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BACKGROUND
In May and June 2013, WFP, UNHCR and UNICEF conducted the Vulnerable Assessment of Syrian Refugees (VASyR1), a multi-sectoral survey aiming at understanding the living conditions of refugees and their vulnerability profile in order to guide proper responses.
The survey concluded that approximately 30 percent of the Syrian refugee population could meet their basic food and non-food needs without engaging in irreversible negative coping strategies. The remaining 70 percent of the population were ranked as being highly or severely vulnerable according to multi-sectoral criteria.
Based on the outcomes of the VASyR, WFP and UNHCR jointly reached a decision to re-focus on food hygiene and baby kit assistance to the most vulnerable Syrian refugees through a targeting approach. The targeting approach is based on responsible programming to ensure that the assistance reaches those in need most and that resources are used effectively and efficiently. The targeting exercise in Lebanon started in November 2013.
Households eligible for assistance were selected based on a criterion known as Burden Index2. This index assigned a score to each registration case according to the information recorded during the UNHCR registration process of refugees and hence available in the UNHCR PROGRES database3. This score, mainly based on the demographic characteristics, aimed to rank registration cases according to their level of dependency as proxy of household ability to generate income to cover the needs of all household members. The 70 percent of registered Syrian refugees with the highest burden scores, theoretically reflecting the highest degree of dependency, were provided with food, hygiene and baby kit assistance.
Being aware of the limitations of the Burden Index, WFP, UNHCR and various Cooperating Partners (CPs) designed a comprehensive appeal and verification process to guarantee the accuracy of the targeting roll-out, therefore ensure that those most in need were receiving assistance. The families who were excluded according to the Burden Index could appeal and request a revision of their case. All the families who appealed received a verification visit to assess their vulnerability situation, by a team composed by WFP, UNHCR and CPs. In addition, all the households living 500 meters above sea level were visited for their vulnerability status verification due to their special vulnerability risk during winter, apart from the submission of an appeal.