WFP Côte d'Ivoire Country Brief, November 2020

In Numbers

64,989 mt of food assistance distributed

USD 0 cash-based transfers made

USD 10.1 m six months (December 2020 – May 2021) net funding requirements

53,098 people assisted In November 2020

Operational Updates

• The October presidential election recorded incidents of civil disobedience and violence, affecting over 60 localities with inter-community conflicts, casualties and destruction of property and infrastructure. According to the Government, 85 people were killed during pre- and postelection-related violence, with an additional 484 people injured and 225 people arrested. Fear of violence was the main driver that resulted in the exodus of Ivorian refugees, especially from western regions of the country, to neighboring countries and to other regions of the country.

• WFP in Côte d’Ivoire has activated its emergency response to provide immediate relief to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in regions identified through rapid needs assessments, conducted by local partners and inter-agency multisectoral groups. To date, WFP has partnered with UNHCR,
  Red Cross, and Caritas in support of 4,900 people who have received urgent food assistance (rice, vegetable oil and beans). The country office is planning to augment its assistance to different localities and extend the length of assistance to best serve affected IDPs and host communities who lost their sources of livelihoods.

• Under the direction of Comité de Coordination Élargi (CCE) co-chaired by Ministry of Solidarity and Social Cohesion and UN Resident Coordinator, WFP has been co-leading the Operational Coordination Group (Groupe de Coordination Opérationelle) with the Directorate of Solidarity to develop multi-agency contingency plan as part of emergency preparedness measures to the Presidential Election on October 31. WFP is leading sectors of food-security, supply chain/telecommunication and cash-based transfers (CBT). 52% 48% WFP Côte d’Ivoire Country Brief November 2020 WFP Côte d’Ivoire Country Brief November 2020

• WFP's operations (school feeding and livelihood activities) in the western region were directly impacted by the volatile political and security situation. Fearing election-related violence and disturbances, participants involved in the food assistance for assets (FFA) programme have either abandoned their activities to flee the area or were reluctant to resume their regular livelihood activities. In addition, many teachers and beneficiaries of WFP-supported school feeding programme have reportedly fled their homes to move closer to Liberian border, while others have fled to their villages in rural areas.

• In the northern region, which has been relatively calm throughout the electoral period, WFP’s operations continued undisrupted. WFP’s support to smallholder farmers under the smallholder agricultural market support (SAMS) programme continued, following the harvest period of rainfed crops (e.g. nuts, corns, beans). To ensure the quality of grains farmed, technical support on post-harvest management and storage methods was provided to smallholder farmers. More specifically, demonstrations and trainings on post-harvest methodologies, such as drying, winnowing, sorting and use of storage silo were organized.

• Schools remained closed from 23 October to 16 November, with school holidays extended, due to the volatile security situation. In accordance to the school reopening starting 17 November, WFP resumed food deliveries to assisted schools to restart their school feeding activities. Food deliveries to schools are expected to be concluded in early December.