Attachments
Highlights
• The new Multi-Country Strategic Plan (MCSP) (2023-2027) for the Pacific was approved by the Executive Board on 29 June. WFP has assigned a staff in the One UN Office in Apia, Samoa, to coordinate and oversee WFP activities in Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tokelau.
• WFP updated the ICT capacity assessments for Palau and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, providing insights on ICT policies, strategies and capacities to mitigate the impacts of disasters. Furthermore, WFP strengthened its partnership with the University of the South Pacific to conduct market assessments in Fiji and strengthen data-informed decision making.
Operational Updates
Food Security
• The WFP co-led Regional Pacific Food Security Cluster (RPFSC) completed its annual coordination mapping exercise. This is aligned with the Regional Coordination and Partnerships strategic objective of the Pacific Food Security Cluster. It captures the presence, activities, and capacities of cluster members, and the responses delivered to populations in affected areas.
• WFP conducted a Global Positioning System (GPS) and Geographical Information System (GIS) training for land mapping in the Solomon Islands for the Land Planning Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture.
WFP provided ten GPS devices to the Ministry to strengthen its capacity and support access to data for sustainable agriculture and improved livelihoods.
• WFP conducted a Kobo Toolbox training with the Fiji Ministry of Agriculture and Bureau of Statistics on 12 June. The training aimed at strengthening the capacity to support data-informed decision making on food security.
• WFP met with the Vanuatu Ministry of Agriculture to discuss innovative ways to monitor national food security. The parties discussed the development of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to support the work on data management, national food security cluster and national food security policy.
• WFP extended its MoU with the University of the South Pacific to conduct market assessments until December 2023. The research assists with the establishment of the minimum expenditure baskets for households in Fiji. Data on food availability, cost and market variety were collected and analysed through this initiative to strengthen data-informed decision making.
• WFP finalized an MoU with the Samoa Ministry of Agriculture to support the Agricultural Production Survey. The survey is scheduled to be implemented in November and aims to enhance decision making on food security in Samoa.
Logistics
• WFP participated in the Fiji Inter-Cluster meeting on 29 June hosted by the Fiji National Disaster Management Office (NDMO). The meeting focused on the preparation for the inaugural National Emergency Response Team (NERT) induction training to be held in Lautoka from 2 to 9. WFP will be facilitating specialized sessions on humanitarian logistics and emergency telecommunications in disaster response • WFP has completed the concept note for the establishment of the Women in Logistics Network.
The network will focus on strengthening the capacity of women in logistics coordination, warehouse and inventory management, transportation, procurement, leadership and problem-solving.
Emergency Telecommunications
• WFP released the ICT capacity assessment reports for Palau and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). The capacity assessment reports provide an overview of the ICT landscape of the two countries and their capacities to mitigate impacts of disasters.
The reports are based on evaluation of national policies, strategies, and capacities and were shared with their respective National Disaster Management Offices.
• WFP provided technical support to review the training manual and plan for the July 2023 Fiji NERT induction training. NERT is Fiji’s surge emergency preparedness and response initiative.
Partnerships
• To deepen its engagement in the region and in line with its new Multi-Country Strategic Plan (2023-2027), WFP hired and deployed a new staff to the One UN Office in Apia, Samoa, to coordinate and oversee WFP activities in Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa, and Tokelau