Interactions with the Recipient Community in Targeted Food and Nutrition Programs,

Abstract

This article explores the relation between targeted nutrition and food assistance programs and the recipient communities. The author begins by suggesting that the renewed current emphasis on targeting has resulted from the high cost of universal entitlements in poor countries and from the need to increase the food security and resilience of the poor in these countries. They stress the fundamental human right of communities to have involvement in all steps of program targeting as elemental to good democratic governance. Next, the article reviews the issues surrounding different levels of community involvement in the components of program targeting, namely needs assessment, definition and implementation of eligibility criteria, delivery of services and benefits, and monitoring and evaluation of results. Four types of targeting eligibility are described: self-targeting, means tested, categorical, and community based. It is noted that the type and the level of engagement of programs with communities depends on whose concept of community welfare is being pursued (the development summit's or the community's), and on how broadly nutrition improvement is defined. Examples are used to illustrate the potentially severe consequences of ignoring community governance and social structures in the targeting of programs. A framework is then presented with important variables to consider when planning a targeted program: state governance contexts, the nature of the local community's institutions of governance, the ratio of the need to the available benefit, and the stability of the context. Finally, the article presents recommendations for filling in the large research gaps on this topic.

HIV and the Ramifications for Food Security and Child Health in Affected Communities

“…Apparently, there is increasing openness to exploring increasing creative uses of food aid. Communities are complex social entities; one precaution, however, is to avoid obvious targeting of beneficiaries, where stigma exists for the basis of that need [95] , which is generally the case with HIV. In the end, however, there are those who chant the familiar refrain that food aid must include an 'exit strategy' to avoid permanent dependency [14] .…”

“…Governmental and nongovernmental agency 'safety nets', which may involved cash transfers and food distribution to struggling families, are considered part of an integrated solution. As noted, Marchione [95] has admonished programming to try to avoid the pitfalls to targeting specific assistance at the community level, both for the stigma that can befall the recipients and the resentment that can arise in the unentitled segments of the population.…”

El VIH y las ramificaciones para la seguridad alimentaria y la salud infantil en comunidades afectadas

“…Existe, aparentemente, una abertura creciente para explorar el incremento de los usos creativos de la ayuda alimentaria. Las comunidades son entidades sociales complejas; no obstante, una de las precauciones consiste en evitar la selección obvia de beneficiarios donde exista estigma para la base de lo que se necesita [95] , que es, en general, el caso del VIH. Por último, no obstante, siguen aquellos que repiten monótonamente el estribillo familiar de que la ayuda alimentaria debe incluir una 'estrategia de salida' para evitar la dependencia permanente [14] .…”

“…Se consideró que una parte de la solución integrada eran las 'redes de seguridad' de las agencias gubernamentales y no gubernamentales, que pueden implicar transferencias de dinero en efectivo y distribución de alimentos para las familias en conflicto que luchan por la existencia. Como se observó, Marchione [95] recomendó que la programación tratara de evitar el fijar una asistencia específica al nivel comunitario, tanto con miras al estigma que puede afectar a los receptores como al resentimiento que puede emanar en los segmentos poblacionales no acreditados.…”

Le VIH et les ramifications pour la sécurité alimentaire et la santé infantile dans les communautés affectées

“…Les communautés sont des entités sociales complexes. Une précaution est cependant d'éviter le ciblage visible des bénéficiaires, quand une stigmatisation est liée à ce besoin [95] , ce qui est généralement le cas avec l'infection à VIH. Finalement, toutefois, il y a ceux qui chantent le refrain familier selon lequel l'aide alimentaire doit inclure une «stratégie de sortie» afin d'éviter une dépendance permanente [14] .…”