USAID/ROME HUMANITARIAN ATTACHE VISITS WFP PROGRAMS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 001415 SIPDIS FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME AMEMBASSY LIMA FOR AMBASSADOR STRUBLE AND ACTING USAID DIRECTOR YAMASHITA STATE FOR AS/IO HOLMES, PRM/P, WHA/AND, WHA/EPSC FOR SUMMIT COORDINATING OFFICE AND IO/EDA BEHREND/KOTOK USAID FOR AA/LAC, DAA/DCHA GRIGSBY, DCHA/FFP LANDIS USDA/FAS FOR CHAMBLISS/TILSWORTH/GAINOR GENEVA FOR AMBASSADOR MOLEY AND NKYLOH/USAID USUN FOR LTAMLYN/MLUTZ BRUSSELS FOR USAID/LERNER NSC FOR JDWORKEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID EAGR AORC PREF SENV FAO WHO WFP UNESCO SUBJECT: USAID/ROME HUMANITARIAN ATTACHE VISITS WFP PROGRAMS IN THE PERUVIAN ANDEAN REGION OF HUANCAVALICA REF: (A) ROME 1392, (B) ROME 1010, (C) 03 ROME 5076 -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. US MISSION/ROME HUMANITARIAN ATTACHE TIM LAVELLE VISITED PERU MARCH 27-31, AND TRAVELED TO THE PERUVIAN ANDEAN REGION OF HUANCAVALICA TO REVIEW WFP OPERATIONS. WFP'S PROGRAM IS RIGHTLY FOCUSED IN THE PERUVIAN HIGHLANDS, WHERE POVERTY RATES ARE NEARLY DOUBLE THAT OF COASTAL REGIONS. WFP'S PROGRAM IN PERU IS AT A CROSSROAD. THE NEEDS OF THE ANDEAN GEOGRAPHIC DEPARTMENTS CONTINUE TO BE OVERWHELMING, BUT RESOURCES ARE FEW. WFP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JIM MORRIS WILL VISIT LIMA NEXT MONTH AND US MISSION ENCOURAGES EMBASSY AND USAID PERU TO ACTIVELY ENGAGE JIM MORRIS AT THAT TIME. END SUMMARY. -------------- BACKGROUND -------------- ¶2. US MISSION/ROME HUMANITARIAN ATTACHE TIM LAVELLE VISITED PERU MARCH 27-31, AND TRAVELED TO THE PERUVIAN ANDEAN REGION OF HUANCAVALICA TO REVIEW WFP OPERATIONS. AT PRESENT, WFP FOOD ASSISTANCE RESOURCES ARE PRINCIPALLY TARGETED TO THREE OF PERU'S POOREST, MOST FOOD-INSECURE DEPARTMENTS - AYACUCHO, APURIMAC AND HUANCALAVELICA. PROGRAMS INCLUDE SCHOOL FEEDING (PROVISION OF A DAILY-FORTIFIED BISCUIT AND AN ENRICHED DRINK) AND FOOD-FOR-WORK INTERVENTIONS DIRECTED TO REHABILITATION OF ANDEAN MICRO-WATERSHEDS. IN ADDITION LITERACY TRAINING FOR 14,000 WOMEN IS PROVIDED, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON NUTRITION, HYGIENE AND INCOME- GENERATING ACTIVITIES. ¶3. CHRONIC MALNUTRITION AMONG CHILDREN IN THE HIGHLANDS OF PERU IS OF CRISIS PROPORTIONS. IN HUANCAVALICA, SOME 53.4 PERCENT OF CHILDREN UNDER FIVE SUFFER FROM GROWTH RETARDATION (STUNTING). NATIONALLY, UP TO 60 PERCENT OF PERU'S UNDERNOURISHED CHILDREN LIVE IN THE ANDEAN MOUNTAINS. IN GENERAL, OVER HALF OF RURAL PERUVIANS ARE CONSIDERED EXTREMELY POOR, THAT IS LIVING ON LESS THAN ONE U.S. DOLLAR (USD) PER DAY. ¶4. HISTORICALLY, PERU HAS BEEN A MAJOR RECIPIENT OF P.L. 480 TITLE II ASSISTANCE THROUGH U.S. AND LOCAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGOS). IN PAST YEARS, USD 50 MILLION HAD BEEN COMMITTED ANNUALLY. THE LEVEL IS PRESENTLY REDUCED TO USD 20 MILLION, AND THERE IS IN PLACE A NEGOTIATED PHASE-OUT OF TITLE II ASSISTANCE SCHEDULED BY 2008. NOTE. NO USAID P.L. 480 TITLE II IS PRESENTLY CHANNELED THROUGH WFP. USAID DOES, HOWEVER, SUPPORT TITLE II PROGRAMS THROUGH NGOS IN HUANCAVELICA, APURIMAC, AND AYACUCHO, AND ALSO IN OTHER SIERRA (HIGHLAND) PROVINCES THAT EXTEND INTO THE HIGH AMAZON REGION, WHERE POVERTY AND MALNUTRITION IS ALSO HIGH. TITLE II AND USAID'S POVERTY REDUCTION AND ALLEVIATION (PRA) PROJECT INPUTS ARE INCREASING RURAL ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES. HOWEVER, SOCIAL SAFETY NET NEEDS, WHEN TITLE II IS PHASED OUT, MAY OUTSTRIP THE GOP'S ABILITY TO RESPOND. END NOTE. ¶5. PERU'S BUDGET DEVOTES SOME USD 250 MILLION ANNUALLY TO FOOD AND NUTRITION PROGRAMS THROUGH A VARIETY OF MINISTRIES AND PROGRAMS. A MAJOR HURDLE IS LINKING THESE FOOD AND NUTRITION ASSISTANCE INTERVENTIONS TO COMPLEMENTARY HEALTH, SANITATION AND BEHAVIORAL CHANGE SERVICES. USAID, THROUGH TITLE II PARTNERS, AND WFP, IS ASSISTING THE GOP'S NATIONAL FOOD AID AGENCY (PRONAA) AND MUNICIPALITIES TO FOCUS FOOD ASSISTANCE ON CRITICAL NUTRITION PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN UNDER ROME 00001415 002 OF 003 -------------- WFP'S OPERATIONS IN-COUNTRY - (6240.0),PROMOTION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF ANDEAN MICRO-WATERSHEDS; AND (4808.0),FOOD ASSISTANCE TO PRE-SCHOOL AND PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN RURAL AREAS -------------- -------------- ¶6. AT PRESENT, WFP RUNS TWO MODEST FOOD AID INTERVENTIONS (LISTED ABOVE). LIFE-OF-PROJECT DELIVERIES AGAINST PROJECT 6240 (MICRO-WATERSHEDS) TOTAL 16,287 METRIC TONS VALUED AT USD 5 MILLION (ALL MULTILATERAL FUNDING); LIFE-OF-PROJECT FUNDING AGAINST 4808 (SCHOOL FEEDING) TOTALS 18,405 MTS, VALUED AT USD 6.48 MILLION (USDA/FAS IS THE MAJOR FUNDER). THE MICRO-WATERSHEDS PROJECT FOCUSES ON 32 SITES IN AYACHUCHO, APURIMAC AND HUANCAVALICA. INTERVENTIONS INCLUDE FOOD-FOR-WORK FOR SOIL CONSERVATION AND WATER-MANAGEMENT; SUPPORT TO MICRO-CREDIT; TRAINING ACTIVITIES FOR WOMEN; AND IMPROVING SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE. THE SCHOOL FEEDING INTERVENTION, IN THE GEOGRAPHIC DEPARTMENTS LISTED ABOVE PLUS THE BORDER REGION WITH ECUADOR, TARGETS APPROXIMATELY 82,500 PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS. DEWORMING OF THE TARGET POPULATION IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE SCHOOL FEEDING PROJECT. ¶7. OVERALL CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED BY WFP (BOTH DEVELOPMENT AND EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE),IN THE PERIOD 1999-2003, ARE 64,605 METRIC TONS, VALUED AT USD 19.64 MILLION. CANADA IS THE LEADING DONOR (USD 7.61 MILLION, 38.7 PERCENT),FOLLOWED BY THE UNITED STATES (USD 5.48 MILLION, 27.9 PERCENT). -------------- WFP FOOD AID-RELATED OBSERVATIONS -------------- ¶8. PRESENCE: WFP'S FIELD-LEVEL PRESENCE IS EXCEEDINGLY LIMITED, AS FOLLOWS: HUANCAVALICA, 2 LOCAL STAFF, WORKING OUT OF A GOP OFFICE - NO VEHICLE; AYACUCHO, 1 LOCAL STAFF, WFP OFFICE WITH VEHICLE; APURIMAC, 1 LOCAL STAFF WITH A MOTORCYCLE (WORKING OUT OF HOME); PIURA, 1 LOCAL STAFF WITH A MOTORCYCLE (WORKING OUT OF HOME). THERE PRESENTLY EXIST NO MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING WITH INTERNATIONAL NON- GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGOS). THERE ARE, HOWEVER, WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH A MODICUM OF LOCAL NGOS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. WFP'S LIMA OFFICE (WHICH INCLUDES AN INTERNATIONAL STAFFER WHO SERVES AS COUNTRY DIRECTOR) TOTALS 11 (INCLUDING SUPPORT STAFF),PLUS TWO CONSULTANTS. ¶9. WAREHOUSING: WFP RELIES ON PRONAA TO PURCHASE LOCALLY, TRANSPORT AND STORE ITS FOOD ASSISTANCE. IN HUANCAVALICA, THERE ARE PRONAA FACILITIES IN THE DEPARTMENTAL CAPITAL. IMPORTED WHEAT IS SOLD COMMERCIALLY THROUGH WFP ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE GOP, WITH PROCEEDS GOING INTO A WFP-CONTROLLED FUND FOR LOCAL PURCHASES THROUGH PRONAA. -------------- -------------- U.S. MISSION/ROME CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS -------------- -------------- ¶10. AS APPROVED BY THE WFP EXECUTIVE BOARD IN OCTOBER 2003 (REF C),90 PERCENT OF WFP'S DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES WILL BE FOCUSED BY 2007 IN 36 COUNTRIES, 29 OF WHICH WILL BE LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES (LDCS). THIS DOES NOT LEAVE THE WFP SECRETARIAT MUCH "WIGGLE ROOM." HOWEVER, HOME-GROWN SIPDIS TERRORISM (SENDERO LUMINOSO - "SHINING PATH"),ALBEIT CONSIDERABLY REDUCED, CONTINUES ITS DESTABILIZING SUBVERSIVE ROME 00001415 003 OF 003 ACTIVITIES IN THE ANDEAN REGION. ¶11. THE LONG-TERM VALUE OF EDUCATION, PARTICULARLY FOR GIRLS, TO IMPROVED NUTRITION FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS CANNOT BE OVERSTATED. WFP AND OTHER UN AGENCIES SHOULD ACTIVELY PURSUE ADDITIONAL PARTNERSHIPS AND COMPLEMENTARY FUNDING TO COVER NON-FOOD COSTS AND ENSURE HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION. ¶12. HUMANITARIAN ATTACHE MET WITH MONSIGNOR ISIDRO BARRIO (SPANISH CITIZEN),BISHOP OF HUANCAVALICA. HUANCAVALICA HAS AN EXTENSIVE SOCIAL OUTREACH NETWORK (CARITAS) AND IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT WFP WORK OUT AN OPERATIONAL MODUS OPERANDI SOONEST WITH THEM. NOTE. IN A MEETING WITH MON. JOSE RAMON MARTINEZ (FIRST SECRETARY) TO THE PAPAL NUNCIO IN LIMA ON MARCH 31, HE WAS SUPPORTIVE OF EXPLORING CLOSER TIES BETWEEN CARITAS AND WFP. ¶13. UNICEF (WITH WHOM WE ALSO MET IN LIMA ON MARCH 31) IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO FOCUS ON SUPPORTING EDUCATION, PUBLIC NUTRITION AND DISEASE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS, IN THE WFP ANDEAN AREAS. UNICEF PERU'S PROGRAM COORDINATOR, MS. ESPERANZA VIVES, SPOKE OF A RECENT ALLOTMENT FROM UNICEF'S VOLUNTARY SUPPORT COMMITTEE/SPAIN, TO ASSIST PRIMARY EDUCATION IN THE DEPARTMENT OF AYACUCHO. ¶14. THE INSTALLATION OF WFP'S FINANCIAL SYSTEM WINGS IS SEEN AS A PRIORITY. WINGS' TRAINING TO DATE FOR WFP PERU STAFF HAS BEEN SPOTTY. ¶15. WFP/UN SHOULD INTENSIFY EFFORTS TO PROMOTE INCOME- GENERATING ACTIVITIES WHEREVER POSSIBLE. HUANCAVALICA PRESENTS AN IDEAL WORKING ENVIRONMENT FOR A JOINT FAO/WFP UNDERTAKING RELATED TO INTENSIFICATION OF VEGETABLE CULTIVATION FOR BOTH HOME CONSUMPTION AND COMMERCIAL SALE. IN THIS REGARD, US MISSION WILL EXPLORE POSSIBILITIES WITH THE ROME-BASED DANISH PERMREP (PRESENTLY SERVING AS VICE- PRESIDENT OF THE WFP BOARD) AND THE FIRST SECRETARY OF THE PERUVIAN EMBASSY TO THE UN AGENCIES (2004 PRESIDENT OF THE WFP BOARD). SIMPLY, MICRO-WATERSHED AND RELATED DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS NEED SUSTAINED TECHNICAL EXPERTISE IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE PROJECT OBJECTIVES. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶16. WFP'S PROGRAM IN PERU IS AT A CROSSROAD. THE NEEDS OF THE ANDEAN GEOGRAPHIC DEPARTMENTS CONTINUE TO BE OVERWHELMING, BUT RESOURCES ARE FEW. WFP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JIM MORRIS WILL VISIT LIMA NEXT MONTH AND IS SCHEDULED TO MEET INTER ALIA WITH PRESIDENT TOLEDO, THE UN TEAM, SEVERAL KEY DONORS AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR. REPORTEDLY, WITH INTERNATIONAL COPPER PRICES UP, PERU IS MORE COMFORTABLE MACRO ECONOMICALLY, AND IN THE BEST POSITION IN SOME TIME TO INCREASE ITS SOCIAL SAFETY NET OUTLAYS. MORRIS HAS HAD GOOD SUCCESS IN OBTAINING INCREASED PRIVATE SECTOR SUPPORT. FOR EXAMPLE, TPG, THE DUTCH MULTINATIONAL, WILL PROVIDE WFP WITH ROUGHLY USD 11 MILLION IN 2004; EACH OF THEIR 160,000 EMPLOYEES IS COMMITTED TO FEEDING A SCHOOL CHILD AND THE COMPANY IS COMMITTED TO MATCHING THAT. US MISSION ENCOURAGES EMBASSY AND USAID TO ACTIVELY ENGAGE JIM MORRIS ON WFP'S FUTURE DIRECTION IN PERU. HALL NNNN 2004ROME01415 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED