Attachments
Highlights
• The 2017/18 Lean Season Assistance programme cycle commenced in October, initially targeting 175,000 people in 13 Districts; the programme will scale up to reach 482,000 in January through March 2018.
• WFP began procuring 710 mt of sorghum and cow peas from local suppliers as part of efforts to strengthen local procurement platforms in the country.
• The R4 rural resilience initiative preparatory work is progressing, including the design of the insurance component and engagement of local insurance companies.
• In partnership with the Government, WFP supported the Government-led launch of District Risk Profiles for 60 rural districts.
Operational Updates
• WFP assisted 81,990 people in October with Food Assistance for Assets as they worked under the PAC programme on assets that will strengthen their resilience to shocks and their livelihoods. The decline in the number of people assisted compared to the previous month (98,399) is due to a delayed start of activities in some areas as a result of the unavailability of timely funding during the start of the programme. Some districts will consequently wind up activities in November and December.
• LSA commenced in October, targeting 172,505 people in 13 districts. Distributions for the October cycle were completed during the first week of November, after delays in finalisation of partner agreements. Districts earmarked for cash transfers used cash-in-transit during this first cycle, pending finalisation of contracts with retailers for e-voucher districts and registration on the mobile platforms for mobile transfer districts.
• Through the support of the Swiss Development Agency for Cooperation and France, preparatory work for implementation of the R4 rural resilience initiative in Zimbabwe is well underway, with the design of the insurance component with support from the IRI University of Columbia and the selection of a local insurance company partner currently ongoing.
• Building on its momentum of locally procuring commodities from smallholder farmers as part of efforts to strengthen the local procurement platform, WFP is now procuring 710mt of sorghum and cow peas from local suppliers, with delivery for the commodities earmarked for November.
• The Support to Refugees assisted 10,868 people at TRC through cash and in-kind assistance. A pilot program of livelihood activities has commenced to provide an income source for the refugees at the camp.
• The PEPFAR-supported activities under Health and Nutrition in Harare scaled up the number of distribution points from eight to 15, allowing clients easier access. 8,214 people were assisted through the PEPFAR support in October.