NIGER EMOP Number of beneficiaries Duration of project 5 months (1 August December 2010)

Transcription

1 Emergency Operation Niger Saving lives and improving nutrition in Niger NIGER EMOP Number of beneficiaries Duration of project 5 months (1 August December 2010) Food tonnage Cost (United States dollars) WFP food cost WFP cash/voucher cost 500,000 Total cost to WFP

2 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A deepening food and nutritional crisis in Niger threatens half the country s population and requires urgent response. Alarming rates of malnutrition were revealed in the June 2010 Nutrition and Child Survival Survey, with young children at particular risk and requiring lifesaving interventions. This followed earlier signs of deteriorating food security confirmed through a series of assessments. In response, WFP will scale up ongoing food assistance to support over 7.8 million vulnerable people through an Emergency Operation, incorporating and expanding urgent activities previously included under a Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation. Targeted nutritional and food distribution interventions will be used to prevent and reduce acute malnutrition and increase food consumption among vulnerable groups. The Niger crisis is rooted in drought-related harvest failure in 2009, exacerbated by continued high food prices and persistently high levels of global acute malnutrition among an already fragile population. A comprehensive household vulnerability assessment in April 2010 established that 7.1 million people are food insecure, of which 3.3 million are severely foodinsecure, and the June nutrition survey showed a national prevalence of global acute malnutrition (GAM) of 16.7 percent, a 36 percent increase from the same period last year. Acute malnutrition is already over the critical threshold of 15 percent in four out of eight regions at the start of the lean season, and regions with the highest increase in GAM correspond to those with the highest percentage of severely food-insecure households. Under the emergency operation, WFP, together with the Government and partners, will increase food assistance to: i) Reduce acute malnutrition of children under 5 and pregnant and lactating women in targeted emergency-affected populations (Strategic Objective 1 - save lives and protect livelihoods in emergencies); and ii) protect livelihoods and reinforce the capacity of vulnerable populations to cope with shocks (Strategic Objective 2 prevent hunger and invest in disaster preparedness and mitigation measures). To do this, WFP will support targeted supplementary feeding for malnourished children 6-59 months and pregnant and lactating women, while expanding blanket supplementary feeding, coupled with a family protection ration, to prevent a further deterioration of malnutrition among children 6-23 months. WFP will also extend general food distributions through the October harvest for severely food-insecure households and introduce cash-for-work. The emergency operation responds to a direct request from the Government of Niger and is consistent with Government s priorities for humanitarian response as well as the national poverty alleviation strategy, and the rural and health development strategies. It contributes to Millennium Development Goals (MDG) 1 (eradicate extreme hunger), and 4 (reduce child mortality). This operation will be implemented from August through December Total costs are US$213 million, of which US$29 million were already budgeted under PRRO , thus representing a net increase of US$185 million in requirements. PRRO will be reduced through a budget revision, and resources available will be transferred to the EMOP subject to donor approval. This EMOP will complement the resources and the capacity of the Government s national food security mechanism, as well as those of other partners.

3 3 The overall context 1. Located on the edge of the Sahara desert, Niger is a landlocked country prone to cyclic natural disasters such as drought, locust infestation and sudden floods which at times significantly reduce agricultural production and open the way to high food insecurity and malnutrition. This was the case in , 1984, 2005 and now again in Niger is classified as a least developed and low income, food deficit country. It has been ranked last out of 182 countries according to the latest United Nations Human Development index. 3. Niger s economy is dominated by subsistence agriculture, herding and informal economic activities. The country s population is estimated at 15 million, life expectancy is only 56 years and one in five children never reach the age of 5. Poor school attendance, especially among girls, contributes to a 71 percent illiteracy rate. 4. Niger has just one cereal harvest period per year in September/October. Only a few households are able to produce enough food to allow their household stocks to last from harvest to harvest. The lean season begins around May or even earlier in bad years at which point household food stocks for many are exhausted and they must rely on other coping mechanisms to feed their families. When food stocks run low, price increases can negatively affect vulnerable households access to food. 5. As of September 2009, there were indications of a high likelihood of serious deterioration of the food security and nutritional situation in Niger in the months until the next harvest in October Early warning signs included the irregular and insufficient rains and flooding destroying much of the harvest in some regions, the elevated cost of grain, the second consecutive poor fodder season and one of the largest deficits in fodder production in the last ten years, all of which were predicted to impact on the already high rates of chronic and acute malnutrition throughout the country. 6. Concerned by these alarming early warning signs, the Dispositif National de Prévention et de Gestion des Crises Alimentaires (DNPGA - National Mechanism for Prevention and Management of Food Crises) and the Système d Alerte Précoce (SAP - national early-warning system) conducted a rapid national household survey in late December. 1 The results, issued on 25 January 2010, 2 indicated that about 7.7 million people were estimated to be in a situation of vulnerability. Based on the results, 1 Government survey focused on household stock availability, livestock asset and coping strategy index; the methodology applied was not adequate to apprehend food security in a comprehensive manner. 2 Preliminary results of the national rapid survey on the food situation, February 2010

4 vulnerable areas were identified by the SAP and were considered the priority for the emergency response plan. 7. The Ministry of Agriculture final crop assessment results (February 2010) indicated a cereal deficit of 410,661 mt. Cereal markets were stressed with nominal prices 20 to 28 percent higher than the previous five year average. According to the Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWS NET), the 2009 per capita gross cereal production was the lowest in 20 years, with more than half of the departments facing production deficits greater or similar to those in 2004 that contributed to the 2005 food crisis. A joint Comité de Lutte Contre la Sécheresse au Sahel (CILSS)/FEWSNET/WFP markets assessment in February 2010 showed that cereal prices were above average with main markets being supplied with imports from neighbouring countries Each year, the DNPGA coordinates the implementation of food security assessments, and based on their findings, it releases a Support Plan (SP). 4 The first Support Plan was issued in January 2010 by the Government. On 4 March 2010, a second Support Plan 5 was issued requesting all food security stakeholders to contribute in providing assistance to 3.5 million people in the most vulnerable areas, including subsidized food sales, targeted food distributions, nutrition interventions and the distribution of agricultural inputs, among other interventions. WFP activities under the PRRO supported the implementation mainly through blanket supplementary feeding for children 6-23 months, treatment of moderately malnourished children and pregnant and lactating women and general food distributions for severely foodinsecure populations. In the plan, 1.4 million vulnerable people living in rural areas and concentrated in priority zones were identified as extremely vulnerable to food insecurity and therefore targeted for general food distributions. 9. A follow-up, comprehensive household vulnerability assessment was conducted in April The assessment confirmed the magnitude of the crisis with almost 50 percent of the population classified as food-insecure. Of this group, 3.3 million people were classified as severely food-insecure (2.7 million people in rural areas and 570,000 in urban areas), and 3.8 million were classified as moderately food-insecure (3.4 million in rural areas and 400,000 in urban areas). 10. The June 2010 SMART Nutrition and Child Survival survey 7 revealed a critical nutrition situation in Niger. Global acute malnutrition (GAM) prevalence of 16.7 percent was estimated nationally with regional prevalences over the 15 percent critical threshold established by the World Health Organization (WHO) in four out 4 3 Rapport de la mission d évaluation des marchés et de la sécurité alimentaire- Bassin Est, CILSS/FAO/FEWS- Net/PAM, Février The DNPGA consists of 14 representatives of Government, donors and United Nations agencies, including WFP, and makes decisions by consensus. 5 Plan National de Soutien aux Populations Vulnerables, issued by the Dispositif National pour la Gestion et la Prévention des Crises Alimentaires (DNPGA), March 2010 République du Niger, May 2010, Résumé Exécutif : Enquête sur la Sécurité Alimentaire des Ménages au Niger (carried out by the national authorities in collaboration with Niger s technical and financial partners including WFP). 7 Government of Niger, June Enquête nutrition et survie des enfants de 6 à 59 mois.

5 of eight regions. The most affected regions are Diffa (22.1 percent), Maradi (19.7 percent), Zinder (17.8 percent), and Tahoua (15.8 percent). Furthermore, the other four regions have rates close to the critical threshold (Tillabéri: 14.8 percent, Dosso: 14.3 percent, Agadez 13.9 percent, Niamey 13.3 percent). 11. These findings show a major deterioration in the nutrition situation compared to the same period in previous years. National GAM rates have increased by 36 percent (from 12.3 percent in June 2009 to 16.7 percent in June 2010) with an increase in severe acute malnutrition (SAM) of 52 percent (from 2.1 percent in June 2009 to 3.2 percent in June 2010). While GAM rates in Niger have remained systematically over 10 percent over the past five years, these newly reported, high levels of severe and moderate acute malnutrition represent a substantial deterioration in the nutritional situation. Moreover, data collected through national nutrition surveillance highlighted that admissions of malnourished children in nutrition centres have doubled as compared to the same time last year. Significant seasonal peaks in admission to nutrition centers over the lean season are typical in Niger, but such high rates so early in the lean season are of major concern. 12. The 2010 SMART survey also noted a degradation in children under 5 mortality, with 1.22 deaths per 10,000 per day and an infant mortality rate over 2 deaths per 10,000 per day in the region of Zinder. The GAM level is significantly higher among children 6-35 months (21.7 percent). Chronic malnutrition rates are also extremely high in Niger with a national prevalence of 48.1 percent and regional rates over the critical threshold of 40 percent in all regions except Agadez, Tillabéri and Niamey. 13. The regions with the highest percentage increases in GAM rates from 2009 to 2010 correspond to those which have the highest percentages of severely food-insecure households as defined in the April 2010 survey, further highlighting the seriousness of the crisis. 5 Scenarios 14. The convergence of food security and nutrition indicators indicate that the situation is critical, underlining the need to scale up food and nutrition assistance from August onwards. 15. Rain patterns are being closely monitored. 8 For the period July-September, the most likely scenario is normal to above-normal precipitation in Niger. This should improve the cereal harvest. WFP, along with the Government and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), will be following the developments of the on-going harvest closely. 16. If the harvest is poor, WFP may further increase assistance requirements under the EMOP through a budget revision. In the event of a positive harvest and should the 8 The seasonal forecast of precipitations for July-August-September was made available by the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD).

6 GAM prevalence reduce below the critical threshold, WFP would adjust assistance accordingly. 6 Policies, capacities and actions of the Government 17. The national Poverty Alleviation Strategy for (PAS) provides an overall framework for government policies. The Rural Development Strategy is based on the PAS and represents the operational framework for the rural sector. 18. The National Nutrition Action Plan for provides the strategic framework for the medium and long term and is reflected as such in the PAS. For nutritional rehabilitation activities, the National Protocol for the Treatment of Acute Malnutrition (2006) has been developed and endorsed by all partners. 19. In the context of the DNPGA, the Government maintains a national food security reserve made of cash and cereals stocks. These reserves can be used to respond to food crisis. To date, the Government has distributed 14,000 mt of food to complement WFP s general food distributions and is currently distributing an additional 10,000 mt. The Government has also used 60,000 mt of its strategic reserve to carry out subsidized sales. As part of the DNPGA, the Government has a national Early Warning System (SAP) that monitors the food security situation in the country and warns of any impending crises. Policies, capacities and actions of other major actors 20. Under the leadership of the United Nations Resident Coordinator, an Emergency Humanitarian Action Plan (EHAP) was issued in April 2010 to highlight the most urgent humanitarian issues in Niger, and support the national authorities efforts in quickly mobilizing additional funds to provide timely assistance to the vulnerable populations threatened by food insecurity and malnutrition. It is integrated into the West Africa regional Consolidated Appeal (CAP). In line with the national authorities priorities defined in the 2010 Support Plan, the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) has prioritized food security and nutritional interventions, supported by selected actions in the health and water-sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sectors, and in logistics. Appealing agencies include FAO, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UNICEF, WFP and WHO as well as a number of NGO partners. 21. As per WFP and UNICEF s global Memorandum of Understanding, UNICEF is responsible for the provision of therapeutic food for severely malnourished children while WFP provides commodities for the treatment of moderately malnourished

7 children. UNICEF, as cluster lead for nutrition, plays an important role, together with WFP, in capacity building of the Government, coordination and data collection. 22. National and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) will support the implementation of these activities. Among them are Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Helen Keller International (HKI), HELP, Médecins du Monde France (MDM), Médecins sans frontieres (MSF), OXFAM, Save the Children, the Alliance for International Medical Action and World Vision International. Coordination The DNPGA is the major coordination forum for food security interventions and emergency response. A Comité Mixte de Concertation (CMC - mixed commission) composed of the Government and donors, provides coordination at the political level, while technical aspects are handled by a Restricted Coordination Committee (CRC). WFP takes an active role in these coordination mechanisms as the United Nations food assistance agency. 24. Additional coordination takes place under the Cluster system at both national and regional level. WFP is an active partner in the central-level and decentralised Nutrition and Food Security clusters. 25. In line with Strategic Objective 1 of the WFP Strategic Plan ( ), the overall objective of this operation is to save lives and protect the livelihoods of targeted households. More specifically, the EMOP will: a) reduce the level of acute malnutrition of children under 5 and pregnant and lactating women in targeted emergency affected populations; and b) improve the food consumption of the affected population, whose food and nutrition security have been adversely affected by the drought. 26. The EMOP will also contribute to protect livelihoods and reinforce the capacity of vulnerable populations to cope with shocks through the use of conditional cash transfers under a pilot cash-for-work project (WFP SO 2- prevent hunger and invest in disaster preparedness and mitigation measures).

8 8 27. WFP plans to reach a total of 7.9 million vulnerable people who were identified as being either severely food insecure, malnourished or at high risk of malnutrition. The expected number of beneficiaries per activity is shown in the table below: TABLE 1. BENEFICIARIES BY ACTIVITY TYPE Beneficiaries Activity Male Female Total Blanket supplementary feeding children 6-23 months 453, , ,982 Protection ration families of children 6-23 months 3,172,689 3,302,187 6,474,876 Targeted supplementary feeding: children 6-59 months 223, , ,625 Targeted supplementary feeding: pregnant and lactating women 0 105, ,000 Caretakers ration 1,382 26,248 27,630 General food distributions 499, ,483 1,000,000 Cash for work 19,232 19,268 38,500 Total 4,369,316 4,657,297 9,026,613 Adjusted total * 7,886,655 * The total number of beneficiaries was adjusted to avoid double-counting of individuals assisted through more than one activity. 28. Blanket supplementary feeding: To prevent acute malnutrition, and as agreed in discussions in the nutrition cluster, WFP will provide a blanket supplementary feeding (BSF) ration to all children 6-23 months (based on height), in all regions where the GAM rate approaches or exceeds the critical threshold of 15%. The ration will consist of highly nutritious food supplements, such as enhanced corn-soya blend and oil or Plumpy doz. All children in this age group will be targeted for BSF irrespective of their nutritional status. BSF has been in place since May under the PRRO and will be expanded from August to December under the EMOP. Malnourished children screened during the blanket feeding will be referred for treatment in nutrition centres. 29. Protection rations: A protection ration consisting of cereal, pulses and oil will be distributed to the families of children reached through the BSF with the objective of limiting intra-household sharing of the child s highly nutritious food ration. The protection rations for families will be provided until October, when the harvest is expected, after which only those households who remain severely food-insecure will continue to receive the protection ration. WFP is exploring the possibility of replacing the protection food ration by a cash transfer or voucher in the event of a good harvest and adequate functioning of markets. This would also require enhancing the capacities

9 of WFP and cooperating partners to ensure efficient planning, coordination, and supervision, and the monitoring of food prices in the markets. 30. Targeted supplementary feeding: Moderately malnourished children 6-59 months and pregnant and lactating women will be assisted through targeted supplementary feeding. 9 Children will be discharged based on their nutritional status, while women will be assisted until their child reaches 6 months of age. 10 The number of targeted malnourished children 6-59 months is based on malnutrition prevalence found in June 2010 SMART survey, estimations of current population size for this particular age group, and a coverage rate based on implementation capacity. Beneficiary figures for malnourished pregnant and lactating women are based on the latest estimations of prevalence of malnutrition among women based on 2006 DHS survey Caretaker rations: WFP will also support the treatment of severely malnourished children with medical complications in therapeutic feeding centres by providing a daily wet ration for caretakers for the duration of their stay in the centre. The number of caretakers was estimated on the basis of the planning figure for children with severe acute malnutrition. 32. General food distributions: General food distributions will reach severely foodinsecure households during the peak of the lean season (August to September 2010), in continuation of the rounds that have already been completed under PRRO Beneficiary figures have been estimated on the basis of the number of severely foodinsecure households identified in rural areas by the April 2010 survey. Severely foodinsecure households with children 6-23 months who already benefit from the protection ration will not be covered by the general food distributions. 33. Cash for work: Cash for work (CFW) is now part of the Government s strategy to address rural food insecurity and improve agriculture infrastructure and is a new element of the national relief response strategy. Most studies suggest that major markets in Niger are capable of responding to the increase in demand for cereals. A WFP feasibility study carried out between February and May 2010 recommended the introduction of a pilot cash-based relief response during the current crisis, for possible expansion after the harvest and as in-country operational capacity is strengthened. WFP elaborated a strategy and established a partnership with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) to implement a CFW pilot project in Ouallam District (Tillaberi region). This department is among the most affected areas with 64 percent of the population being severely food-insecure and 20.6 percent identified as moderately food-insecure. 12 The selection of households will be undertaken in consultation with communities. WFP regional bureau will also provide its expertise on vulnerability analysis and mapping 9 9 As per the National Protocol, children 6-59 months will be admitted in a supplementary feeding centre based on a weight-for-height z-score between -2 and -3 based on the WHO 2006 standards, while pregnant and lactating women will be admitted based on a mid-upper arm circumference [MUAC] below 23 cm. 10 Children will be discharged after two consecutive weighing equal or superior to -2 z-scores. 11 Enquête démographique et de santé au Niger Executive summary of the National Joint Food Security and Vulnerability Survey, April 2010, Early Warning Department (Systeme d alerte precoce, SAP)

10 (VAM) to ensure appropriate targeting. Beneficiary registration will be carried out by CRS, monitored by WFP. 34. The proposed CFW project will provide an incentive to 5,500 severely food-insecure households (38,500 people) to participate in community level land recovery activities in rural areas. The overall goal of the CFW pilot project is to improve the food security and nutritional status of the most vulnerable populations affected by the current crisis in areas with limited options for employment by supplementing their incomes and increasing their purchasing power. A secondary objective will be to improve land recovery in rural areas, reducing hazard risks at community level in targeted areas. Finally, the project will allow WFP to gain knowledge, experience and capacity on cash-based interventions. The lessons learned from this initiative will inform future programming in Niger and contribute to overall corporate learning on conditional cash transfer assistance modalities. 10 NUTRITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS AND RATIONS / VALUE OFCA 35. As nutrition activities focus on the prevention and treatment of acute malnutrition, commodities rich in micronutrients will be provided, including CSB, CSB++, 13 fortified vegetable oil and ready-to-use supplementary food (RUSF) such as Supplementary Plumpy and Plumpy doz. 36. The targeted supplementary feeding programme for malnourished children 6-59 months and pregnant and lactating women will use both CSB and Supplementary Plumpy. For CSB, the ration is in line with the National Nutrition Protocol and what is used for existing interventions in Niger. The Supplementary Plumpy ration is packaged as a daily individual ration. 37. Rations for BSF are based on those used previously in Niger in accordance with the Ministry of Health Nutrition Direction. 38. The general food distribution and family protection rations will be the same to prevent tensions between households within the same community. The proposed family rations (estimated size is 7 person per household) are composed of 50 kg cereals, 7,5 kg pulses, 3 kg of vegetable oil and 0.7 kg of salt. 39. The CFW project will employ participants for 50 working days over a period of two months. Each worker will receive 1,000 FCFA 14 per day (approximately US$1.82) which will allow each household to buy 3.8 kg of millet per day, according to the current prices in the targeted area. The value of the cash transfer will be continually adjusted in view of market prices in the implementation area, in the objective of providing a cash amount equivalent to 3.8 kg of millet per day. 13 Corn-soya blend plus plus (CSB++) has an improved formula and includes powdered milk. 14 FCFA stands for Fédération des Communautés Francophones franc.

11 11 TABLE 2: DAILY FOOD RATION/ TRANSFER BY ACTIVITY (g/person/day) Commodity Type/ Cash BSF Protection ration TSF: children 6-59 months TSF: PLW Caretakers GFD CFW USD Cereals Pulses Vegetable oil CSB CSB Plumpy doz 46.3 Supp Plumpy 92 Cash per family/day 1.82 Total Total kcal/day % Kcal protein % Kcal fat No of days BSF: Blanket Supplementary Feeding; TSF: Targeted Supplementary Feeding; PLW: Pregnant and Lactating Women; GFD: General Food Distribution; CFW: Cash for Work TABLE 3: TOTAL FOOD (mt) & CASH (US$) REQUIREMENTS BY ACTIVITY Commodity / Cash BSF Protection Ration TSF: children 6-59 months TSF: PLW Caretakers GFD CFW Total (mt or US$) Cereals Pulses Vegetable oil CSB CSB Plumpy doz Supp Plumpy Sugar Salt Cash (US$) 500, ,000 Total mt US$ 500,000

12 This EMOP has been designed to address the specific needs of women living in vulnerable zones, especially pregnant and lactating women and mothers of children under 2. WFP will work to strengthen the participation of women in the food management committees at village level, ensuring that they represent at least 50 percent of the committees. 41. General food distributions will be coordinated through the DNPGA. In each targeted zone, regional committees (local authorities, WFP, NGOs) will be established to coordinate the beneficiary selection. Vulnerability criteria are provided by SAP based on the findings of the surveys. 42. Partnerships: WFP will work with UN agencies, including UNICEF in addressing child health and nutrition issues and FAO in addressing food insecurity, and will partner directly with a range of national and international NGOs including CARE, International Relief and Development (IRD), Islamic Relief, Accion contre el Hambre, Medecins sans Frontieres. Partnerships with NGOs will be formalized through field level agreements (FLAs). All cooperating partners provide monthly distribution reports, narrative reports and a final report. Partners are also requested to provide appropriate visibility for WFP and donors to the EMOP at project distribution sites. 43. Procurement: Niger is a landlocked country, and internationally procured commodities can take up to 3-4 months to arrive in country. Since March 2010, WFP has been purchasing food (mainly cereals and beans) in the region including in Niger, using regional production surpluses. WFP will continue to purchase cereals and pulses regionally, to the extent possible, to reduce lead-times. The country office will seek to borrow from local or regional stocks to continue food distributions until imported food is delivered. Nutritional products (CSB, fortified oil, plumpy products) will be imported from Europe, South Africa or North America. 44. Logistics: Internationally procured food will arrive through Cotonou in Benin or Lomé in Togo, with the option of additional corridors through Tema in Ghana, Abidjan in Ivory Coast and possibly Appapa in Nigeria. Deliveries will be made directly from the ports to extended delivery points in Zinder, Tahoua, Maradi and Niamey. There may be airlift requirements for some commodities due to the urgency of the situation. 45. The transport of commodities from WFP warehouses to partners warehouses or final distribution points will be mainly done by commercial trucks. The road conditions to remote areas can be difficult, particularly during the rainy season (June-October). WFP trucks mobilized under the special operation (SO) will be used for these remote and hard to reach areas. Additional temporary logistics staff will be recruited in the sub-offices, and additional warehouses will be rented.

13 46. Cash for work: WFP and CRS will work in partnership with government technical services to identify and implement the CFW activities. These will include natural resource management and conservation agriculture activities (soil bunds, stone paved waterways, ect). Training and demonstrations of techniques will be done in advance as part of the Disaster Risks Reduction strategy. Detailed national work norms and standards for the implementation of rural CFW initiatives have been established. Government participation will ensure that all construction norms and legal considerations are met and will contribute to the sustainability of the intervention. 47. Governmental technical services will control the technical outputs of the activities, and certify that works have been properly executed. Payments will be subject to the number of days worked and will follow the norms and regulations established by the Cellule de Crise Alimentaire (CCA). CRS will distribute the cash allocation to the workers every week on the basis of the participant lists. Signatures and fingerprints will confirm the receipt of the cash. During the course of the pilot project, WFP and CRS will explore alternative cash delivery mechanisms Performance monitoring will be achieved through WFP s comprehensive Results Based Management (RBM) and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system as presented in the attached logical framework. A WFP M&E officer coordinates and oversees the work of WFP food aid monitors in the sub-offices. 49. Monitoring schedules have been developed to ensure regular monitoring of activities during and post distribution (PDM). A database to process the PDM reports has been developed by the country office and is already in use. Personal digital assistants (PDA) have been procured to ensure fast data transmission, timely processing of information and rapid analysis. 50. Performance indicators on nutrition will be monitored through joint nutritional survey (SMART methodology). The next survey is scheduled with the Government and partners in October Data on programme statistics (admissions, default, recovery rates) will be collected by cooperating partners. 51. The short-term objective is to save lives and stabilize the nutritional status of children 6-59 months and pregnant and lactating women, and protect the livelihoods of the

14 most food-insecure populations until the next harvest. WFP will therefore closely monitor the next harvest and the markets to determine whether adjustments should be made to the current EMOP, including the expansion of cash transfer modalities. 52. A review of ongoing BSF and family protection ration requirements will be conducted following the harvest. The results of the SMART survey and the evolution of the admission rates in centres will enable WFP to review the needs and adjust the BSF activity based on the new nutrition data. 53. Updated food security and nutrition data will also enable WFP to define the scale and modalities of the assistance required after the end of this EMOP through a protracted relief and recovery operation. The findings of the SMART survey to be conducted in late 2010 will also be used for this purpose. WFP will prioritize available resources under this EMOP towards interventions to prevent and treat malnutrition among pregnant and lactating women and young children. Improving and sustaining food security, critical to the well-being of the people of Niger, represents a considerable long-term challenge, given that Niger is a very poor country with limited natural resources, an adverse climate and limited social services. During the course of the EMOP, WFP will work closely with partners and the Government to further strengthen the integration of food-based support to prevent and treat malnutrition into existing health structures, while continuing ongoing efforts to strengthen safety nets for food insecure, vulnerable populations. 14 Hazard and Risk assessment 54. Niger has persistent high rates of chronic food insecurity and malnutrition, for which the underlying causes have not been addressed. The situation will remain critical and constant monitoring and quick response capacity will still be required. 55. WFP will continue to collaborate with CILSS, Agrymet, FEWS NET, the national Early Warning System and other partners to monitor the food security situation and provide early warning of any impending crises. WFP will also continue working on market monitoring systems, including bordering markets. 56. Risks existing in the north, east, and west can have various consequences: Displacements and increased needs; Attacks from armed groups on beneficiaries; Access denial and attacks on humanitarian aid workers, with consequences on beneficiaries; Impact on the hand over strategy, as the political and economic instability might affect government abilities to take over.

15 Preparedness Planning 57. WFP will continue to update its contingency plan, as well as participate in the United Nations contingency planning lead by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The contingency scenarios relate primarily to food crises caused by market disruptions, drought and political unrest All WFP offices in Niger are compliant with the minimum operating security standards (MOSS) and minimum security telecommunication standards (MISTS). The security plans for the country office and the sub-offices are updated regularly. An international security officer is currently based in Niger, and will continue to be deployed in the field for the duration of the EMOP. 59. Niger faces an increasingly complex security situation with various factors depending on the regions. The main threat for WFP operations is the increasing presence of Al- Qaeda in the west with frequent kidnapping of foreigners and attacks against the Nigerien national armed forces. Access to the departments of Ouallam, Filingue and Tchin Tabaraden are classified as United Nations security phase two, and access is only possible with military escort. 60. Agadez in the North has been politically unstable with rebel attacks against the government army, kidnapping, armed robberies of vehicles and land mine incidents. Since April 2009, Libya has been mediating in the peace process. 61. Diffa in the East faces the rise of an armed group fighting against the exploitation of petrol by a Chinese company, as they anticipate no positive effect for the local population. The area is classified as United Nations security phase two. The risk of extremist activities is increasing in the populated area of Maradi. 62. Under SO , WFP manages the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), providing safe, efficient, and sufficient air transport services to the humanitarian community in Niger. UNHAS is currently serving five destinations. There are plans to cover an additional three destinations to support expanding humanitarian operations.

16 The Executive Director and Director-General of FAO are requested to approve the proposed Niger emergency operation (EMOP ). Josette Sheeran Executive Director Date:. Jacques Diouf Director-General of FAO Date:

17 17 ANNEX IA: WFP PROJECT COST BREAKDOWN Commodity Related Portion Cash Transfer Total Project COSTS Tonnage (mt) Value (US$) Value (US$) Value (US$) Commodity / Cash & voucher Cereals Pulses Oil and Fats Mixed and Blended Food Others Cash Transfer to beneficiaries Voucher Transfer to beneficiaries Total commodity / Cash & voucher External transport LTSH ODOC (Other direct operational costs) DSC (Direct support costs) (see table below for details) Total WFP direct costs Indirect support costs (7%) TOTAL WFP COSTS This is a notional food basket for budgeting and approval. The contents may vary. 16 The indirect support cost rate may be amended by the Board during the project.

18 18 ANNEX IB DIRECT SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS (US$) Staff and Staff Related Costs International Professional Staff International GS Staff Local Staff - National Officers Local Staff - General Service Local Staff - Temporary assistance Local Staff - Overtime Hazard Pay & Hardship Allowance International Consultants Local Consultants Non Staff HR: UNV Commercial Consultancy Services Staff duty travel Subtotal Recurring Expenses Rental of Facility Utilities General Office Supplies and Other Consumables Communications and IT Services Equipment Repair and Maintenance Vehicle Running Cost and Maintenance Office Set-up and Repairs UN Organization Services Subtotal Equipment and Capital Costs Vehicle leasing TC/IT Equipment Local Security Costs Subtotal TOTAL DIRECT SUPPORT COSTS

19 19 ANNEX II - LOGICAL FRAMEWORK SUMMARY- Niger EMOP Results hierarchy Performance indicators Means of verification Assumptions Save lives and protect livelihoods in emergencies (SO1) 1.1 Prevalence of acute malnutrition among children under five in the identified and targeted populations Target: prevalence rate below 13% Outcome1. Reduced level of acute malnutrition among children under five Output 1.1: Timely provision of food- supported nutrition interventions (supplementary feeding, protection ration and blanket supplementary feeding) for targeted beneficiaries in appropriate quality and quantity Outcome 2 : Improved food consumption over assistance period for targeted emergency-affected households 1.2 Supplementary feeding recovery rate (>75%) 1.3 Supplementary feeding defaulter rate (<15%) 1.4 Supplementary feeding death rate (<3%) 1.5 Suppl. Feeding non-response rate (< 10 %) Number of children and pregnant and lactating women reached through food-supported nutrition interventions Target: 100% of targeted beneficiaries reached Quantity of food distributed by commodity and activity Target : 100% of distribution target reached 2.1 Household food consumption score > 28 Target : FCS > 28 for 80% of targeted populations Nutritional surveys (Government/UNICEF) Post distribution monitoring Survey Monthly statistic reports Monitoring activities Cooperating partners reports COMPAS reports Post distribution monitoring Survey Adequate malnutrition prevention activities are carried out by relevant actors. Partners (UNICEF/WHO/NGOs) have adequate resources to implement their nutritional mandates. Adequate health centres are available for treatment of malnourished children. Effective functioning of Government nutrition coordination mechanisms. Adequate human and technical capacity is available among nutrition cooperating partners Adequate and timely resources are available according to the distribution plans

20 20 Output 2.1: Food distributed in sufficient quantity and quality for targeted populations Outcome 3: Improved food consumption for emergency-affected households targeted with cash for work in Ouallam (pilot zone) Output 3.1: timely cash payment to participants of cash for work activity Number of beneficiaries of general food distribution Quantity of food distributed by commodity and activity Monitoring activities Cooperating partners reports COMPAS reports Prevent acute hunger and invest in disaster preparedness and mitigation measures (SO2) 3.1 Food consumption score > 35 Post distribution monitoring among the targeted beneficiaries survey 3.2 Coping strategy index (CSI < 9) Number of participants in cash for work activity over the duration of the project vs planned Percentage of women participants vs total participants 3.1.3Average USD amount earned per person per participants per month vs planned Monthly reports from partners Adequate funding of the project is received on time Adequate human and technical capacity is available among government and the cooperating partner

21 21 ANNEX III - LIST OF ACRONYMS CCA CILSS CMC CRC CSB DNPGCA EDP EMOP FAO FEWS NET FDP GAM LTSH MUAC NGO OCHA ODOC PRRO SAP SIMA SO UNDP UNFPA UNHAS UNICEF WFH WHO Cellule de Crise Alimentaire Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel Comité Mixte de Concertation Comité Restreint de Coordination corn-soya blend Dispositif National de Prévention et de Gestion des Crises Alimentaires (National Mechanism for Prevention and Management of Food Crises) Extended delivery point Emergency operation Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Famine Early Warning Systems Network Final delivery point global acute malnutrition Landside transport, storage and handling mid-upper arm circumference non-governmental organization Office of Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs other direct operational costs protracted relief and recovery operation Système d Alerte Précoce (national early-warning system) Système d Information sur les Marchés (Market Information System) Special Operation United Nations Development Programme United Nations Fund for Population United Nations Humanitarian Air Services United Nations Children s Fund weight-for-height World Health Organization

22 ANNEX IV MAP 22

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