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FIVIMS: A New Approach for Nutritional Improvement

by SM Ziauddin Hyder
***The success of a national FIVIMS lies, in addition to top level policy support and long-term budgetary allocation, to a large extent, with capacity building of the selected and other associated organisations as well as the capacity of the Task Force Members.***
Like many other developing countries, malnutrition and hunger are widely prevalent in Bangladesh. Recent data indicate that 50 per cent of the new-boms are of low birth weight and more than 90 per cent of the under-5 children suffer from mild to severe forms of malnutrition. Also, micronutrient malnutrition (e.g. anaemia, goitre and nightblindness) is widely prevalent. commonly affecting women and children. Since mid nineties, the government and donor communities have shown their firm and long-term commitment to Improve the situation as indicated by high investments in many nutrition-related projects. For example, the Bangladesh Integrated Nutrition Project (BINP) and National Nutrition Programme (NNP) implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with financial assistance from the World Bank. The national NGOs have also come forward with their own programmes largely addressing the poor households or together with the government in this endeavour. Despite these efforts, malnutrition and hunger continue to remain as the most severe public health problems here. Few operational problems including proper targeting of the malnourished population and timely and appropriate Interventions have been Drought to be major reasons of low programme effectiveness partly due to inadequate co-ordination and linkages between sectors/organlsatlons concerned.
The 1996 World Food Summit (WFS), held In Rome, resolved to eradicate hunger and achieve food security for all. It was estimated during the summit that 800 million people from developing countries were malnourished. of who 170 million were under-5 children. Participating by 186 member-countries of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the WFS resolved to reduce these figures by 50 per cent at the end of 2015. Properly targeting people and areas who are most at risk of hunger and malnutrition.
determine their causes, and identify most cost-effective interventions received much attention during the summit It was re invented during the summit that reliable and area specific data on food insecurity and vulnerability were lack-ing/Inadequate in many countries. To address this gap. FAO endorsed the establishment of a user-friendly information system in its member-countries through Installing the Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information and Mapping System (FIVIMS). FIVIMS is defined as a system that continuously generate information regarding who are malnourished and vulnerable. where are they located, and how and why they become vulnerable and malnourished. The FIVIMS is a framework within which a wide range of activities may be carried out both at the national and international levels in support of improved information flow system to achieve WFS goals.
Although many organisations in Bangladesh are working with food insecurity and vulnerability and involved in nutrition studies. recent experience suggest that sharing of data among these organisations is limited. Availability of reliable and area specific data on many of these issues are either limited or not available when needed. Variations In methodology, frequency and level of data collection also limit the usefulness of such data. This results in severe information gap in planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating many of the targeted nutrition projects.
With the ultimate alm of establishing FIVIMS. Bangladesh Institute of Research and Training on Applied Nutrition (BIRTAN). Ministry of Agriculture with technical assistance from FAO and BRAC has planned to organise a national workshop on Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information and Mapping System (FIVIMS) on 12-13 July. 2000 at the Islamic Development Bank (1DB) Bhaban. Dhaka The main objectives of the workshop are to discuss the conceptual issues of FIVIMS in Bangladesh
context and to review the current policies and actions related to Information collection, processing. dissemination and use on food insecurity and vulnerability in the country including the range of indicators used. The workshop also aims to create an opportunity for discussion among various stakeholders on further scopes and opportunities for future actions towards establishing the information and mapping system in Bangladesh. The Sectoral Nutrition Foe 1 Points in 12 ministries and t o departments including Nt -Affairs Bureau, as are identified by the Bangladesh National Plan of Action for Nutrition (NPAN), and representatives from concerned national, international and UN bodies are expected to attend the workshop.
The workshop is expected to form a conceptual basis to draft a Technical Co-operation Project on FTVIMS in Bangladesh, which would be implemented by an organisation selected by the government of Bangladesh. The selected organisation should preferably be within in the Ministry of Agriculture having mandates for research and training on nutrition and having Infrastructures down to regional or district level. A National Task Force with representatives from the government agencies. NGOs. donor communities and UN bodies who have active involvement in food Insecurity, vulnerability and nutrition-related activities should also be formed to guide the FTVIMS implementation process.
The success of a national FTVIMS Ues in addition to top level policy support and longterm budgetary allocation, to a large extent with capacity building of the selected and other associated organisations as well as the capacity of the Task Force Members. A user-friendly environment for sharing and smooth flow of data should also be created to optimising the use and benefits of such an information and mapping system.
The author is Senior Research Nutritionist at BRAC. •