Definition
A recent literature review68 highlighted six at–risk groups: (1) children, adolescents and women in deeply rural, remote and/ or physically isolated settings; (2) children in urban/peri–urban slums and informal settlements; (3) children and adolescents with disabilities; (4) children and women from pastoralist/ agro–pastoralist and nomadic groups; (5) children and women from marginalised ethnic groups (eg, tribal groups, indigenous groups); and (6) internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees and returnees.
In any context, there may be additional specific groups at risk of social exclusion.
Poverty, marginalisation and malnutrition are interlinked. Poverty restricts people’s ability to access and consume nutritious foods, while the poorest and most marginalised people often live in places characterised by limited access to quality nutrition–related services across sectors. The malnutrition risks faced by poor and marginalised groups are further compounded by the effects of climate change, conflict, socio–political instability and disease outbreaks in humanitarian contexts.
Why is social inclusion important for the prevention of undernutrition in humanitarian contexts?
Failing to deliver socially inclusive approaches is highly likely to limit the impact of any prevention programme, since those most in need of support will be overlooked.
A rapid situational analysis is important to identify and prioritise nutritionally at–risk groups. National and sub– national data may be available to examine disparities between sub–populations and/or geographic locations. Where there are information gaps, it might be necessary to obtain supplemental evidence (eg, through qualitative data gathering with different stakeholders or by leveraging data from specific sources). Given the deep–seated vulnerabilities and systemic marginalisation associated with several at–risk groups, it is also essential to examine the enabling environment and the stakeholder and partnership landscape.