Attachments
Highlights
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WFP Chad has purchased 13,000 mt of sorghum, worth USD 4 million, on local markets - a ten-fold increase compared to 2014. Local purchase is time and cost-efficient for food-assistance in landlocked Chad and has positive effects on the Chadian economy via support to the local agricultural production and markets.
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The US Government confirmed a generous contribution worth over USD 26 million to support the provision of food and nutrition assistance in Chad in 2017.
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UNHAS is the main transportation mode for numerous actors involved in development projects and for all humanitarian actors (97 percent of passengers come from organisations involved in implementing the Humanitarian Response Plan). The criticality of this service has led to the extension of UNHAS for 2017.
Operational Updates
Country-wide
UNHAS has been extended for provision of essential humanitarian air services in 2017 through Special Operation 201044. Due to considerable cost-saving efforts, the annual budget has been brought down to USD 15.3 million (3 million less than in 2016). Pledges are urgently needed to ensure continuity of the service.
According to the results of a National Food Security Assessment conducted by the Government with support from WFP, FAO and FEWSNET in October 2016, global food insecurity has decreased from 25 to 18.5 percent. This overall improvement hides major regional disparities: 2.1 million people are food insecure, out of which 1.5 million live in the Sahelian belt. The sharp decline of livestock prices (exceeds 50 percent at the country level) has led to a deterioration of terms of trade between farmers and pastoralists.
PRRO 200713:
The budget revision to Chad PRRO 200713 was approved by Executive Board in November. The extension provides for a continuation of programmes through 2017, during which time WFP Chad will develop an interim strategic plan for 2018 and a strategic plan for the period 2019-2023. A joint assessment published by UNHCR and WFP revealed that 43 percent of refugees who have been living in Chad for more than 10 years continue to face a precarious food security situation and to require basic food and nutrition assistance.
EMOP 200777 (Lake Chad crisis):
Despite assistance provided by WFP and other partners, food insecurity rate among internally displaced persons rose from 15 percent in March (Emergency Food Security Assessment) 2016 to 35 percent in October 2016 (Enquête Nationale de la Sécurité Alimentaire), mainly due to the erosion of their livelihoods caused by massive displacement. To provide affected communities with more durable solutions, WFP is starting to provide conditional food assistance for assets. Through the Instrument for Peace and Stability, the European Union increased its contribution by EUR 1 million. With EUR 4.5 million, WFP will be able to assist 12,500 families (or 62,500 very vulnerable people) in the Lake Chad region. Assistance will be provided through cash-based transfers conditioned to the participation in creation or rehabilitation of community assets which have the potential to reinforce autonomy and provide income-generating activities. Assisted communities are directly involved in identifying their priorities. WFP finalized SCOPE biometric registration of displaced persons in the Lake Chad Region.
Challenges
In order to reach vulnerable populations in the islands of the Lake Chad region WFP is assessing the possibility of getting to these remote areas by canoes. In December schools remained closed due to an ongoing strike of public servants. The strike has been suspended early January. The school meals programme on hold since September will resume in all areas for which funding has been received as soon as schools open.
Partnerships
In Chad, WFP implements all its operations through partners; the network includes close to 30 international and local NGOs. WFP works closely with the Government through REACH on nutrition, and the Ministry of Agriculture on food security information and analysis. Refugee assistance is implemented in collaboration with UNHCR and the national authorities. The Food Security Cluster is held regularly at national and regional levels and WFP Country Director is the Chair of the UN SUN Network. WFP participates in the humanitarian coordination forums and the UN Country Team which is currently finalizing the UNDAF to start in 2017.