuberculosis

preparation of the enriched flour for malnourished children

Through the network of partner community-based organizations including Mothers' Committees and Women's Promotion Groups, this project has greatly contributed to the improvement of the country strategic programme indicators relating to screening cases and improved knowledge of the communities in the areas involved in the fight against Tuberculosis.

The overall record for the 2014 fiscal year is satisfactory though all the data from the last quarter is not yet available. Plan's overall performance is of 113% in terms of percentage of people coughing more than 15 days and referred by the community to health facilities, thus representing a population of 10,658, of which 1, 162 are confirmed positive among the cases referred by the community. *SMART !Standardized Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transitions\ is a standardized , simplified field survey methodology that produces a snapshot of the current sifuation on the ground

12

The involvement of children as well as of sports and cultural associations for sensitization and monitoring reminders with communities, showed how the participation and community-based strategy are important to ensure success in this programme to fight tuberculosis. Aspects related to the neighbourhood, to the proximity and involvement of young people to strengthen the information collection system and patient monitoring are key elements contributing in their application, to the results achieved .

3. The Fight against Malaria The results of home visits show in June 2014 that 67.2% of children slept the day before the visit, under LLINs (long-lasting insecticide-treated nets) while the coverage rate for LLIN is of 74% .

According to our programme units' data, a total of 338 new cases of malaria were reported in Plan's intervention areas during the year. During the same period, 73,881 people were reached (65,306 women and 8,575 men) through 28,410 talk sessions and 17467 interviews I home visits.

In light of the above results, considerable efforts have been made in the fight against malaria, particularly in the education component and through the application of the principle of inclusion, while taking into account all stakeholders able to influence in a way or another the behaviour and practices of the targets at risk (opinion, religious and social leaders, sports and school authorities .. .).

However, efforts are still needed for the regular replacement of LLINs that remains an imperative to couple with ongoing awareness for the use of LLINs in any season, according to the Roll Back Malaria slogan advocating the use of LLINs by "the whole family, all year round and every night."

4. Access to potable water The 2014 fiscal year was characterized by a significant increase in the coverage of drinking water. Thus data from PUs showed a substantial improvement in access to safe drinking water in Kaolack area ranging from 82 .6% in 2013 to 97% this year with the drilling of a new borehole providing access to water to 15 villages for a total population of 8,599 inhabitants including 2,392 children.

inauguration of a borehole supplying water to several villages

The construction of a new water tower in Mbourwaye (region of Thies), in addition to the extension of the water system helped serve a population of 102,687 people representing 90% of coverage for a target of 113,526 inhabitants.

Louga Program Unit completed the installation of the water desalinating unit in the community of Ndiagne, allowing access to potable water to 15% of the population (4,078 people).

These actions significantly contribute to the effectiveness of health and hygiene programmes that have been developed targeting women, children and young people in schools because these programmes can only be effective if the issue of drinking water access is solved.

13

SECTION 2: Key achievements

·-

Youth and women socio1and economic leadership

1. Actions undertaken through this programme This year, the programme has been implemented through a few projects such as: · The PAGES project (Promoting African Grassroots Economic Security Through Education And Skills) funded by the Canadian cooperation through Plan Canada, · The YEE (Youth Economic Empowerment) project funded by MASTER CARD again with the support of Plan Canada . · The sponsoring funds that some PUs have decided to use to test another way of financing activities related to a methodology of mitigating costs, reducing dependence on external funding and developing methodology to interest volunteer youth structures which might in the near future take over for the extension of the approach •Youth economic empowerment:

In addition to creating easy and youth financial access to youth through VSLA, this project created linkage between young people who wanted to increase their income portfolio and a microfinance institution. A youth friendly product named "NDOORTE" meaning "the beginning" in the local language (Wolof) was developed and implemented.

Members of a Village Savings and Loon group having a weekl meeting Based on encouraging results from the use of VSLA (Village Savings and Loan Association) approach and to strengthen synergy between different country programs, Plan Senegal has developed and implemented a strategy on m icrofinance.

This approach proved also to be the best means of achieving the objectives of the women and youth economic and social leadership.

HOUSEHOLD ECO SECURITY People business training (:/t people) MF groups supported :/t organisations

Number at people

1505 2370

communities benefiting 33 70

This process of forging relations between them has resulted in obtaining funding from the microfinance institution. To date, more than 50 youth groups have opened an account in the structure and have received a loan to enhance their income generating activities It should be noted that to date nearly 41,000 young people of which 36,000 girls and 4,982 boys are actively involved in savings and credit groups and were able to save an amount of 425 million FCFA, circa €648,000 ..

• Women's economic empowerment :

It is a program which aims to strengthen women's economic empowerment to promote better consideration of the educational needs of their children. To date, 1,000 groups were created and members are participating in different training sessions.

14

B-Gender Equality To promote gender equality, Plan Senegal worked at implementing the gender policy through several activities that have led to satisfactory results.

Promoting the "Because I am a Girl" campaign was also among the various highlights this year. • Implementation of the gender strategy

The implementation of the gender strategy was done through the monitoring of the action plan resulting from Plan Senegal gender audit (GESA -Gender Equality Self Assessment), and also in pursuit of the dynamics initiated last year. Thus, when reviewing the CSP indicators, gender mainstreaming has been reinforced in the different country programs (CP).

The formulation of gender-based action plans in all PUs and Country Office, allowed to follow the recommendations of the GESA to create an enabling environment for gender equality. The action plans have been implemented based on available resources, which has enabled to train the staff on Plan's Gender Equality Manual.

The training sessions were a highlight in gender-related interventions.

Various workshops were held for the training of trainers, and of staff within the 5 PUs. In addition, gender policy has been included in the induction programme of new staff.

The process of gender mainstreaming in Plan Senegal projects and programmes has started with a training workshop on gender analysis in gender equality based projects, gender-sensitive targets and indicators.

These workshops were attended by Monitoring Evaulation Research, CDC Community Developpment Facilitator and project staff.

Two projects were analyzed with gender lenses including the school canteen project in Kaolack PU and the Nutrition project being implemented in all PUs. • The "Because I Am A Girl" campaign

The "Because I Am A Girl" campaign was carried out through various activities. The programme component of the BIAAG campaign was included in the education sector through various ongoing field projects such as the Kaolack's 2000 girls project, the PAGES project at Kaolack, Thies and Saint Louis. As regards advocacy and communication components, various activities have been held with the participation of key stakeholders and the support of our campaign female Ambassador.

15

SECTION 3: Case studies

·-

Malnoursihed_ Childr!!n Scre~ning: a simple hfe saVlng act1on Programme Unit(s): PU Louga Introduction

The Louga area is marked by an increasingly low rainfall whereas the main activities are livestock and agriculture. The population is characterised by high levels of transhumance and illiteracy. Therefore, community mobilization for health and nutrition activities is a major challenge.

Plan has been implementing nutrition activities in 6 districts including at Koki which has 11 health posts, 32 health huts and one health centre. Our objectives are to: • Improve the nutritional status of children aged 0-5 years and of pregnant and lactating women • Reduce maternal, infant and child morbidity and mortality.

In 2012, a national survey revealed that malnutrition in Louga stood at 8% .

Our interventions have helped to record an underweight rate of 3% and a moderate acute malnutrition rate of 3% . This was achieved through a better organization of stakeholders by involving more people in health management, capacity building of community workers and development of advocacy and communication.

Description of the Experience

Several activities are implemented: the monthly weighing of children aged 0 -24 months, the screening for malnutrition in children aged 6-59 months, the management at community level of moderately malnourished children that were screened. In each village a steering committee made up of community members is set up. It is responsible for the management and smooth operations of health and nutrition activities. These activities have improved services and enhanced attendance rate at health huts. The district relays deliver a package of activities which helped monitor 1,377 boys and 1,492 girls through weighing . boys with 215 who have been provided with regular care at community level.

Material, financial and human resources were provided by Plan, the community and the MoH. They include 106 community relays, 4 community health educators, Plan staff, health huts and delivery sites.

The financial resources provided by Plan were up to 5000FCFA (€7) per child and complemented by community contribution which was often in kind. Plan staff ensure coordination and management of the partnership with local communities and the health district. In addition, they monitor and supervise all procedures related to this project.

The strategy focusses on early screening of malnutrition at the community level through the quarterly screening of 6-59 month-olds and supported by two intervention options: · Intervention option #1: Referring severely malnourished children to health facilities through guidance, support and monitoring of the relays, · Intervention option #2: The management of acute moderate malnourished children at the community level by the relays.

SECTION 3: Case studies

路-

Hawa Fan, an onion producer economically empowered!

Programme Unit : Saint. Louis Introduction The VSLA (Village Savings and Loan Association) is a new method to fight against poverty. It is to supervize and enhance the involvement of the community especially women in the care of their family needs. The method provides a community development leverage and promotes collective involvement of groups that are less economically competitive.

Like H.Fall, they are nearly 8,000 women in St. Louis area to benefit from the VSLA methodology which is a micro finance community methodology sponsored by the PAGES (African Program for access to education and economic development) project. This is a project focused on the quality of education and reduction of household poverty.

Her only recourse was the old village moneylender who would lend money with high interest rates: "There used to be an old and wealthy merchant who would lend us money, and inputs to plant our onions. But during harvesting he would require from us to sell our production at a price he has fixed; his price was a/ways below the normal market price. He would take a kilo of onions at 200 F CFA while in the market, you could sell it at 250 or 300 F CFA. Sometimes, we would sell him the crop at a loss and it was he who would get all our money."

This situation led H. Fall to operate at a loss, for the benefit of the old merchant who got rich at the expense of poor village women.

That is when Hawa has decided to integrate the VSLA group (Village Saving Credit Association) in her village. "/met the group in the second year of its creation. After watching the first members of this group, I realized that this organization was supporting them through enormous services. Members of the group had more financial autonomy, they could do their business without incurring debt, and they would take advantage of their work. "

The Project Objective The intent of the project is to participate in improving the quality of education and increase the incomes of households in Plan's intervention areas. In St. Louis area, eight local communities have benefitted from this methodology. The promotion of VSLA groups has been carried across villages. The group is the result of a support process conducted by an operational partner of Plan.

Before the implementation of activities in a given area, integration meetings are held with community leaders and local resource persons to share on issues and scope of VSLA. The VSLA enables mothers to support their children's education.

With the climate change effects, the advancing desert and coastal erosion, breeding becomes increasingly difficult in the north of the country and poverty is increasing . People who previously were breeders will begin to embrace other occupations including agriculture, petty trade, transportTranshumance movements, rural exodus and migration will then be more frequent in the villages.

Hawa happy with her harvest

18

SECTION 3: Case studies

·-

Malnoursihed Children Screening: a simple life saving action Programme Unit(s): PU Louga

The case presented below is a success of the Intervention option #1 described above.

The child N.F S lives in the village of Ndiobene Belel in the community of Thiamene, District of Koki.

Testimony of a beneficiary child's mother

"I would first greet the Community Health Educator K.D. It is thanks to him and Plan that my child was rescued. Everyone thought that my child would die. But it is mainly through the efforts of the village relay, A. S, and of Plan's team that my child was saved from severe acute malnutrition, which afflicted her.

It was on 31 December 2013 when the educator K.D came to me despite the holiday and even though I was away. It's on my return that I was informed of his coming to visit me accompanied by the relay. The next day, K.D and A.S came back to tell me about my child and asked me to take her to the health center of Koki while giving me FCA 5,000 as a support to purchase drugs.

At 9 months, my daughter could not do anything because of malnutrition, except lying in bed. I also was as penalised as my child since I was exhausted of always having to carry her, take care of her while ensuring the domestic workload.

Today, thanks to Plan I was rehabilitated because things have changed .

I have no words to thank you . I can attest your interest and support for children . I also thank the staff of Koki health center for their time and availability and for their nutritional support for my child and me."

Observed Results:

• Close monitoring of severe malnourished children has enabled referral at appropriate time; • The synergy between project stakeholders and health facilities at community level (huts and posts) has improved the management of referrals; • Through advocacy, local authorities allocated funds to health facilities for nutrition activities; • Community contribution: families established grain reserves for cooking emonstrations; • The availability of skilled community workers who are committed to stand by the community (relays, birth attendants, etc.) played a lot on the uptake of key messages and behaviour change; • The process of sensitization and communication includes non-discrimination and inclusion.

Lessons Learned: • Implementation of activities is not necessarily linked to the availability of dfunding, but rather to the commitment and determination of key stakeholders.

• The use of sensitization tools at the community level has enabled to reach many women .

• The involvement of religious and traditional leaders allowed the target populations to better integrate the six-month exclusive breastfeeding .

Conclusion

The example presented here highlights the various strategies used to fight malnutrition among children, and the tangible results achieved through the commitment and determination of the stakeholders including relays, parents and health personnel. Thus, community outreach remains a secure way by which to achieve results with vulnerable targets that are also affected by poverty.

17