There are two major themes running through this issue of Field Exchange. The first is a focus on Southern Africa and the programmatic challenges presented by HIV/AIDS and the second concerns infant and young child feeding in emergencies (IFE). An extended visit to South Africa over the summer by ENN co-director, Marie McGrath, offered the opportunity to visit several collaborative WFP programmes in Swaziland and Namibia and also to identify significant HIV-related research in the region. Setting the scene in Southern Africa, George Aelion of WFP describes

The 2006/07 agricultural season in southern Africa is well underway. Over the past two months, significant rains were reported in several parts of the region, including southwestern Angola, northern Namibia, western Botswana, most parts of Lesotho, Malawi, Swaziland, and parts of South Africa.

In contrast, inadequate rainfall has delayed Repatriation of Angolan refugees in planting operations in other areas of the Zambia, 2006, UNHCR. sub-region, including parts of south- eastern Mozambique, where rainfall was between 0 - 25 percent of normal,

The global cereal supply and demand situation has further tightened, with a downward revision of the 2006 world cereal production forecast and a projected increase in cereal utilization in 2006/07. At current forecast levels, the utilization would exceed production by 3.3 percent in 2006/07. World cereal stocks are forecast to decline for the third consecutive year, with those of wheat falling to their lowest level since 1981.

Cereal export prices have increased sharply in recent months, mainly in response to tightening world supplies and by

The Mohalinyane Youth Nursery project has generated R15,996 (US$2,200) from selling tree seedlings. The Tree Nursery Project was established by World Vision in the Tuans Area Development Programme (ADP). Trees were sold to government departments as well as the World Vision relief unit and will be used in environmental rehabilitation activities.

The youth group has six members, who each received R1,000 (US$140) for their participation in tree production.

The income generated through the nursery

JOHANNESBURG, 7 Nov 2006 (IRIN) - Climate change could force drought-prone areas of southern Africa to abandon agriculture permanently in the next 50 years, according to new research.

As a result of global warming, "weather events will become less predictable and more intense - heavier rainfall and longer and more frequent drought cycles", said Martin Krause, the regional technical advisor on climate change with the United Nations

Zimbabwe: WFP estimates that 1.4 million people are in critical need of food assistance, based on the preliminary findings of the VAC. This number is expected to rise to 1.9 million people due to rising inflation and an increased lack of access to the market. WFP continues to scale down its operation, so far affecting roughly half of the 900,000 people it was originally targeting, due to funding shortages.

Angola: The World Food Pro-gramme (WFP) is winding down its operations. Donors state that Angola's substantial