Attachments
In Numbers
187 MT of food assistance distributed
USD 897,000 cash transfers distributed
USD 134 million net funding requirements for the next six months (November 24 – April 25)
75,000 people assisted in October 2024 through in-kind food and cash transfers
Operational Updates
Lean Season Assistance: WFP completed the El Niño response food distributions in Buhera, Mangwe, and Mwenezi, assisting 272,831 beneficiaries. Plans are in place to scale up in-kind distributions to nearly 1 million individuals at the peak of the lean season, beginning in one district in December and potentially expanding to eight additional districts by January 2025.
Support to Refugees: WFP and partners supported 12,343 refugees and asylum seekers at Tongogara Refugee Settlement with cash and in-kind assistance. 12,097 individuals received hybrid support of USD 7 per person monthly along with maize meal, pulses, and vegetable oil. 246 new arrivals were provided a full in-kind food basket. To address nutritional needs, 1,753 children under five, 430 pregnant and breastfeeding women, and 362 chronically ill individuals received specialized nutritious foods. However, a recently concluded Joint Assessment Mission found the assistance insufficient to meet the refugees' full nutritional requirements.
Urban Cash Assistance: In October, WFP and its partners provided cash assistance to 62,481 foodinsecure people in five urban areas: Caledonia, Chinhoyi, Chiredzi, Mutare, and Mzilikazi, distributing USD 13 per person per month to help meet their food needs. This response is being implemented in collaboration with the government and humanitarian partners under the National Cash Working Group.
Urban Preparedness: In October, WFP, in partnership with the Department of Civil Protection and UN OCHA, hosted the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean (SAIO) Disaster Preparedness Workshop. Funded by the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG-ECHO), the event focused on enhancing urban preparedness and logistical capacities, bringing together stakeholders to strengthen disaster readiness across the region.
Climate services:Farmers in the targeted districts of Masvingo, Mwenezi, Chipinge, Rushinga, and Mangwe continue to receive weather and climate advisories for the 2024/25 agricultural season. These updates are shared through meetings with extension officers and PICSA radioprogrammes to support informed agricultural decision-making.Market assessment:Preliminary findings from the WFP Market Functionality Assessment and Beneficiary Preference Survey revealed key insights for designing transfer modalities. Cash-based transfers (CBTs) are viable in over 70percentof markets across 68percentof districts, though risks like price escalation and currency manipulation require monitoring. Rural areas showed the lowest scores in infrastructure and services, highlighting the need for market and supply chain improvements. The survey indicated a strong preference for food-in-kind assistance, especially in rural areas, due to concerns over food scarcity and market access, while cash was valued for its flexibility and support for local economies. These findings underscore the need for context-specific food assistance approaches.ChallengesWFP’s current Lean Season Assistance resources can only support 962,000 people, leaving over 500,000 intended beneficiaries without essential assistance. Coupled with limited commodity availability and extended procurement lead times, the situation demands urgent, timely funding. WFP urgently requires USD 134 million to bridge the funding gap and effectively deliver life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable communities; as well as sustain its resilience-buildingactivities.