In June, the global Food Security, Health, Nutrition and WASH clusters issued a joint statement calling for “urgent and coordinated action” to step up; agree on priority contexts; identify the most vulnerable and key interventions; provide life-saving assistance and invest in duration solutions. Following this global call for action, the Health Cluster Forum dedicated one full session for the inter-sectoral collaboration and multisectoral approach. The topic was covered during its first session on day two. Throughout their deliberations, participants emphasized the significance of consolidating existing bilateral collaborations between different clusters of different countries and translating these bilateral initiatives into an effective inter-sectoral collaboration that is driven by objectives and accountable to affected populations.
During the session, the Global Health Cluster (GHC) briefed the forum on the outcome of a baseline survey that was run in 12 countries in May 2022 to assess the status and readiness of inter-sectoral collaboration. The survey determined the absence of integrated strategies in 10 of the 12 surveyed countries with the lack of a holistic approach for joint programming and multisectoral response. In addition, Yemen and Burkina Faso clusters shared lessons learned from integrated strategies and existing inter-sectoral collaboration that both clusters have established with other clusters using localized integrated strategies. The intent was to share the experiences of Yemen and Burkina Faso with other country clusters in order to accelerate the rollout of the multisectoral approach in all countries especially those that are currently facing food insecurity crises in the Horn of Africa and Sahel.
To support the rollout of the intersectoral collaboration, GHC launched an inter-sectoral Helpdesk whose responsibility is to provide country clusters with regular technical support and guidance; to engage and work closely with the global Food Security, Nutrition, WASH and Protection clusters and to advocate for a united action for responding to different scenarios. GHC inter-sectoral Helpdesk is available for all country clusters to request support for guidance, tools, advocacy, and training of members of clusters in order to advance the multisectoral response approach and to strengthen the inter-sectoral collaboration.
To reinforce this inter-sectoral collaboration at country-level and to implement GHC recommendations that came out of the Health Cluster Forum, Health Cluster Coordinators in the greater Horn of Africa intensified collaboration with other clusters in their respective countries. In Ethiopia, the Agriculture, Food Security, Health, Nutrition and WASH clusters developed a concept of operation with a commitment to work together towards one unified goal of decreasing the death rate as a result of malnutrition, diseases and food insecurity. The five clusters developed an integrated service package with a phased implementation approach. Furthermore, the lead agencies of the five clusters along with OCHA, UNHCR, and Regional Health Bureau of Afar issued a joint advocacy note appealing for USD 7.3 Million to strengthen inter-sectoral collaboration for scaling up response in the region. Discussions are underway to systematize this collaboration, expand the coverage of the service package to other regions and decentralize inter-sectoral collaboration.
In South Sudan, the terms of reference of an Inter-sectoral Collaboration Advisor have been advanced to develop, coordinate, and monitor an evidence-based and impact-oriented multi-sectoral response in close collaboration with other clusters. With the generous support of the United States Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), the South Sudan Health Cluster expects to achieve maximum coverage of people's needs through a multisectoral response approach and to strengthen coordination at national and sub-national levels.
In Somalia, the CCCM, Food Security, Health, Nutrition and WASH clusters drafted a joint famine prevention and mitigation response strategy with a unified goal to leverage existing actions and comparative advantages for the enhanced impact of inter-sectoral famine prevention and response. The five clusters anticipate finalizing the joint strategy and decentralizing its implementation at the sub-national level.
Meanwhile, the inter-sectoral collaboration continues smoothly in Yemen and Burkina Faso. Both countries continue to act as a model for other country clusters.
Related Documents:
South Sudan Terms of Reference – Inter-sectoral Coordinator.
Inter-sectoral Advocacy note from Ethiopia’s Afar region.
Summary of the inter-sectoral collaboration baseline survey
Joint Advocacy Note of Burkina Faso