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    10.2.3 The FSC and the Nexus – Strengthening HDPN Coordination
    • 06 Dec 2023
    • 7 Minutes to read
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    10.2.3 The FSC and the Nexus – Strengthening HDPN Coordination

    • Updated on 06 Dec 2023
    • 7 Minutes to read
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    Jointly launched by the European Union, FAO and WFP in 2016 at the WHS, the Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC) is a direct example of the WHS’s call for new approaches to tackle protracted and recurrent crises by bridging the divide between development and humanitarian partners while contributing to the global efforts on the SDGs to End Hunger (SDG2). The main aim was to reduce needs, risks and vulnerabilities associated with acute hunger; achieve food security and improved nutrition; and promote sustainable agriculture and food systems. The GNAFC launched the Global Network Against Food Crisis Programme in 2018 with the gFSC supporting strengthening joint programming and response at country and regional levels.

    Broader gFSC Objective: The overall objective is to build the FSC capacity to respond to food crises through strengthening the HDP nexus approach. To this end, the gFSC has worked to equip FSCs in five pilot countries with the human resources and tools required to enhance coordination among HDP partners by bridging existing development and peace coordination platforms, including strengthening coordination at sub-national level. 

    Chad Pilot: Having introduced this approach in 2019 in Chad, it is currently (2022) being implemented in four provinces. Here, WFP and FAO , with the relevant clusters (Nutrition, Food Security and WASH) – and supported by the gFSC – are leading an all-stakeholders’ inclusive effort to overhaul the efforts around eradicating hunger (SDG2) by implementing a joint response plan. This is done in close partnership with NGOs, CBOs (different groups: farmers associations, youth, women, etc.), local authorities, government technical ministries/entities and the donors (“donors HDPN task force"). The pilot objectives and activities are aligned with the collective HDPN outcomes for Chad and activities are in line with the IASC Light Guidance on Collective Results.

    Developing Common Tools: The activities, products and tools being developed for this pilot can be used by FSCs in countries working towards operationalising of the nexus. While context specific, the approach is designed for areas identified as protracted food insecurity hotspots.

     The gFSC has developed guidance on how to improve synergy and alignment between humanitarian activities, resilience and peace efforts by strengthening coordination among HDP actors describing various options and delivery modalities to respond to different types of crises in order to effectively promote resilience, food security and nutrition. This includes products and tools such as: 

    • The HDPN Approach - A Practical Guidance with Recommended Steps & Examples from Country FSCs: This will provide practical guidance and options available to FSCs interested in increasing HDP sensitization and/or supporting efforts to operationalise the HDPN (either through a light approach to enhance current FSC work or through a more advanced approach, for example using the “food security graduation planning approach”). This includes guidance on four key steps: 
      1. Mapping of HDP actors and activities; 
      2. Joint analysis of the structural drivers of hunger and food insecurity;
      3. Aligned, complementary and joint response planning; and,  
      4. Joint monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning.  
    • The HDPN Handbook of Activities: FSC Coordinators can consult this guidance to assess what type of activities may be the best combination of HDP response options in a given context. 
    • Guidance on Mapping of HDP Activities and Actors (in five countries): This provides step by step guidance on how to capture development and peace activities within the current humanitarian IM mapping at country level.

    The above tools and products can be found on the FSC website – or contact the GST. 

    Scale-Up of HDPN Activities: During 2022, the gFSC has scaled up the "roll-out" of HDPN related activities in other locations, using the above-mentioned tools and with consideration of the context specific requirements. This includes supporting the food security sectors and clusters in Mali, Nigeria, Somalia and South Sudan with a view to strengthen the coordination among HDP Actors. Examples of this work can be found in the Practical Guidance with Recommended Steps & Examples from Country FSCs.

    The HDP Nexus – What does this mean for the FSC Coordinator? The HDP nexus is likely to shape the strategic approach of HRP s to some extent, especially in countries with protracted crises where there are (multi-year or) annual HRP s. Depending on the context and the role of the government, it is usually the RC/HC who, with the HCT, will initiate the process of articulating collective outcomes across the various planning frameworks and overseeing their operationalization, including their implementation and financial resourcing. Within this context, the FSC Coordinator, working closely with the CLAs and FSC partners to identify their priorities, can consult the IASC guidance on recommended steps when working to operationalise the nexus and collective outcomes (see pp. 4-16). The Coordinator should be mindful of the need to preserve humanitarian space, independence and respect for humanitarian principles. 

    In case of a less formalised approach to the nexus, the FSC Coordinator could liaise with development partners and development donors to map their activities and funding. At a minimum, the FSC should work to link humanitarian activities with early recovery activities from the outset, especially after a sudden disaster. 

    Specific Actions: The specific actions, which the FSC Coordinator can take to increase HDP sensitisation and/or support efforts to operationalise the HDPN at country level are included in the “HDPN approach - A Practical Guidance with Recommended Steps & Examples from Country FSCs” (available here in 2023). Note that IASC Task Force 4 (see 1.4.2) is expected to develop HDPN specific guidance for clusters in 2023 – contact the gFSC for updates.

    Examples: In addition to the example of Chad above, in Somalia, the nexus has been a priority for aid actors for a number of years. Here, key activities in 2020–2021 included greater coordination and alignment of the new UNSDCF and HRP , including shifting resilience-building activities to the UNSDCF and focusing the HRP on live-saving activities in light of increasing humanitarian needs. 

    Contact the GST for examples and country specific documentation from, for example, the FSCs in Nigeria, Mali, Somalia and South Sudan.

    Support, Products and Tools:

    • Coordinators can request support to undertake any activities related to the HDP nexus from the Global Support Team (GST). 
    • FSC tools, products and guidance developed are available on the FSC website.

    Resources:

    • Online training: See this Nexus Essentials online course (by the Nexus Academy, a DAC-UN Dialogue initiative, 2022), for an introduction to Nexus approaches across the HDP pillars. 
    • IASC Light Guidance on Collective Results (IASC Results Group 4, 2020).
    • See the video ‘Visualizing the P in the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus’ (FAO , IOM 2020) for a quick overview of the HDP nexus. 
    • Main Global Network Against Food Crises website (EU, FAO , WFP).

    Additional Resources:

    Note: From April 2022, Results Group 4 has transitioned to IASC Task Force 4 - this Task Force plans to develop HDPN guidance tailored for country clusters in 2023.

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