WFP BOARD APPROVES REPUBLIC OF CONGO PROTRACTED

UNCLAS ROME 000897

SIPDIS


FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME

KINSHASA FOR AMBASSADOR HICKS AND USAID DIRECTOR GAMBINO
STATE FOR AS/PRM DEWEY, PRM/P, AF/C AND IO/EDA BEHREND AND
KOTOK
USAID FOR DAA/DCHA GRIGSBY, DCHA/FFP LANDIS, REDSO/ESA
USDA/FAS FOR CHAMBLISS/TILSWORTH/GAINOR
GENEVA FOR AMBASSADOR MOLEY, RMA LYNCH AND NKYLOH/USAID
USUN FOR AMBASSADOR NEGROPONTE AND MLUTZ
BRUSSELS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS AND USAID/LERNER
NSC FOR JDWORKEN AND AFRICA DIRECTORATE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EAGR AORC PREF KUNR WFP UNHCR
SUBJECT: WFP BOARD APPROVES REPUBLIC OF CONGO PROTRACTED
RELIEF AND RECOVERY OPERATION (PRRO) VALUED AT U.S. DOLLARS
(USD) 13.16 MILLION - 18,141 METRIC TONS

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SUMMARY
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1. The WFP Executive Board, at its first regular session
(February 23-26),approved a Protracted Relief and Recovery
Operation for the Republic of the Congo (ROC). The project
10312.0, entitled Assistance to Populations Affected by
Conflicts, is for two years (July 2004 - June 2006) with a
total cost to WFP of USD 13.16 million. Beneficiaries are
estimated at 177,850. Over the life-of-project, WFP will
supply (subject to the availability of funds) a total of
18,141 metric tons of food aid.

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Background
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2. The ROC (also known as Congo-Brazzaville, population 3
million) experienced the internal displacement of some
100,000 people in 2002 in the country's Poole region (n the
country's southeast). The armed conflicts (that have plagued
the ROC since 1993) have caused both extensive loss of life
and destruction to property. Although progress towards peace
has occurred, substantive efforts are needed to ensure
durable solutions for the country's internally displaced
populations (IDPs). The PRRO's components are:
a) protracted relief through food-for-work activities in
support of income generation and training of grass-roots
communities, and school-feeding programs in conflict-
affected regions (72 percent of program); b) free food
distribution to destitute populations returning to their
places of origin; and c) emergency seed-protection rations
to farmers in areas that have recently become accessible.

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U.S. intervention in support of approval of the Republic of
Congo PRRO
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3. Herewith the essence of the supportive U.S. intervention:

-The United States is committed to supporting governmental
and civil society mechanisms that lead to conflict
resolution and reconciliation.

-Despite the peace agreement signed on March 17, 2003
between the rebels (dubbed "Ninjas") and the ROC, the Poole
area in particular remains unstable. USDEL is informed that
two of the few international relief organizations present in
the region, Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) and the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC),recently
reduced their relief activities pending a re-evaluation of
the security situation. Accordingly, WFP needs to remain
sanguine as to the dangers associated with implementing
projects in this clearly volatile area. Approximately 37,000
former fighters in the area are still awaiting a return to
civilian life.

-USAID's Food for Peace Nairobi office has recently visited
the Republic of the Congo and reports that access to the
project region is a major concern as it is presently under a
UN Phase 4 security stance, meaning no effective access to
International Organizations (IOs). Compounding this problem
are the extremely poor road conditions for food deliveries
to distribution sites, and the weak capacity of local
implementing partners. Despite these obstacles and poor
data regarding the situation on the ground, indications are
that activities under the PRRO could have significant impact
and contribute greatly to improving the nutritional

condition and general livelihoods of the war-affected. WFP
needs to acknowledge its constraints and more intently focus
on the logistics of distribution in the most affected areas
of the Poole region.

-Monitoring is a key component of this PRRO. Although
mention is made of program linkages to NGOs, the modalities
of these relationships (including financial implications)
need to be spelled out clearly.

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U.S. support to WFP's ROC PRRO
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4. Against the on going PRRO (6265.0 which covers the period
January 2001-end June 2004),with a total requirement of USD
17.60 million (19,412 metric tons),U.S. contributions are
USD 1.4 million (1,550 metric tons). Japan is the largest
donor with a contribution of USD 4.6 million (5,768 metric
tons). The present operation is about 50 percent funded.

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Other donors
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5. Other donor interventions were supportive. The WFP
Country Director Benedict Fultang pointed out that the ROC
government counterpart had purchased and donated two all-
terrain vehicles to WFP for use in PRRO field visits.

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Executive Board approval
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6. The WFP Board approved the Protracted Relief and Recovery
Operation for the Republic of the Congo (ROC). The project
10312.0, entitled Assistance to Populations Affected by
Conflicts, is for two years (July 2004 - June 2006) with a
total cost to WFP of USD 13.16 million. Beneficiaries are
estimated at 177,850. Over the life-of-project, WFP will
supply (subject to the availability of funds) a total of
18,141 metric tons of food aid. Hall


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2004ROME00897 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED