Post on 27-Apr-2018
Link NCA – A Nutrition Causal
Analysis
Marie SARDIER (ACF), Link NCA Project
Coordinator
CORE Group
March 2nd 2016
• What is a Link NCA? Why we developed a new method?
• Research questions, objectives and key steps
• What the methodology IS NOT
• Crucial points to keep in mind
• Key results and added-value of Link NCA study
• When can a Link NCA study be relevant?
• Available tools and documents
• New contexts – upcoming technical development
AGENDA
• STRUCTURED: for a more efficient process and to
ensure quality and usability of results
• LOCAL: for programs which are adapted to
communities, livelihood zones, homogenous areas
• OPERATIONNALLY REALISTIC: to balance scientific
rigor and field realities (resources et expertise).
A need for a methodology that
is:
• A mixed-methods, participative, holistic study
• Based on UNICEF’s Conceptual Framework
• Objective: to build a consensus
• Based on evidence
• About possible causes of under-nutrition
(Acute or Chronic) and mechanisms
• In a local, homogenous context
What is a Link NCA (2010 …):
Qualitative
Study SMART
Risk
Factor
Survey
1.
Malnutrition
prevalence
2. Risk-factors
prevalence
3. Nuanced and
detailed description of
pathways
4. shocks, seasonality
and historical trends
5. Risk factors and
main pathways
Research questions and Objectives
6. R
ec
om
me
nd
ati
on
s t
o im
pro
ve
nu
trit
ion
se
cu
rity
pro
gra
mm
ing
Preparatory Phase / ≈ 1 month
Identify potential risk factors and pathways / 4-6 weeks
Data collection / 7-8 weeks
Data analysis and construction of a consensus / 6-8 weeks
Communication of results and response planning / 3 weeks
4,5-5 months
Key Steps
What tools to be used at each step
Preparatory Phase
Gather literature on local context (grey
lit/reports, and academic literature)
Decide if Link NCA is necessary / relevant
Define « homogeneous » zone
Identify potential risk
factors and pathways
Analysis of literature on local context
KI interviews
Module « Pathways of Undernutrition »
Data collection Quantitative: (cross-sectionnal survey / cluster sampling) Survey : Indicators’ Guide + SMART Qualitative: in 4 communities
• It is not a rapid, “quick win” methodology
• Most of its results cannot be generalized,
they are specific to a homogenous context
• It is not a tool for emergency needs
assessments
• Supposed to be valid for a while – until
major changes / evolution have happened
• Complementarity of qualitative and quantitative
methods with strong qualitative component
• Skills of “Analyst” are crucial – importance of
good recruitment
• Decisive importance of preparatory phase
(gather information – think “out of the box”)
• Take a step back from our own technical fields
• Under-nutrition prevalence
• Key risk factors prevalence
• Better understanding of communities’ own perceptions
and knowledge about under-nutrition – hear the voice
of affected populations
• Under-nutrition pathways and associated risk factors,
in all their complexity
• Description of groups vulnerable to under-nutrition,
affected populations
• Description of local mechanisms which lead to under-
nutrition and their interconnections
• Local causal model of under-nutrition
• New, or detailed and
nuanced understanding of
pathways, mechanisms
• Advocacy tool
• Improve programming
Added-value
Deconstruct preconceived ideas
on causes of under-nutrition
Ex:
Burkina Faso (saisonnalité / hunger gap)
Limited information of
vulnerable zone.
A few interventions may be in
place. Ministry of health’s agenda
is to reduce prevalence of under-
nutrition.
A crisis emerged rapidly (rapid-
onset), the population is in a
critical situation, and a rapid
increase in under-nutrition cases is
expected
(not what the methodology was 1st devised for – but recent requests…)
Many and varied interventions on
underlying causes of under-
nutrition in place for the past 5 / 10
… years; but prevalence has not
diminished.
Tools and Resources
OVERVIEW
GUIDELINES
TOOL BOX
INDICATOR
GUIDE
PATHWAYS
MODULE
TRAINING
KITS
www.linknca.org
Bangladesh Burkina Faso Ethiopie Inde Kenya Pakistan Philippines RDC Sud Soudan Tchad Zimbabwe (Yemen
3 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
ACF-F ACF-F ACF-F ACF-F
ACF-US ACF-US ACF-Sp ACF-US ACF-US
ACF-F ACF-F
ACF-F) Afghanistan
Tchad Ethiopie Cambodge Kenya Mauritanie Côte d’Ivoire Ouganda RCA
1 1 2 1 1 1 3 1 1
ACF-F IMC
ACF-F ACF-US
Concern ACF-US
ACF-F/PNN ACF-US
Croix Rouge-F
2010-2015
2015-2016
DONORS
ACF OCHA
OFDA SIDA
ECHO UNHCR/WFP
DFATD AFD
UNICEF
• Urban Contexts
Abidjan (PNN, ACF)?; Nairobi
(Concern)?
• Camps / Displacement situations
Bentiu PoC (Cluster, Concern)? Dollo
Ado (WFP, HCR)? Gambella (HCR)?
• Improve Indicators’ Guide and
Pathways module
Upcoming Technical Development
• Site Internet:
• http://linknca.org
• Technical Support – Link NCA – Blanche Mattern
• bmattern@actioncontrelafaim.org
• Project Coordinator – Marie Sardier
• msardier@actioncontrelafaim.org