Aid agencies implement exit strategies

With the Consortium for Southern Africa's Food Security Emergency (C-SAFE) preparing to scale down its relief programme in Malawi, careful attention is being paid to implementing exit strategies to support communities beyond the end of emergency programmes. The consortium was formed in response a food crisis that enveloped the region in 2002. C-SAFE Malawi, comprised of CARE, World Vision, Catholic Relief Services, Save the Children US/UK, the Salvation Army, Emmanuel International, Africare and the Malawi Red Cross, has been conducting "developmental relief" programmes in 23 districts in the country since mid-2003. Now, under a new long-term Development Assistance Programme, it will scale back its activities to only eight districts. "The DAP will promote long-term food and livelihood security in the country's most vulnerable communities," C-SAFE said. Apart from ongoing activities in Malawi, such as targeted distributions of food aid, C-SAFE members have begun designing and implementing exit strategies. "Communal and backyard gardens and income-generation activities were deemed to be the most appropriate and viable strategies, given the short time-period before the programme exit. The goal of the activities, managed in close coordination with beneficiary communities, is to ensure that sustainable mechanisms are in place to support the community's food and nutritional needs beyond the programme," C-SAFE explained. In preparation for the October phase-out of the C-SAFE Malawi programme, Emmanuel International has implemented a number of practical exit strategies that are being emulated by other consortium members. "Care, Catholic Relief Services and Salvation Army are among those agencies to have visited Emmanuel's projects to share in the lessons learned on these simple but sustainable measures, and to help inform the design of their own community/household-driven exit strategy," C-SAFE noted. Emmanuel International's Helen Jones explained that the beneficiary community was empowered to undertake the exit strategy process. "The C-SAFE programme, which initially supported the immediate food security needs of vulnerable households with targeted food assistance, provided an opportunity for the entire community to learn, and determine how they could help advance and protect their food basket and livelihoods. These ideas have been incorporated into a variety of exit strategies, from gardens to livestock assets, that are now being proudly coordinated by the community," Jones said. In Chiloumba Village in Balaka district, the input of seeds by Emmanuel International has allowed the creation of a communal vegetable garden. The garden, developed by the village committee, boasts 12 plots of nutrient-rich tomato, amaranthus and turnips, available at an affordable price to the village's 390 households. The village committee saves the profits from vegetable sales so that funds are available to assist orphans and chronically ill members of the community. Exit strategies have also been prioritised in Balaka's Nkuli Village. C-SAFE has assisted in the procurement of 19 goats and 12 chickens - living assets managed by the village committee that can be sold when the need arises. Prior to the October phase-out, C-SAFE has also been training committee members in a number of issues related to chronic illness. Themes include basic sanitation; education on health and medicine; patient care; and the promotion of vegetable gardens.