WFP Pacific Country Brief (October 2024)

Highlights

• WFP, in partnership with network provider Digicel, has initiated mVAM data collection in Fiji, Kiribati,
  Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu. WFP’s mVAM work provides critical information on food security, nutrition and livelihoods of vulnerable groups in support of their disaster preparedness and response.
• The Government of Samoa endorsed the ICA conducted by the WFP-led Pacific ETC. The ICA evaluated the country’s disaster readiness in areas such as infrastructure, coordination and policy. In the coming months, WFP will provide technical assistance to support the implementation of the ICA’s recommendations.
• WFP participated in a workshop on the PHWP. The workshop, which was a critical opportunity to discuss about warehouse infrastructure design, work progress, partnership engagement and programme visibility.

Operational Updates

Supply chain

• In its commitment to support the Samoa Disaster Management Office in preparation for the upcoming cyclone season, WFP prepositioned four mobile storage units, one generator, one forklift and two satellite phones to ensure that essential equipment is readily available for disaster response, enabling quicker deployment and timely assistance to affected communities.
• WFP participated in the PHWP Mid-Year Programme Governance Committee Meeting and Infrastructure Requirements Wworkshop. The workshop brought together representatives from National Disaster Management Offices across participating countries, the Pacific Community (SPC), and contributing donors. The workshop focused on PHWP infrastructure design, the Programme Governance Committee's work progress and plan, partnership engagement and programme visibility. The PHWP aims to strengthen humanitarian warehousing capacities across 14 Pacific Island Countries and Timor-Leste, and enhance prepositioning and storage of emergency relief supplies to enable timely distribution before and immediately after disasters.
• WFP published a factsheet entitled “Vanuatu: Strengthening emergency preparedness and response through optimised supply chains,” showcasing its collaboration with Pacific governments and partners to enhance system

Social Protection

• On October 24, WFP conducted a refresher training on anticipatory action post-distribution monitoring (PDM) for 14 participants from the Fiji Ministry of Women, Children, and Social Protection. This training enhanced the skills of staff involved in baseline surveys and PDM by equipping them with updated methodologies, tools, and best practices. WFP focused on strengthening their capacity to conduct effective baseline surveys and PDMs, as well as enhancing their understanding of reporting on protection and accountability to affected populations and the results of the complaints and feedback mechanism.

Research, assessment and monitoring

• WFP, in partnership with Digicel, commenced its mVAM data collection in Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu. This will provide governments and partners with essential information on households’ food security, dietary diversity, livelihood coping strategies and nutrition intake, enabling governments and other humanitarian partners to make informed decisions. This initiative comes ahead of the approaching cyclone season.
• WFP conducted a five-day Tableau training on data visualisation for 12 staff members from the Vanuatu Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries, and Biosecurity and the Vanuatu Statistics Office. The training aimed to provide technical support in data analysis and visualisation, sharing some of the best practices and methodologies used by WFP. This initiative is especially timely as both agencies prepare to analyse data from Vanuatu’s 2022-2023 Agriculture Census to gain insights into the agricultural sector's current status, trends and challenges.

Partnerships

• WFP supported Fiji’s Ministry of Agriculture in commemorating World Food Day on 16 October. During the event, Minister for Agriculture, Hon. Dr. Mahendra Reddy emphasised the importance of this day in recognising the efforts of organisations dedicated to zero hunger. This year’s theme, “Right to Foods for a Better Life and a Better Future - Leave No One Behind” highlighted the need for inclusive action to ensure food security for all. The priorities set to support this theme focused on fostering better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life.