CMAM Report (formerly known as Minimum Reporting Package - MRP) is a comprehensive monitoring and reporting application for CMAM programmes which uses standardised reporting categories and indicators.
CMAM Report was developed to support standardised data collection for emergency Supplementary Feeding Programmes (SFPs) but has developed into a comprehensive CMAM reporting package for SFP, OTP, SC as well as BSFP, screening for malnutrition and stock tracker tool.
The need for this package was identified following analysis (undertaken in 2005/6 by the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), the Emergency Nutrition Network (ENN) and Save the Children UK¹ of the efficacy and effectiveness of 82 emergency SFPs.
A key problem identified was that inadequate reporting standards were being followed, making it difficult to assess the efficacy of programmes without considerable re-analysis of data.
An unexpected number of information gaps, inaccuracies and statistical errors were found, raising concerns over the quality of the interventions and implications for the impact on beneficiaries, the accountability of agencies (to both donors and beneficiaries), and organisation’s capacity to learn from experience.
To address this, the development of the MRP was initiated by the ENN and has evolved through a consensus building exercise with a large number of humanitarian agencies from 2008 to 2014. A close collaborator with ENN in the early MRP development, the MRP has been located within Save the Children since 2011.
CMAM Report’s central database allows users to enter and analyse all CMAM related data including contextual information for Stabilisation centres, Outpatient therapeutic programmes, Supplementary feeding programmes, Blanket supplementary feeding programmes and mass or regular screening for malnutrition.
The software allows generating automated tables and graphs to demonstrate, share and act on programme results. It is free to use by all implementers of CMAM programmes.
CMAM Report
- Is a comprehensive monitoring and reporting package for global reporting on all CMAM components - TSFP, OTP, SC – as well as MUAC screening and BSFP
- Outlines reporting categories for admissions and discharges with clear definitions that were developed in consultation with the wider nutrition community (UN and leading nutrition agencies)
- Makes data fully comparable between countries/agencies as all use the same reporting categories and indicators
- Describes how to calculate unbiased performance indicators in accordance with the latest international standards
- Is probably the only global reporting tool that allows calculation of unbiased TSFP performance as OTP discharges are reported separately from regular TSFP admissions - a recommendation by Sphere 2011
- Avoids double counting of beneficiaries
- Standardised Indicators guidelines can be used with or without the software
The software
- Is a web based application with offline capacity for data entry
- Can be used on desktop computers, laptops, tablets, smart phones with any of the following browsers: Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer
- Available in English and French
- Gender reporting through all admission and discharge categories – if desired
- Reporting on 6-23m and 24-59m age groups - if desired
- Grant reporting, Stock and stock out tracker, AWG/LOS calculator
- Creates summary tables and graphs by feeding site, group of feeding sites, geographical location up to global level, e.g. East Africa or global
- Standard graphs with flexibility of selecting/deselecting variables
- All tables and graphs and can be exported to PDF, Excel and Word – Excel allows to edit the graph format
- Raw data export to Excel, and on to statistical software
- Real-time check for data entry mistakes
- Warning on suboptimal performance per site/Sphere standards check
- Hierarchy and approval system from data entry at field level via country level to HQ
- Free to use by all implementers of CMAM programmes: NGOs, UN and MoH
1. Measuring the Effectiveness of Supplementary Feeding Programmes in Emergencies, Carlos Navarro-Colorado, Frances Mason and Jeremy Shoham, Humanitarian Practice Network Paper 63, September 2008. ODI