- DECEMBER NEWSLETTER -GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY CLUSTERCOUNTRY UPDATES gFSC PRODUCTS The gFSC has currently launched the following products: Ongoing gFSC Activities · Country Cluster Performance Monitoring (CCPM): The gFSC started its last round of the Country Cluster Performance Monitoring (CCPM) 2017 process in December 2017. The countries that recently completed the CCPM are Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Whole of Syria. So far, it has also been completed in Burundi, CAR, Chad, DRC, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Ukraine, Yemen. The CCPM is designed to enable the Cluster Teams and partners assess how well their Cluster has achieved its six core functions (as determined by the IASC) and compare it with the previous year(s). The findings are discussed by the cluster teams with partners to improve performance and to take the necessary actions. A global overview (not attributable) analysis will be prepared in early January. · Development of the global overview for the food security component of consolidated appeals (2018). In line with the 2017 publication (see Food Security Component Global Humanitarian Overview 2017), the gFSC is compiling the details of country level inputs to their respective HRPs/Flash Appeals/ or other consolidated appeal documents. Colleagues will be reaching out to you soon and it is important that you establish your respective cluster/sector budgets for the coming year as well. Please contact your respective focal points for questions or support. PAST gFSC EVENTS · Meeting of global Food Security Cluster Partners: This year’s global Food Security Cluster Partners Meeting was hosted by the World Food Programme (WFP) on 12-13 December 2017 in Rome, Italy. The event was preceded on Monday, 11 December by Face-to-Face meetings of the gFSC thematic Working Groups on Food Security and Livelihoods in Urban Settings, Programme Quality with Technology and Innovation Task team, Preparedness and Resilience, Cash and Markets, and Inter-Cluster Nutrition and Food Security mainly focusing on updates, work plan reviews and adjustments as necessary. The gFSC Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) Face-to-Face meeting took also place on the same day. · Cluster Coordinator Training (French): The global Food Security Cluster Coordinator Training in French took place in Rome, Italy from 20 to 24 November. The aim of the Cluster Coordinator trainings was to create a pool of qualified French speaking cluster coordinators ready for deployment to countries with activated Food Security Clusters/Sectors. The training should equip current and future Food Security Cluster Coordinators with the necessary tools to successfully lead a country cluster. The 19 participants learned more about the roles and responsibilities of a cluster coordinator before, during and after a Level 3 emergency following the Humanitarian Programme Cycle (HPC). · Information Management Training (English): The global Food Security Information Management Training took place in Istanbul, Turkey from 5 to 8 December. The 14 participants were trained on building information management skills relevant to the cluster data management/analysis, to writing/communications skills, GIS, and visualisations. There was an emphasis on the regional staff including colleagues from the WoS operation, Yemen, and Iraq. · gFSC/KORE Webinar: Reducing disaster risk vulnerability in Bangladesh – Partner perspectives on Forecast-based-Financing: This webinar took place on 6 December and was the second event of a mini-series on Forecast-based Financing (FbF) and was jointly organized with the FAO’s KORE - Knowledge Sharing Platform on Resilience. It was an opportunity to present and discuss experiences of the Food Security Cluster in Bangladesh, German Federal Foreign Office, WFP, and the German Red Cross to strengthen community preparedness and resilience. In particular, the webinar presented experiences of FbF activities introduced in Bangladesh. · IPC Level 1 training workshop for Food Security Cluster Coordinators: The gFSC and the IPC team partnered to hold an IPC Level 1 training workshop for Food Security Cluster Coordinators from 11 to 15 December in Rome, Italy. · CMWG Webinar Invitation: Linking Cash Based Transfers & Social Safety Nets: The webinar took place on 28 November and was organised by the Cash & Markets WG of the gFSC as part of a webinar series aiming to share lessons learned and best practices to strengthen the knowledge and capacity of Food Security Clusters and gFSC partners engaged in Cash Based Transfers. · Protection Mainstreaming Toolkit (2017): http://fscluster.org/document/gpc-protection-mainstreaming-toolkit · REVISED - IASC Commitments on Accountability to Affected People and Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (2017): http://fscluster.org/document/iasc-commitments-accountability-affected · Recommended for stakeholders of the FSC to complete the following short course: Nutrition, Food Security and Livelihoods: Basic concepts http://www.fao.org/elearning/#/elc/en/course/NFSLBC · Please complete the following survey: The State of the Humanitarian System: https://www.alnap.org/our-topics/the-state-of-the-humanitarian-system · Application of CashCap Roster Open until 15 January 2018: https://www.webcruiter.no/wcmain/CvJobRespond1.aspx?oppdragsnr=3647891382&company_id=1536508415&culture_id=EN · Short course: Facilitating multi-stakeholder partnerships to foster sustainable and inclusive food systems https://www.wur.nl/en/Expertise-Services/Research-Institutes/centre-for-development-innovation/short-courses/Short_courses_2018/CDIcourse_MSP_2018.htm · Global Humanitarian Overview: http://interactive.unocha.org/publication/globalhumanitarianoverview/#ataglanceposition |