Food Security and Nutrition in Emergencies – Responding to Malnutrition

Programme Overview

Escalating conflicts, climate extremes, and economic slowdowns continue to undermine food security and drive malnutrition across the globe. The unaffordability of healthy diets, lack of access to healthy food environments, and soaring inequalities together call for the transformation of our food systems. According to UNICEF, about 195 million children across the Global South are stunted and 75 million suffer from wasting, having their physical and cognitive development impaired. Undernutrition is implicated in the death of over 3 million children under the age of five every year. Natural disasters and other complex crises inevitably exacerbate pre-existing vulnerabilities. Oftentimes, food is one of the very first resources to be affected alongside public health delivery. Without adequate preparation and contingency, food availability, access, and utilization may at once get compromised, leading to devastating results for susceptible communities. The identification and deployment of effective strategies for managing malnutrition in emergencies require seasoned professionals with thorough subject knowledge coupled with essential skills for improving access to food with gender sensitivity in mind. This training programme has been exclusively designed by Risalat to help you understand the peculiarities of food security and nutrition in emergency contexts enhancing your skills in strategic planning, activity implementation, early response, and recovery.

Host Country Profile Kenya’s food security and nutrition programmes in emergencies are geared toward addressing the needs of populations affected by drought, floods, and other crises, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. The country's approach combines government-led initiatives with strong collaboration with international agencies, NGOs, and community organizations. The Hunger Safety Net Programme (HSNP) is one of Kenya’s flagship social protection programmes. It provides cash transfers to vulnerable households in times of crisis, primarily during droughts. It is headed by the National Drought Management Authority and forms an integral part of the larger National Safety Net Programme. The goal of HSNP is to construct resilience and a safety net for household food insecurity.

Delivered by Risalat Consultants International in Nairobi, Kenya, it combines expert-led sessions, real cases and group work, so that participants can apply what they learn in their own institution.

The Programme Strengthens Institutional Capability

• Core concepts of food security in emergency contexts
• The role of food insecurity and malnutrition in overall health crises
• Classification and typology of food security in emergencies
• Food security information systems
• Food security and nutrition needs assessment
• Data collection and interpretation
• Food security indicators
• Nutritional status
• Climate and environmental risk assessment
• Adaptation and mitigation planning
• Sector strategies for energy, water and land
• Project design for climate and environmental goals

It is designed for relief workers, frontline responders, emergency project and programme managers and others who want practical, current skills in climate, environment and natural resources.

The Growing Importance of Food Security and Nutrition in Emergencies – Responding to Malnutrition

Climate change, environmental pressure and resource management now shape national plans, budgets and investment decisions. Financiers increasingly expect climate and environmental considerations to be built into projects from the start.

Institutions that can plan for climate risks, manage natural resources well and prepare sound proposals are better placed to protect services and to access the funding available for this work.

Organisations increasingly require professionals capable of:

• Assess climate and environmental risks to their services and assets
• Design projects that meet climate and environmental goals
• Prepare proposals that financiers can approve
• Measure and report results credibly
• Work with communities and partners across sectors

Strong climate, environment and natural resources systems help organisations:

• Protect services and infrastructure from climate risks
• Access climate and environmental finance
• Meet national and international commitments
• Use natural resources sustainably

This Food Security and Nutrition in Emergencies – Responding to Malnutrition programme brings these elements together in a practical format, so that participants understand not only what good practice looks like but also how to introduce it in their own setting, with the people and resources they have.

Who Should Attend This Food Security and Nutrition in Emergencies – Responding to Malnutrition Training?

This programme is designed for:

• Relief workers
• Frontline responders
• Emergency project and programme managers
• Health personnel
• Food security professionals
• Members of relevant governmental bodies
• Emergency nutritionists
• Climate change and environment officers
• Energy, water and agriculture sector staff
• Planning and policy officers
• Project and programme managers
• Disaster risk management staff

The programme suits experienced professionals as well as those moving into new responsibilities. Groups that mix institutions and countries are encouraged, because participants learn a great deal from each other’s experience.

Food Security and Nutrition in Emergencies – Responding to Malnutrition Training Objectives

Upon successful completion of this Food Security and Nutrition in Emergencies – Responding to Malnutrition Training, participants will be able to:

• Comprehend the concepts of food security, assistance, and nutrition in emergency contexts
• Employ practical tools and frameworks to perform quality food security and nutrition needs assessments in emergencies
• Respond to common food security challenges in crises and design context-specific nutrition interventions
• Incorporate nutrition-sensitive approaches into emergency response planning
• Recognize the specific nutritional requirements of vulnerable groups and tailor interventions to their needs
• Explain the main climate and environmental challenges for their sector
• Assess climate and environmental risks to services and assets
• Plan adaptation and mitigation measures
• Design projects with clear climate and environmental results
• Understand the main sources of climate and environmental finance

Each objective is practised during the programme through exercises, cases or group work, so that participants leave able to do it, not only to describe it.

Programme Contents and Structure

Food Security and Nutrition in Emergencies – Responding to Malnutrition Training Methodology

This training programme has been designed alongside best practices in contemporary adult learning. It capitalizes on a variety of structured learning tools from open presentations and group discussions all the way to case studies, analytical assignments, workshops, and demonstrations.

The programme combines:

• Expert-led sessions on current practice
• Regional and international case studies
• Group work and practical exercises
• Simulations and role plays where relevant
• Discussion of participants' own challenges
• Peer learning across institutions and countries
• Practical tools and templates to take back to work
• Daily reflection and action planning

Before the programme, a short pre-assessment helps the facilitators understand each participant’s role and priorities, so that examples and exercises can be adjusted to the group. Each day ends with a short reflection in which participants note what they will apply at work.

Expected Outcomes

Upon completion of this Food Security and Nutrition in Emergencies – Responding to Malnutrition Training, participants will be able to:

• Assess climate and environmental risks
• Plan adaptation and mitigation measures
• Design projects with clear results
• Prepare stronger funding proposals
• Measure and report results credibly
• Work effectively with communities and partners

Participants leave with a personal action plan and practical tools they can use in their institution from the first week back. Institutions that send several participants can use the programme to agree shared methods and templates across teams, which makes improvements easier to sustain.

Institutional Application of Food Security and Nutrition in Emergencies – Responding to Malnutrition Training

This programme supports organisations in strengthening:

• Climate and environmental planning
• Project design
• Access to finance
• Results measurement
• Stakeholder involvement

Participants return with practical tools to improve:

• Risk assessments
• Concept notes
• Results frameworks
• Monitoring systems
• Partnership arrangements

The programme is built so that learning moves from the classroom into the institution. Participants work on their own processes and documents where possible, and leave with an action plan that their managers can review and support.

Regional Relevance & Application

Europe

European institutions apply climate, environment and natural resources within detailed regulatory frameworks and reform agendas. Participants from Europe can compare their practice with colleagues from other regions and test how established methods work under different conditions.

Africa

Across Africa, ministries, agencies and project teams working in climate, environment and natural resources increasingly operate alongside donor-financed programmes that expect clear systems and evidence. The programme helps participants adapt good practice to the institutions and resources they work with.

Middle East

In the Middle East, national development strategies and diversification plans place growing demands on climate, environment and natural resources. Participants explore how to build the capability these plans need inside public bodies and companies.

Asia

Institutions across Asia combine rapid growth with ambitious modernisation programmes. Participants from Asia can share their experience of scaling systems quickly and learn from approaches used elsewhere.

Pacific

Small island and Pacific states face particular constraints of size, distance and capacity. The programme highlights practical, proportionate approaches to climate, environment and natural resources that suit smaller institutions.

Holding the programme in Nairobi, Kenya brings participants together away from their daily pressures, so they can compare how climate, environment and natural resources is handled in different settings. The same programme can also be delivered in-house for one institution, in its own country or online, with cases taken from its current work.

Host Country Profile – Kenya

Programmes, Workshops, Exposures, Training Courses in Nairobi, Kenya by Risalat Consultants International

Studying away from their own country gives participants time to focus, a fresh view of their own institution and the chance to build a network with colleagues from other countries.

The programme takes place at TBD.

Food Security and Nutrition in Emergencies – Responding to Malnutrition Training Deliverables

Participants receive support before, during and after the programme, so that preparation, learning and follow-up form one continuous experience.

Before the Programme

• Participant Pre-Assessment
• Food Security and Nutrition in Emergencies – Responding to Malnutrition Readiness Assessment
• Food Security and Nutrition in Emergencies – Responding to Malnutrition Resource Pack
• Preparatory Reading Materials
• Complimentary Visa Support & Advisory

During the Programme

• Airport Pickup & Welcome Assistance
• Accommodation with Breakfast
• Welcome Networking Dinner
• Risalat Training Kit (Bag, Bottle, Mug, T-Shirt, Cap, Passport Cover, Pens, Notebook, Magnet & Keychain)
• Comprehensive Food Security and Nutrition in Emergencies – Responding to Malnutrition Training Manual
• Climate Risk Screening Checklist
• Options Appraisal Template
• Concept Note Template
• Results Measurement Template
• Practical Workshops & Simulations
• Group Discussions & Peer Learning
• Daily Lunch and Refreshments
• Full Access to Training Venue Facilities
• Mini Pad / Tablet with Digital Learning Materials
• Field Visit (where applicable)
• Entertaining City Tour

After the Programme

• Certificate of Completion
• Risalat Programme Participation Recognition Award
• Post-Training Reference Materials
• Funding Readiness Checklist
• Monitoring and Reporting Template
• Post-Training Support & Follow-Up Guidance
• Programme Report

Institutions can also request a tailored in-house version of this programme, delivered at their premises or online. Request a proposal.

Common Challenges in Food Security and Nutrition in Emergencies

Responding to Malnutrition, And How This Training Helps

How can institutions assess climate and environmental risks to their services and assets?

The programme addresses this directly on the first day (Context and risks), where participants practise the methods involved and adapt them to their own institution, then build it into their action plan.

How can institutions design projects that meet climate and environmental goals?

The programme addresses this directly on the second day (Planning solutions), where participants practise the methods involved and adapt them to their own institution, then build it into their action plan.

How can institutions prepare proposals that financiers can approve?

The programme addresses this directly on the third day (Project design), where participants practise the methods involved and adapt them to their own institution, then build it into their action plan.

How can institutions measure and report results credibly?

The programme addresses this directly on the fourth day (Finance and proposals), where participants practise the methods involved and adapt them to their own institution, then build it into their action plan.

How can institutions work with communities and partners across sectors?

The programme addresses this directly on the fifth day (Measurement, reporting and action planning), where participants practise the methods involved and adapt them to their own institution, then build it into their action plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where does the Food Security and Nutrition in Emergencies – Responding to Malnutrition programme take place?

It runs from 22 Feb 2027 to 26 Feb 2027, in Nairobi, Kenya (TBD). The registration deadline is shown at the top of this page.

Who should attend?

The programme is designed for relief workers, frontline responders, emergency project and programme managers, health personnel, and others who want practical skills in climate, environment and natural resources.

Will I receive a certificate?

Yes. Participants who complete the programme receive a Certificate of Completion from Risalat Consultants International.

Can this programme be delivered for our institution only?

Yes. We can deliver a tailored in-house version at your premises, in another city or online, built around your own cases. Use the proposal request on this page.

Do I need prior experience in climate, environment and natural resources?

No specialist background is required beyond experience in a related role. A short pre-assessment helps the facilitators adapt the sessions to the group.

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