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Global Food Security Cluster
August Newsletter

In this issue

Global Partners’ Meeting, 14-15 June 2016, Rome, Italy
Cluster Coordinators’ Training, 11-15 July, Neuhausen, Germany
gFSC IM Trainings
CC Retreat
Working Groups
gFSC/Welthungerhilfe planned video project
 
gFSC Mission to Nigeria
L-3: Iraq
L-3: South Sudan
L-3: Whole of Syria
L-3: Yemen
El Niño-induced drought in Southern Africa
Lake Chad Basin Crisis

Upcoming events

Global Partners’ Meeting, 14-15 June 2016, Rome, Italy

Global Partners Meeting Rome WFP

The tenth Global Partners’ Meeting of gFSC was held at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy. The meeting brought together more than 60 participants and observers representing over 30 partner institutions and 2 country clusters. The overall purpose of the meeting was to review the work of the gFSC during the first half of 2016, as well as to discuss the emerging strategic issues such as the World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) core commitments and the Grand Bargain.

The meeting reviewed gFSC achievements during the first half of 2016 and addressed major issues experienced during the period; assessed the progress of the six technical Working Groups and agreed on priorities for the remaining period of the year; finalized the Terms of Reference for the Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) and conducted election, and discussed the outcome of the WHS, the 10 work streams of the Grand Bargain and their implications on the cluster works. Other emerging issues were alsio discussed, such as joint needs assessment, cash transfer and listening to affected people’s view. Another important highlight discussed during the meeting was the different needs assessment models used in practice in hard-to-reach areas, including Yemen, Ukraine, Syria and Libya. Hands-on experience from Nigeria on Cash Transfer Programming was another important topic discussed during the meeting.

The Global Partners’ Meeting was also an opportunity to receive guidance from the partners on specific follow-up actions to improve the performance of the Food Security Cluster and the different technical Working Groups.

Cluster Coordinators’ Training, 11-15 July, Neuhausen, Germany

Cluster Coordinators’ Training, WFP Food Security Cluster

The training was hosted by Technisches Hilfswerk (THW) in Neuhausen, Germany, with the objective to prepare a pool of competent Food Security Cluster Coordinators with the required core competencies, specifically focusing on the development of leadership and coordination skills. This one week tailor-made training provided the participants with an opportunity to better understand their roles and responsibilities before, during and after a Level 3 emergency following the Humanitarian Programme Cycle (HPC). The learning process allowed participants to practice key roles and responsibilities through simulation exercises, thus experiencing what they entail and what attitudes, knowledge and skills are most helpful to undertake the roles and responsibilities in a real crisis situation. The training also had a “level of readiness assessment” component carried out through one-on-one feedback session at the end of the exercise, which informed the gFSC about participants’ readiness for deployment to IASC L3 emergency and helped identify other potential candidates that could join the roster of deployable people for L2 and L3 emergencies as well as preparedness.

The 25 training participants came from partner NGOs (Welthungerhilfe, Accion Contra el Hambre), gFSC Standby Partners (DRC, NRC, RedR Australia) and Cluster Lead Agencies (FAO, WFP).  The training was led by gFSC with support of two external facilitators. The different simulation modules covered major elements of cluster coordination and relevant activities, such as setting up a Cluster, meetings with Government, donors and Cluster partners; Information Management, communication and reporting; needs assessment and analysis, resource mobilization, and implementation of activities and monitoring. Throughout the process participants received feedback on management skills as well as technical and coordination performance, including individual feedback.

The training at THW was very participatory and effective. At the end of the training, about 90% of the participants rated the training as extremely useful and excellent and the rest confirmed as good. 

gFSC IM Trainings

The Information Management (IM)Team of the global Food Security Cluster has recently completed a series of two FSC IM trainings. These trainings were based on the recent development of the IM Compendium and identification of minimum operational reporting requirements which include a gap analysis and partner’s presence update on a regular basis.

The trainings took place at the THW Training Centre near Stuttgart, Germany, from 6 to 10 June 2016; and at WFP Headquarters in Rome from 4 to 7 July 2016. The facilitation team was composed of members of the global IM FSC team in addition to a seasoned Cluster Coordinator with strong IM skills and a colleague from WFP OIM. Overall, 42 people participated to the trainings (19 in Stuttgart and 23 in Rome). The agenda of the trainings was structured to reflect the skills and processes required for FSC IMOs to deliver high-quality IM products. Participants’ evaluations of the trainings indicated that they considered the trainings to be excellent, and the mapping skills, the data collection and analysis, and the creation of IM products as the most important elements they learned.

The global FSC IM team has established a tracking system of all countries and the three key information products to be produced on a regular basis, with the purpose of monitoring them for the remainder of 2016. The outcome of this effort will determine the future structuring of the gFSC IM team as of 2017.

The full report with additional information is available at this link.

CC Retreat

The gFSC held its second Food Security Country Cluster Coordinators’ Retreat from 27 to 29 June 2016 in Rome. Around 20 Cluster Coordinators from all over the world met to share experience, discuss challenges and best practices. The aim of the retreat was to improve leadership, coordination and performance of the food security sector at country-level by strengthening the skills of coordinators, and documenting information and good practices. The outcomes of the retreat are documented and will form the basis of recommendations for future action of the Food Security Cluster at global, regional and country level.

Working Groups

Cash
In order to continue and improve the support to the countries, the gFSC Cash & Markets Working Group (CMWG) conducted a cash questionnaire to further explore Food Security Clusters related needs and concerns in Cash Transfer Programming and inform the activities of the CMWG in support of country needs. Results are available at this link.

Urban
➢As part of the Adapting to an Urban World Project on urban food security assessments, two case studies have been conducted in Haiti, Port-au-Prince and Mogadishu, Somalia.

➢The gFSC organized a side event at the World Humanitarian Summit (Istanbul May 2016) together with WFP VAM, UN university and HOT Humanitarian OpenStreetMap with the title “Urban Fragility, Vulnerability and Resilience: Tools for Assessment from Macro to Micro Scale”. The report can be found at this link.

Protection
The Global Protection Cluster (GPC) launched the GPC Community of Practice. The key objective of the GPC community of practice is to provide a forum for protection actors to network, share expertise, lessons learned, as well as field stories and practices. The aim of the GPC community of practice is to bring together a range of perspectives on a problem or an issue, and ensure that relevant knowledge is accessible to those who need it. It is a space for linking and learning between cluster coordinators, co-facilitators, sub-cluster coordinators, and other protection actors to analyse, address and explore solutions to issues and concerns they encounter in their work. You can visit the GPC Community of Practice at https://gpccommunity.unhcrideas.org

Programme quality: FSC Core Indicator Handbook

The Food Security Cluster Core Indicator Handbook was produced through the cluster’s Programme Quality Working Group as part of an overall effort to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the cluster activities. The FSC Core Indicator Handbook provides guidance on the selection and use of each indicator, during the various phases of the HPC.

Based on wide consultation with global and country level clusters, these guidelines include an explanation of the way in which the indicators can and should be operationalized, including guidance on reporting purposes, data collection methodology and calculation instructions. By facilitating the collection, management and dissemination of key data through better use of indicators, the guidelines support the FSC to identify sector-level priorities and monitor the cluster’s progress against them.
A newly revised version of the FSC Core Indicator Handbook was published on the FSC website at this link.

This new version of the handbook includes the following changes:
➢ A more attractive and easy-to-use format, clearer to read and navigate on screen;
➢ Reference to the new guidance on monitoring and evaluation of food security indicators that was prepared by the Programme Quality Working Group;
➢ Additional information on how standard indicators could be made “nutrition sensitive”;
➢ Revised and expanded definitions of several output indicators;
➢ Additional guidance related to indicators measuring coping strategies, water access, and availability of commodities in markets and cash assistance.

gFSC/Welthungerhilfe planned video project

With the support of the German Federal Foreign Office, FSC and Welthungerhilfe have started preparations for a joint video project. The video shall reflect the different type of work and entry points for local partners to get involved into in-country FSC, and show the varied forms of coordination according to the humanitarian context and response. To increase acceptance and interest, the mobilisation videos will be adapted to different cultural scenarios, humanitarian contexts and different geographical regions, namely Gaziantep for Whole of Syria, Mali for Sub-Saharan Africa and Bangladesh for South Asia. Therein, the guiding questions are:
- Why is coordination important?
- How can local partners support to strengthen coordination and response?
- What can local partners get out of it?

The video shall be finalised by the end of this year, and will be presented to FSC partners for feedback and further dissemination in 2017.

gFSC Mission to Nigeria

The evolving situation in north east Nigeria requires a flexible approach in terms of coordination, as the humanitarian response must adapt to a rapidly changing context. Hence, the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) is seeking enhanced coordination among all partners at the point of delivery, thus facilitating an informed response. Achieving the strategic objectives requires effective partnership between humanitarian responders, local and national authorities as well as civil society, private sector and key international and national development actors.

While the number of humanitarian partners has tripled from 19 to 62 since March 2015, the overall humanitarian response is still limited when compared to the needs, and lacks rapid response capacity. The HCT operates through humanitarian hubs in Adamawa, Borno, Gombe and Yobe to strengthen humanitarian coordination closer to the people in need.

In this context, the global Food Security Cluster was called by Cluster Lead Agencies (CLAs) WFP and FAO to assess whether:
➢ Response and coordination gaps exist in light of sharp deterioration or significant change in the humanitarian situation;
➢ The existing national response or coordination capacity is able to meet needs while respecting humanitarian principles, despite potential constraints such as the scale of need, the number of actors involved, the need for a more complex multi-sectoral approach.

The gFSC mission took place from 2 to 9 July 2016, and formulated 23 recommendations on issues related to (i) cluster coordination system, (ii) core coordination functions and (iii) sector management arrangements.

On cluster coordination system, gFSC acknowledges the leadership role of the Government of Nigeria through the Ministry of Agriculture for Food Security. However, it was agreed that the Sector Coordination team would immediately be reassigned to be work out of Maiduguri (Borno State) instead of Abuja to be closer to beneficiaries and partners. A new Sector Coordination team, composed of an experienced Cluster Coordinator and an Information Management Officer, will be deployed to Nigeria at the beginning of the month of August to address staffing requirements.

On core functions, coordinated needs assessments, particularly in hard to reach areas, information management and food security advocacy need to be scaled-up significantly under the leadership of the Government and technical expertise of the new Sector Coordination Team.

On sector management arrangements, the increasing presence of WFP in Northern Nigeria is an opportunity to reinforce management of the food security sector.

L-3: Iraq

➢ Out of 2.4 million food insecure people, the Food Security cluster (FSC) is targeting 1.5 million of the most vulnerable people with assistance.
➢ In response to the recent displacement of over 85,000 people from Fallujah (Anbar governorate) to the surrounding areas due to the military operations to retake the city, the FSC worked closely with the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and partners to coordinate the emergency food assistance. The FSC is closely monitoring the humanitarian response in the area, where more than ten partners are operating to distribute ready-to-eat food and dry food rations.
➢ Parallel to the Fallujah response, FSC partners are planning programs in preparation for the upcoming Mosul offensive which is estimated to increase people in need of food assistance from 1.5 million to potentially 3.5 million.
➢ OCHA issued a Flash Appeal in view of the upcoming retaking of Mosul, which is expected to have severe humanitarian consequences. Once military operations begin, Up to 1.5 million people are likely to be impacted and large-scale displacements are expected. The most immediate needs will be for water, food, emergency shelter, and medical assistance. Financial requirements are USD 284 million, of which USSD 50 million for the FSC.
➢ Latest FSC document: Partners Presence Dashboard, April 2016

L-3: South Sudan

➢ An estimated 4.8 million people throughout South Sudan are facing grave food insecurity and require urgent humanitarian assistance. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) update (April 2016), this is a significant increase from the first quarter of 2016 and the same period last year. The highest proportions of populations in Crisis, Emergency and Catastrophe were recorded in Northern and Western Bahr el Ghazal, and Unity States. The Greater Upper Nile also remains structurally fragile and vulnerable as a result of the protracted conflict.
➢ The conflict exacerbated by inflation and high commodity prices has resulted in reduced access to food, to which the Food Security and Livelihoods Cluster (FSCL) has initiated the Urban Programming Working Group to focus partners on the need implement responsible market based programmes.
➢ Priorities for the FSL-C are to improve access to food, including direct distribution of in-kind assistance and cash programming; and to invest in livelihoods activities through the distribution of crop, vegetables, and fishing kits.
➢ The FSL-C partners are only 46% funded as of mid-2016 within the Humanitarian Response Plan and some US$230 million are required for partners to meet urgent unmet requirements. It is essential that funding and support on access issues are addressed in the near future to avoid a further deterioration of the food security situation and prolonged human suffering
➢ Latest FSC document: Humanitarian Response Plan Dashboard, June 2016

L-3: Whole of Syria

➢ Food Security Sector partners on average reach 5.7 million people every month with food assistance (food baskets, cash and voucher) and close to a million people until May 2016 with livelihood and agriculture assistance.
➢ Shock factors such as besiegement and access constraints, displacements, and high food and fuel prices, have increased the needs in the sector since the last estimates in HNO 2016 (September, 2015).
➢ As per available data until end of May, the overall sector PiN is estimated to have increased from 8.7 million in September 2015 to 9.4 million by June 2016, of which 6.7 million are estimated to be food insecure people (Category 1, 6% increase) and 2.7 million are at risk of food insecurity (Category 2, 13% increase).
➢ The Syrian Pound (SYP) reached its lowest value since the start of the conflict in May 2016. Between January and March this year, food prices increased in 53 out of 86 (61%) sub-districts where combined information from all sources was available. However, a recent price bulletin by WFP indicates that the average cost of a food basket in besieged locations including Deir-ez-Zor has shown a significant decrease in the second quarter of 2016 due to food assistance reaching these places.
➢ Latest FSC documents: Food Security Sector Whole of Syria Mid-Year review 2016, Whole of Syria Humanitarian Response dashboard, May 2016.

L-3: Yemen

➢Fighting has continued along several fronts, including Ta’izz, Sana’a, Ma’rib, Al Jawf, Hajjah, Al Bayda’ and Shabwah, despite peace talks in Kuwait. The ongoing conflict continues to drive below-average incomes for poor households and fluctuating prices for food and fuel on markets. This in turn is limiting household purchasing power and contributing to Emergency (IPC Phase 4) and Crisis (IPC Phase 3 or 3!) food security outcomes across much of the country.
The June 2016 Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) showed that 51 percent of the population are facing Crisis (IPC Phase 3) and Emergency (IPC Phase 4) levels of food insecurity. Nearly 2.8 million people are currently displaced. In June 2016, availability of food commodities and fuel continued to worsen when compared to May and to the previous three months (WFP Yemen Market Watch June 2016).
➢ In May 2016, Food Security and Agriculture Cluster partners reached 3.4 million people in need of emergency food assistance, and 171,321 people in need of Emergency Livelihoods Assistance.
➢ Findings from the latest WFP mVAM bulletin, June 2016, show that the overall Food Consumption Score (FCS) has deteriorated after two months of stabilization. In addition, food insecurity is particularly on the rise in Al Hudaydah and Lahj governorates and the food security of non-Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) has worsened, but IDPs remain the most vulnerable.
➢ Latest FSC documents: Emergency Food Assistance by FSC partners, June 2016; Emergency Livelihood Assistance by FSC partners, June 2016

El Niño-induced drought in Southern Africa

➢ The El Niño climatic event has caused the worst drought in 35 years in Southern Africa. The drought, coupled with existing vulnerabilities, is leading to severe food shortages, particularly in Lesotho, Malawi, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.
➢ Between June 2016 and March 2017, an estimated 32 million people will be food insecure, of which some 18.6 million will urgently need humanitarian assistance. The humanitarian impact affects food security, but also malnutrition, access to water, school attendance, transmissible diseases rates, and rural to urban migration.
➢ The lean season will start earlier than normal, and current projections indicate that more than 14.1 million people across Angola, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zimbabwe are expected to be severely food insecure (equivalent to IPC phases 3 and 4) during the 2016-17 lean season, and 12.3 million will be targeted for assistance under the humanitarian pillar of the Regional Inter-Agency Standing Committee (RIASCO) Action Plan for Southern Africa.
➢ To address the priority humanitarian needs of these vulnerable people, humanitarian partners require USD 1,244 million, of which USD 237 has already been received. The Food Security and Agriculture Sector, currently activated in Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique, will require USD 996.7 million to assist 12.3 million people; only USD 183.7 million have been received so far.

Lake Chad Basin Crisis

 Due to Boko Haram violence, some 2.4 million people are displaced across the Lake Chad Basin region, 2.1 million people within north-eastern Nigeria alone. In Niger, thousands of people have been uprooted over the past weeks, while in Chad the number of displaced people has increased by 30,000 this year.

➢ Conflict in northeast Nigeria has left a significant portion of the population without access to adequate food, water, and health services. The March 2016 Cadre Harmonisé (CH) estimates that more than 3 million people are in Crisis (CH/IPC Phase 3) or worse and in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. In pockets of Borno State, Nigeria, food insecurity has reached extreme levels. While reliable data are scarce, there are concerns that famine could be occurring in the worst affected and less accessible areas.
➢ The Nigerian Minister of Health has declared a “nutrition emergency” in Borno State, where the global acute malnutrition rate (GAM) and severe acute malnutrition (SAM) rates exceed the national average. UNICEF reports that 244,000 children are suffering from SAM.
Monthly WFP mVAM reports indicate a steady deterioration in food consumption and an increasing reliance on negative coping strategies. In Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, conflict has severely disrupted livelihoods and trade; commodity prices have also risen following depreciation of the Naira, mainly due to low oil prices.
➢ Latest FSC documents: Nigeria Food Security Sector Gap Analysis, June 2016 , Niger, bulletin d'Information #10 - Avril 2016, Chad FSC Partners presence