WFP EMERGENCY NEEDS ASSESSMENT UPDATE

UNCLAS ROME 000715

SIPDIS


FROM U.S. MISSION TO THE UN AGENCIES IN ROME

USAID FOR DCHA/FFP LANDIS AND WHELAN
INFO STATE FOR PRM/P AND IO/EDA
USDA FOR FAS CHAMBLISS
GENEVA FOR RMA AND NKYLOH/USAID

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EAGR PREF AORC WFP
SUBJECT: WFP EMERGENCY NEEDS ASSESSMENT UPDATE

Ref: 04 Rome 2839


1. Summary. At its third regular Executive Board session in
October 2004, WFP presented an update on actions already
taken and activities to be implemented in a 30-month
timeframe that will enable it to strengthen "its
competencies and capacities to ensure the quality,
credibility, comparability and transparency of emergency
needs assessments." Since then WFP has continued to
strengthen its ENA capacity with the support of a recently
launched ECHO-funded project, which is proceeding apace with
meetings of its advisory group and technical committee in
mid-March 2005. End summary.


2. Background. In February and again in October 2003,
following extensive criticism of emergency needs assessments
(ENAs),WFP's Executive Board endorsed an ENA strengthening
program to increase transparency and accountability,
strengthen methodology, improve crisis information for
selected crisis-prone countries, and augment ENA capacity
through learning programs for staff and partners. In
addition, in June 2004, per reftel, G-8 countries pledged to
improve ENAs and response systems despite funding
uncertainties.


3. In recent discussions with USUN Rome representative
Philip Lamade, WFP's Wolfgang Herbinger indicated that WFP's
recent activities generally correspond with the 2004 through
2006 timetable of the paper presented to the October 2004
Executive Board on strengthening ENAs. For example, under
transparency and accountability, an estimated 40 to 50
reports have been posted, and checklists for ENA reports are
now being filed for each assessment.


4. Similarly, under methodologies and guidance, joint
WFP/UNHCR guidelines have been issued. A draft of the
emergency food security assessment (EFSA) handbook has been
issued, but a revision of the 1996 crop food supply
assessment mission (CFSAM) handbook used for joint missions
with FAO is not likely to be completed until 2006. With
regard to building capacity, in 2005 and 2006, WFP
anticipates training 300 WFP staff as well as NGO and
governmental personnel to strengthen necessary skills for
ENAs. Next week in Rome, WFP plans to pilot test a one-week
training seminar; in April, a joint UNHCR/WFP workshop in
Dar es Salaam is being scheduled.


5. Also in October 2004, the European Community Humanitarian
Aid department (ECHO) provided funds to WFP in the amount of
Euro 4.5 million to cover the first 12 months (although
given initial delays, possibly 15 months) of a potential 30-
month project to strengthen emergency needs assessment
capacity (SENAC). The project covers some of the activities
listed in the timetable discussed above, e.g., ENA website
access, research and field-testing of methodologies, and
regional assessment specialists. Essentially, three Rome-
based project personnel will be augmented at WFP regional
bureaus by a total of 12 assessment specialists, of whom 8
have already been recruited.


6. The SENAC project is guided by a technical committee
consisting of donor representatives and supervised by WFP's
Wolfgang Herbinger. The project is also supported by an
advisory group of experts representing academia, government,
non-governmental organizations, and other UN agencies. The
technical committee is scheduled to meet for the third time
on March 16 and 17, 2005; the advisory group, including
members of the technical committee and ECHO project staff,
meets for the first time on March 14 and 15, 2005.


7. In the first year, project foci will include the role of
markets and effects of food aid on markets, the impact of
food aid on households, chronic versus transitory food
insecurity, non-food responses to food crises, and baseline
and crisis information systems. Planned activities include
the following:

-- Developing food security pre-crisis baselines in Angola,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, Myanmar,

Nepal, Niger, Uganda, and Zambia.

-- Developing food security monitoring systems in
Afghanistan, Burundi, Central African Republic, Cote
D'Ivoire, Sudan, and Haiti.

-- Developing assessment tools related to the role of
markets.
-- Testing and adapting ENA methods in Burundi, Cote
D'Ivoire, Liberia, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Angola, and
Mozambique.

Hall


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2005ROME00715 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED