A retrospective study of emergency supplementary feeding programmes

This article by Carlos Navarro presents the results of a study carried out in 2005-2006 by Save the Children UK and the Emergency Nutrition Network (ENN) which analyses the efficacy and effectiveness of 82 programmes of food supplements, implemented between 2002 and 2005. The study notes a clear lack of consensus and detail about the objectives of these programmes. The results assessment of these programmes also appears to be insufficient and incorrect. So it would seem necessary to establish minimum reporting standards. In particular, reporting must specifically account for patients who leave the programme without treatment (which is not possible with current Sphere standards). In addition, the design of programmes must be more sensitive to the opportunity cost of patient care and other external factors, because these enable a determination of risks of defaulting. Given the difficulties inherent in assessing the impacts of programmes at population level, the study proposes estimating the proportion of children with moderate to severe undernutrition. The conclusion is as follows: although a large number of children took part in the programmes that were analysed, there seems to have been no major positive effect on stunting in children at population level. So if the aim of the intervention is to improve the situation of the wider population, alternative interventions may be more appropriate. The report concludes that a body or organisation should take responsibility for assessing the relative impacts and cost effectiveness of the various types of intervention carried out during nutritional crises.

 Save The Children, Emergency Nutrition Network - June 2007