WFP and DFID Partnership Agreement

1. WFP and DFID Partnership Agreement …Towards greater collaboration

2. Programme: • WFP / DFID in Bangladesh • Issues related to food-aid programmes • The DFID/WFP partnership agreement

3. DFID in Bangladesh • DFID Bangladesh Country Assistance Plan (2003-05) highlights the fact that the people of Bangladesh continue to have to cope with natural disasters, and various social shocks, threatening annually more than 30- million people. • Second largest donor • Delegated decision making power at the country level • Effective in supporting strategic analysis and changes in approach by development community

4. WFP in Bangladesh • Managing one of the largest food aid programmes in the world (more than 5 million direct beneficiaries). • Extensive experience in working with the extreme poor. • Focus on food security and nutritional improvements, through the development of human capital creation of physical assets and, diversification and fortification of the food basket. • Unique position within strategic debates of food insecurity and disasters. • Operating cost linked to the amount of food aid delivered.

5. Issues related to food aid programmes There is considerable uncertainty whether the MDG Hunger Target will be met. MDG Target 2: Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger. • Indicators: • Underweight children (under-five years of age) • Extreme poverty ( < 1805 Kcal/Cap/day)

6. According to FAO the proportion of undernourished people has only decreased slightly during the past two decades. FAO, SOFI

7. Poverty showed only a modest reduction during the 1990’s. HIES, 2000 MDG 14% Extreme poverty Target of GOB 5% by 2015 (PRSP)

8. MDG GOAL (34%) In 2000 almost one child in every two is still underweight and stunted. BBS GOB GOAL (28%) PRSP

9. Underlying reasons for not meeting the target are manifold. Issues related to food aid programmes Contributing factor Constraints • National Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping capacity is limited • There is limited exchange of information • Gender and social analysis is weak • Poor understanding of the role and application of food aid Consistent food security information is lacking

10. Contributing factor Constraints The efficiency and effectiveness of food aid is reduced by political influence, leakage and poor targeting reduce • Weak government institutions • Poor monitoring and evaluation systems • Evidence-based targeting is needed.

11. Contributing factor Constraints • Disaster preparedness response need to have a more prominent place in WFP’s country programme strategy • DFID needs to reduce transaction cost and improve its disaster response efficiency • Local level disaster preparedness and response capacity is weak • Relief efforts are not integrated with development activities. Insufficient co-ordination and consistency of relief preparedness, assessment and response

12. Partnership Agreement: Overall Goal: To reduce hunger and malnutrition and bring about sustainable improvements in the food security and livelihood situation of the extreme poor in Bangladesh.

13. Objectives: • Improve effectiveness, efficiency, and transparency of food aid • Enhance WFP’s knowledge and advocacy to influence the policy debate on food insecurity and vulnerability, and to ensure appropriateness of food aid • Strengthen WFP and DFID’s co-ordination, preparedness and response mechanisms to disasters.

14. Areas of partnership 1) Efficiency, effectiveness and transparency of food aid • Further strengthening of WFP’s Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping capacity • Strengthened gender and social analysis • Further development of M&E systems (WFP, GoB, IPs) • Support to innovative pilot programmes

15. 2) Knowledge, Advocacy and Policy Development • Establish a set of conditions and criteria of how jointly to respond to disasters • Harmonize the work of Disaster Emergency Response group and the Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme. • Technical and institutional support from DFID to enhance WFP’s disaster response capacity • Provide support to local institutions in the area of disaster preparedness and mitigation

16. 2) Knowledge, Advocacy and Policy Development • Enhancement of WFP’s knowledge management system Information network Analysis Targeting Lessons / learning Programme Design / Impl LCG Partners M&E Policy Arena Knowledge management in WFP

17. 2) Knowledge, Advocacy and Policy Development • Application of Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping and learning capacity • Support to the national Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information and Mapping System (FIVIMS) • Development and application of an advocacy policy seeking to reform GoB and food aid programmes, to better meet the needs of the extreme poor. • Intensified participation in the Local Consultative Groups, PSRP, and UNDAF/CCA processes.

18. 3) Disaster Preparedness and Response • WFP will assume management of DFID’s emergency response • Further strengthening of WFP’s disaster response capacity • Bridging the gap between relief and development efforts (VULNERABLE GROUPS IN CHRONIC CRISIS) • Increased local level capacity for disaster preparedness and response • Enhanced role of WFP in co-ordinating relief activities.

19. Means of Partnership • Financial support: GBP 7,000,000 • Timeframe: • 6 years (2003 – 2009) • Phase I: 2003 – 2006 (4.5 million) • Phase II: 2006 – 2009 (2.5 million) • Inputs: • Recruitment and placement of three senior DFID policy level positions, technical staff, and consultants • Material and services supporting pilot programmes. • Additional funds to respond to disasters • Management: • Comprehensive Project Memorandum (PM) (June 2003) • PM will be reviewed on 6 monthly basis • Annual review and mid-term review