Social Protection And Food Security & Nutrition Training Course

Introduction

In contexts facing persistent food insecurity and high rates of malnutrition, strategically integrating Social Protection with initiatives focused on Food Security & Nutrition offers a powerful and sustainable pathway to improved health, well-being, and resilience. This essential training course is meticulously designed to equip policymakers, program managers, nutritionists, humanitarian actors, and development practitioners with the specialized knowledge and practical skills required to design and implement comprehensive social protection programs that directly address malnutrition and improve food access. Participants will gain a robust understanding of cash transfers for nutrition, fortified foods, behavior change communication, and multi-sectoral coordination, enabling them to maximize the impact of social safety nets on nutritional outcomes. Our comprehensive curriculum emphasizes hands-on application, best practices, and real-world case studies pertinent to the dynamic food security and nutrition landscape in Nairobi, Kenya, and the wider East African region, empowering you to combat hunger and malnutrition.

This nutrition-sensitive social protection course is crucial for individuals and organizations in Kenya and across Africa striving to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty and malnutrition, enhance household resilience to food shocks, and accelerate progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger). Mastering cash transfers for nutrition outcomes, implementing food security social safety nets, and understanding integrated approaches to food and nutrition security are indispensable for addressing the root causes of malnutrition, strengthening local food systems, and building healthy, productive communities. This program offers an unparalleled opportunity to elevate your expertise in social protection for food security and nutrition-sensitive programming, positioning your organization at the forefront of efforts to ensure adequate food and nutrition for all citizens across the region.

Target Audience

• Social Protection Program Managers
• Nutritionists & Public Health Professionals
• Food Security Experts
• Humanitarian Aid Workers
• Government Officials (Agriculture, Health, Social Affairs)
• Development Program Managers (NGOs & UN Agencies)
• Researchers in Nutrition & Social Policy

Course Objectives

• Understand the complex linkages between social protection, food security, and nutrition.
• Learn various forms of malnutrition and their determinants in vulnerable populations.
• Master principles for designing nutrition-sensitive social protection programs.
• Develop proficiency in leveraging cash transfers to improve food access and dietary diversity.
• Explore "cash plus" programming that integrates social protection with nutrition-specific interventions.
• Understand strategies for linking social protection beneficiaries to food systems and markets.
• Learn about behavior change communication (BCC) for improved nutrition practices.
• Identify food security and nutrition indicators for monitoring and evaluation of social protection.
• Develop effective multi-sectoral coordination mechanisms for integrated programming.
• Explore the role of social protection in building resilience to food shocks and climate change.
• Understand how social protection can support local food production and sustainable diets.
• Drive significant improvements in food security and nutrition outcomes through social protection.
• Position yourself as a leader in designing and implementing integrated programs to combat hunger and malnutrition.

Duration

5 Days

Course Content

Module 1: Foundations of Food Security, Nutrition & Social Protection

• Defining food security (availability, access, utilization, stability) and nutrition (malnutrition types)
• The double burden of malnutrition in developing countries like Kenya
• The conceptual linkages between social protection and improved food and nutrition outcomes
• Vulnerabilities and risks for food insecurity and malnutrition
• Current food security and nutrition challenges in Kenya

Module 2: Designing Nutrition-Sensitive Social Protection Programs

• Principles of nutrition-sensitive programming
• Integrating nutrition objectives across the social protection program cycle
• Targeting approaches for households at risk of food insecurity and malnutrition
• Designing appropriate transfer values and frequencies for nutritional impact
• Gender considerations in nutrition-sensitive social protection

Module 3: Leveraging Cash Transfers for Improved Food Access

• Evidence on the impact of cash transfers on food consumption and dietary diversity
• Direct cash transfers vs. food vouchers: advantages and disadvantages
• Addressing market access barriers and food prices in cash transfer programming
• Promoting diverse and nutritious food purchases
• The role of cash transfers in seasonal hunger gaps

Module 4: "Cash Plus" Programming for Enhanced Nutrition Outcomes

• Linking cash transfers with nutrition-specific interventions (e.g., nutrition counseling, fortified foods)
• Referral pathways to health services, growth monitoring, and WASH (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene)
• Community-based nutrition approaches integrated with social protection
• Designing conditionalities (if any) that promote positive nutrition behaviors
• Multi-sectoral collaboration for comprehensive nutrition support

Module 5: Behavioral Change Communication (BCC) for Nutrition

• Principles of effective BCC for improved nutrition practices
• Messaging strategies for promoting healthy feeding practices for infants and young children
• Encouraging dietary diversity and food preparation hygiene
• Engaging men and caregivers in nutrition-focused behaviors
• Leveraging social protection platforms for BCC delivery

Module 6: Linking Social Protection to Food Systems & Livelihoods

• Supporting local food production through social protection (e.g., inputs, training)
• Strengthening market linkages for smallholder farmers receiving social transfers
• Promoting climate-smart agriculture and resilient livelihoods for food security
• Diversification of income sources for better food access
• The role of public works programs in food security asset creation

Module 7: Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning for Food & Nutrition

• Developing food security and nutrition indicators for social protection programs
• Collecting gender- and age-disaggregated data on dietary intake and nutritional status
• Using anthropometric data and food consumption scores for impact assessment
• Real-time monitoring of food prices and market availability
• Adaptive management based on food security and nutrition data

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre.

We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 10 working days before commencement of the training.