Development of a competency framework for the nutrition in emergencies sector

Abstract

Objective: There is a recognised need to strengthen capacity in the nutrition in emergencies sector and for greater clarity on the role of emergency nutritionists and the skills they require. Competency frameworks are an important tool for human resource development and have been developed for several other humanitarian sectors. We therefore developed a technical competency framework for practitioners in nutrition in emergencies. Design: Existing competency frameworks were reviewed and interviews conducted to explore methods used in developing competency frameworks for other sectors. Competencies were identified through interviews with field experts, feedback from course trainees, academic course content and job specifications. Competencies were then categorised and behavioural indicators developed for each. The draft framework was then reviewed by members of the Global Nutrition Cluster and modified in an iterative process. Setting: Global. Subjects: Not applicable. Results: A wide range of competencies were identified as essential for nutritionists working in emergencies, covering technical skills and general core competencies. The proposed framework contains twenty competency areas with 161 behavioural indicators categorised into three levels, corresponding to the requirements of progressively more senior roles. Many of the competencies are common across development and emergency nutrition. Conclusions:The proposed technical competency framework should prove to be a valuable tool in creating standards within the sector and promoting effective capacity strengthening and professionalisation. Continued research is needed to validate the framework, optimise methods for assessment, develop approaches to integrate it within the sector and measure its impact on performance.

Educating and Training a Workforce for Nutrition in a Post-2015 World

“…These curricular recommendations for graduates in the nutrition field align with previously published recommendations ( 13 , 31 , 32 ). Although the workshop highlighted content area requirements for formal and informal training programs, it did not specify competencies of individual graduates in each instance.…”

Theories, models and frameworks used in capacity building interventions relevant to public health: a systematic review

“…Eleven papers were published between 2005 and 2011 [ 26 , 28 – 30 , 32 , 33 , 37 – 41 ] and eight published between 2012 and 2016 [ 11 , 25 , 27 , 29 , 31 , 34 – 36 ]. Five of the papers were published in Canada [ 27 , 28 , 34 , 35 , 38 ], five in the United States [ 26 , 30 , 37 , 40 , 41 ], two in Australia [ 24 , 33 ], two in Europe [ 29 , 31 ] and one in the United Kingdom [ 39 ].…”

“…Five of the papers were published in Canada [ 27 , 28 , 34 , 35 , 38 ], five in the United States [ 26 , 30 , 37 , 40 , 41 ], two in Australia [ 24 , 33 ], two in Europe [ 29 , 31 ] and one in the United Kingdom [ 39 ]. Four of the papers did not state a specific country [ 11 , 25 , 32 , 36 ].…”

Developing professional competencies for humanitarian engineers

“…Meeker, et al (2013) examined nutrition in emergencies, using core competency frameworks as well as course curricula, job descriptions and interviews.…”

“…This is also apparent in other contexts; Sansom and Coates (2011) identified management (functional) competencies that relate specifically to urban water supply. Kovács et al (2012) and Meeker et al (2013) also demonstrated that the non-humanitarian specific competencies for logisticians and nutritionists working in other (non-humanitarian) contexts do not provide the level of guidance required for an emergency logistician or nutritionist, although Meeker et al (2013) did note communality between humanitarian and development contexts. Engineering is similar, with many (but not all) aspects of, say, sanitation, being common to disasters and development, but not to stable, developed contexts.…”