Maximising the Nutritional Impact of FSL Interventions FINAL

Section 2 – Practical guidance to maximise the impact on nutrition
This section gives practical guidance on how to align FSL interventions with nutrition and is
applicable at all steps of the project cycle from programming to evaluation (see Figure 5). It is
divided into two parts to facilitate the reading. “Planning the intervention” concentrates on the
preparatory steps, including aspects of programming, identification of needs, formulation and
financing. “Implementing the intervention” gives programmatic guidance for nutrition-sensitive
implementation of specific FSL interventions (agro-sylvo-pastoral interventions, income generating
activities, food aid and cash-based interventions). It also includes guidance on gender, and nutrition
promotion and behaviour change strategy in FSL projects. In reality, however, the dividing line is
blurred and guidance provided in the first part is also relevant for the second, and vice versa.
The approach encouraged here is to apply a ‘nutrition lens’ at each step of the project cycle, as there
are no standard and ready-to-use solutions, as each context will bring up different enablers and
inhibitors.
Perhaps the greatest challenge for the implementation of the guidance given throughout this
manual is that no one can do it alone - it requires preparation, action and collaboration across a
variety of sectors and stakeholders.
The food security worker has to be aware of what is needed in order to maximise the nutritional
impact of the FSL intervention, but s/he does not have all the required technical expertise. It is
essential to consult with the nutrition, Mental Health and Care Practices and WASH teams from the
outset, and share tasks and responsibilities according to the technical expertise of each sector. In
some cases only light guidance is needed, e.g. advice on the inclusion and analysis of some questions
in an assessment, whereas in other cases a more in-depth implication is required, e.g. conducting a
nutrition survey or setting up a Behaviour Change Strategy (BCS) (refer to Guidance 8).
ACF also works in partnership and collaboration with a wide range of different actors including
national ministries, NGOs and Community Based-Organisations (CBOs). Maximising the nutrition
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