WFP sees climate change as a multiplier of existing risks to food security, threatening to undermine the gains in eradicating food insecurity and poverty. It is affecting the livelihoods of the vulnerable and food insecure people. Climate change has caused more frequent climate related natural disasters that threaten to increase vulnerable people s food insecurity. It negatively impacts all dimensions of food security, including under nutrition. Droughts and floods, crop failures, degradation of natural resources are increasingly linked to, or exacerbated by climate change and already having negative impact on people s livelihoods and food security. Most rural communities live in marginal environments that are prone to weather and climate related disasters, making them highly exposed to climate change impact. They typically rely on small-scale rain-fed farming systems or fishery as their major source of food and income, making them highly dependent on climate-sensitive natural resources. In addition, many people lack the tools and capacity that would enable them to cope with climate-related crises and adapt to climate change. Ensuring Food Security in a changing Climate A combination of action on climate change adaptation and mitigation supported by research and technological development can reduce the threats to food and nutrition security. A revitalized twin-track approach has been proposed to address the impacts of climate change on food and nutrition security. Track one consists of direct and immediate nutrition interventions through safety nets. Track two consists of a broader multi-sectoral approach, which mainly involves sustainable, and climate resilient agriculture and rural development, health and social protection schemes, risk reduction and management plans and community approaches addressing the most vulnerable among others. * Five solutions to food security in coping with climate change impacts: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Direct nutrition interventions to build resilience to climate change impacts. Sustainable, climate-resilient and nutrition-sensitive agricultural development. Access to maternal and child health care, safe water and sanitation systems and adequate, safe food. Social protection schemes that have proven effective in addressing under nutrition. Empowerment and social participation within climate-resilient and nutrition-sensitive community-based * United Nations System Standing Committee on Nutrition (UNSCN). Climate Change and Nutrition Security: Message to the UNFCCC negotiators. 16th United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP 16) Cancun, November 29 th December 10th, 2010.
WFP s Approach From Short term Hunger to Long Term Solutions 1. Building on Evidence Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (VAM) WFP uses satellite imagery, geographic information systems, mapping of the vulnerability of specific populations, early warning and emergency preparedness to help governments and partners anticipate and prepare for the onset of natural hazards. WFP has helped local communities, governments and the international community get ahead of the hunger curve by supporting preparedness and disaster risk reduction and adaptation efforts. Expanding the sharing of these WFP capabilities while upgrading them with climate-related information, will help governments and humanitarian organizations find and take the most appropriate measures not only to predict when and where disasters will hit, but also to allow for evacuations and other measures to be put in place to cushion the impact. WFP is engaging at the national and local level assisting with capacity development and dialogues in a range of areas related to climate change and food security. Together with the Government of Indonesia, WFP has developed a Food Security and Vulnerability Atlas (FSVA) for the national, provincial, and district levels which play an important role in identifying food insecure areas and then to target the most vulnerable people who could be worst hit by climate change risk. In NTB, WFP support the provincial government in preparing the Provincial Strategy and Action Plan for Food Security under Changing Climate which analyse the climate risk and its impact on the food security condition. Since 2006, WFP has also been working with the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (LAPAN) to produce a monthly Indonesia Early Warning Bulletin for Natural Disasters. The bulletin provides information on the latest weather patterns and makes forecasts on possible droughts, floods, and other natural disasters. It supports the food security monitoring system for early warning and timely response planning. Climate Change Impact to Food Security and Livelihoods of NTB people. Combined Data WFP and AusAID-CSIRO Alliance NTB (2030 projection) Food security and vulnerability (Adaptive capacity) X Climate change impact to livelihoods = Climate change impact to food security and livelihoods
WFP s Approach From Short term Hunger to Long Term Solutions 2. Building on Successes Community Resilience Building Models WFP already operates in many of the areas where vulnerability to climate risks and natural disasters are most severe. WFP has proven tools and means to address weather-related hunger by helping communities prepare for and recover from major weather-related disasters. Through Food for Work/ Asset (FFW/ FFA) Programmes, WFP in collaboration with the government provide the most vulnerable households with opportunities to produce small scale agricultural and rural infrastructure assets that benefit their communities. The assets are designed to strengthen resilience to withstand further shocks, and more immediately help to sustain their livelihoods and food security. WFP s climate change related activities in the field fall mainly under the following categories: 1. Agriculture support, including land conservation, terracing and agroforestry; 2. Water conservation, including irrigation, water harvesting and well rehabilitation; 3. Reforestation, afforestation, and reducing deforestation through diversification and empowerment of local livelihoods. FFA Programmes are prepared and planned by using both topdown and bottom-up approaches. To identify the most vulnerable and food insecure areas, the top-down approach is used through Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (VAM) and Field Surveys. The bottom up-approach is applied through a Participatory Rapid Assessment (PRA) and Focus Group Discussions. The participatory approach is used to ensure ownership and sustainability of the asset created for the future. Building on Partnerships WFP implements many resilience building, climate-related activities in partnership with host governments both at the local and national level. Leveraging the expertise of private sector partners, WFP also has developed innovative ways to improve food security as well as mitigate climate change and eventually return carbon finance back to impoverished communities. WFP will further expand its collaboration with partner institutions in order to enhance its collective ability to combat the effects of climate change on hunger and under nutrition. Achievements Within 4 years (2008-2012) more than 10,000 ha of degraded land areas were rehabilitated, about 4 million trees planted and over 1,100 ha of coastal areas reforested with more than 2.8 million mangroves. 42 units of water catchments, accommodating more than 229,000 cubic meters were developed, facilitate easier access to water for agriculture use and daily life. Through these projects, more than 240,000 food insecure people in 8 districts of NTT and NTB Provinces received food assistance, but many more are expected to have medium and longer term gains from the community assets created.
Combining climate change adaptation and mitigation: examples from WFP Indonesia s work Reforestation and Reducing Deforestation WFP has partnered with private sector experts to support community s climate change adaptation strategy by making use of climate change mitigation financial opportunities. The projects are implemented through reforestation and forest conservation (reducing deforestation). An active community participatory process also ensures ownership and sustainability of the asset created for the future. These pilot projects are examples on how to incorporate a carbon credit finance mechanism into WFP Food-For-Asset (FFA) Programmes. In West Timor, NTT, Carbon Free Group (CFG), a Japanese carbon credit provider company, provided funding for the project. Through an active participatory approach and technical assistance, the villagers selected the planting of Jatropha Curcas trees and Cashew Nuts trees. These trees feature very high tolerance to dry and degraded land. Seeds of Jatropha C. trees can be used as fuel for locally produced stoves which were also allocated through the project. Thanks to these fuel efficient stoves, the pressure to the forest caused by the collection of firewood by the community could be reduced. The nuts of cashew trees can be sold at a competitive, stable price in the region and its harvesting period starts 3 years after planting and lasts for a 30 year period. In addition to providing food assistance and helping a community improve its food security, the carbon sequestrated in trees planted as a consequence of the project will then be sold through voluntary carbon market. Mangrove Conservation and Rehabilitation In 4 coastal villages of Kupang District of NTT province, WFP together with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and district government implemented coastal habitat restoration through mangrove conservation and rehabilitation. The project involved local community members (households living on fisheries), both through FFA and training on mangrove maintenance techniques and their benefit for economic and environment. Teachers and students also received training to gain a better understanding on the coastal environment ecosystem and protection function and how a healthy coastal environment can decrease the impact of adverse climate and weather conditions as well as natural disasters in coastal areas. In addition, through participatory discussions among villagers, the villages have established a community village agreement (Peraturan Desa/ Perdes) to ensure the sustainability of mangrove conservation efforts. In Pujut, Praya Timur, and Jerowaru Sub-Districts of NTB province, WFP also collaborates with the Central Lombok District Government to rehabilitate the mangrove ecosystem in the coastal area, together with the local communities. Mangrove forests and coastal ecosystem both affect and are affected by climate change, significantly influencing the lives and livelihoods of communities. For this reason, combining mitigation and adaptation strategies in these areas becomes a key priority for sustainable food security.