Attachments
Highlights
• WFP and Adaptation Fund signed the agreement for an index-based micro insurance project for smallholder farmers in Bhutan.
• WFP completed the Consolidated Exercise for Analysing Resilience (CLEAR) and recommendations for the District Agriculture Resilience Plans.
• A Logistics Capacity Assessment (LCA) training and workshop was conducted from 16-20 September.
• WFP has a US$2.0 million six months (September 2024 to February 2025) net funding requirements in Bhutan.
Operational Updates
Consolidated Livelihood Exercise for Analysing Resilience (CLEAR)
• WFP completed the CLEAR activity and concluded the assignment with final presentations and discussions with project partners and relevant stakeholders on 12 and 16 September 2024. The CLEAR activity consisted of community consultations with participants from all 37 sub-districts in the four project districts of Tsirang,
Sarpang, Trongsa and Zhemgang, in addition to research and consultation with stakeholders and agencies at the district and national level.
• The analysis includes details about the livelihood zones centring around farming, livestock rearing, and nonwood forest products as primary sources of livelihood.
The study also enumerated the main challenges pointing to limited arable land, water availability and management issues, wildlife depredation of crops and livestock, farm labour shortage, low mechanisation, poor infrastructure, and poor market access and allied services.
• Based on the analysis, a set of broad recommendations for all districts have been provided for the development of district agriculture resilience plans (ARPs). The district ARPs will be jointly developed by the BRECSA project and district administration with technical support from WFP. The ARPs will be one of the key documents in informing the district annual work plan and budget 2025-26.
Logistics Capacity Assessment (LCA) Training and Workshop
• From 16 to 20 September , a Logistics Capacity Assessment (LCA) training and workshop was conducted for District Disaster Management Officers (DMOs) across all 20 districts in Bhutan, as well as for members of the National Logistics Preparedness Working Group (NLPWG) and WFP staff. This initiative was led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MoAL), the designated government authority for emergency logistics in Bhutan.
• Recognizing the necessity for comprehensive data on the nation's emergency logistics capacity, MoAL has requested WFP's support in updating the LCA data initially gathered in 2017. WFP lent its expertise to enhance the LCA competencies of the participating government officials and WFP personnel.
• The training effectively strengthened the capabilities of DMOs, NLPWG members, and WFP staff in reviewing existing LCA data pertinent to Bhutan; executing an LCA within district jurisdictions; and managing LCA data, including necessary data cleaning and addressing feedback or inquiries. Following the training, all participants are expected to implement the LCA in their respective districts, thereby contributing to improved emergency logistics preparedness throughout the country.
Adaptation Fund project agreement signed.
• WFP and the Adaptation Fund signed a US$5 million project on 9 September, to benefit over 10,000 direct smallholder farmers in Bhutan. Primarily, women with heightened vulnerability to climate change will gain access to index-based insurance coverage. The beneficiaries will invest their time and labour in adapting their farming practices to be more climate resilient, strengthening existing initiatives, practicing climate-smart agriculture and good agricultural practices for low-external input sustainable agriculture, and organic agriculture which is a priority of the Royal Government of Bhutan.
• The primary project beneficiaries will be poor smallholder farmers, targeting at least 70 percent women, with high levels of vulnerability to current and projected climate risks in Dagana and Tsirang in south-central Bhutan, and in Lhuentse and Trashigang in eastern Bhutan.