El Salvador: Innovative Education Strategy

WFP implemented the first “Integral Course on Health, Nourishment and Nutrition with Emphasis on Gender: Management and Storage of Food and their Application in Emergencies” with the aim of educating men and women in a series of key issues related to health, nourishment and nutrition that may have a positive impact in the assistance provided to vulnerable groups. This program was developed within the framework of the WFP Gender Innovation Fund. (Copyright: WFP/Deniess Chávez)

SAN SALVADOR — Within the framework of the Gender Innovation Fund, the World Food Programme (WFP) developed the first “Integral Course on Health, Nourishment and Nutrition with Emphasis on Gender: Management and Storage of Food and their Application in Emergencies” (in Spanish). This formal course is part of an innovative education strategy with an integral focus, whose objective is to teach men and women—in a gradual and intensive process—a series of key issues related to health, nourishment and nutrition that may have a positive impact in the assistance provided to vulnerable groups.

One of the novelties of this course is the rigorous demand for participants to fulfill requirements such as assistance, approval of a final evaluation, group and individual assignments, practices on the preparation of healthy menus, among others.

This initiative seeks to enhance the capacities of men and women that fulfill a fundamental role in the assistance of vulnerable groups and during emergencies. For example, training was provided in issues like the confection of healthy foods, culinary practices, and community organization during emergencies, spotting the warning signs of diseases, among others. These have been usually assigned exclusively to women, due to gender discrimination.

WFP recognizes the importance of reinforcing positive gender relations and the empowerment and active role between men and women to achieve food and nutrition security. Furthermore, it promotes knowledge sharing among men and women responsible of childcare in areas with high rates of undernourishment and disaster vulnerability. It also promotes a better diet and nutrition.

During several weeks of hard work, WFP trained health promoters, volunteers, community leaders, project coordinators and municipal coordinators, technicians from Civil Protection, the Ministry of Government, ISNA, the Ministry of Health and World Vision, and Doctors for the Right to Health, FUSAL and INTERVIDA.

This education strategy saw the participation of food providers, supervising teachers, women leaders of directives and associations, volunteers in emergency shelters, among others. This project also reinforces the strategic alliances between WFP and institutions with whom it already carries out social protection programs, like Salvadoran Institute for the Integral Development of Children and Adolescents (ISNA), the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education.