The short animation explains what the Food Security Cluster is about: coordinating the food security response during a humanitarian crisis. We encourage the use of the video -- if you need the MP4 file, please contact Kaisa Antikainen kaisa.antikainen@wfp.org for downloading instructions.

As anticipated at the Global Partners meeting in May, the first draft report of the WFP/FAO joint Food Security Cluster evaluation has now been shared with Global Partner Focal Points and Food Security Cluster Coordinators for review. Comments and inputs  are welcome before 19 June to the GST for consolidation and submission to the Evaluation services in FAO and WFP. The final evaluation report is expected to become available later in 2014, following a review process. The collaboration of all for this evaluation is much appreciated. For questions, please contact Ariella Glinni, ariella.glinni@fao.org.

There is ongoing consultation process for the  HNO/SRP review coordinated by OCHA. The gFSC has sent the draft HNO/SRP guidance for both cluster coordinators and global partners for comments. As a kind reminder, please send your feedback on the draft HNO/SRP guidance 2015 to Roberta Canulla, roberta.canulla@fao.org until 12 June 2014.

A face-to-face part of the gFSC Coordinator training is held this week in Bangkok, Thailand.

In total, the Coordinator training process takes three weeks and is designed for experienced humanitarians who have the potential of becoming Food Security Cluster Coordinators and who could be deployed as part of the gFSC Roster. The purpose of the training is to highlight the cluster coordinator roles and responsibilities and to enable participants to put what they have learned into practice in a simulation of a Level 3 Emergency.

For more information, please contact Emma Fitzpatrick emma.fitzpatrick@wfp.org (Cluster Coordinator trainings), Vanessa Bonsignore vanessavita.bonsignore@wfp.org (Cluster Coordinator trainings and the gFSC Roster) or Roberta Canulla, roberta.canulla@fao.org (gFSC Roster)

• The agricultural campaign is making progress: almost all the seeds have been pre-positioned by FAO in the provinces for NGOs to distribute. Close to 40 000 households (i.e. 50% ot the targeted) have already received seeds and tools. Distributions will be completed on time for the planting season, according to the agricultural calendar and rainfall pattern, despite the volatile security situation that caused the suspension of the distributions in Bambari and Bangui last week. In May, over 230 000 beneficiaries have been assisted by WFP with more than 2 600 MT of food. More information in the latest FSC Bulletin.
• Two working groups have been activated with the Food Security Cluster: 1) Data collection and analysis: this working group, chaired by ACF, will be in charge of strengthening the data collection process from all partners, including the focal points at sub-national level, of managing the database and of data analysis in support of the cluster. For this purpose, a common tool for data collection has been endorsed by the cluster. 2) Agro-pastoralism: chaired by CODICOM, this working group count on the participation of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Livestock breeders Federation.
• The ToRs for both working groups are going to be presented at the next cluster meeting for endorsement.
• In order to harmonize procedures of all cluster members, Standard Operating Procedures for food distribution have been proposed and are being finalised in order to be endorsed by the cluster at the next meeting.

• In April food assistance was provided to over 594,000 conflict affected beneficiaries and 480,000 beneficiaries with recovery based activities in the non-conflict states.
• 3 tons of crop seeds were airdropped in Mayendit county, Unity State on 30 May 2014. This will assist 250 households and has the capacity to produce over 200 tons of produce including maize, sorghum, cowpea, and sesame.
• Livelihoods emergency distribution has reached 8 states and 54 counties in South Sudan: 120,000 livestock vaccinated up to date for the present season; 500 fishing kits have been released to partners for Akobo, Jonglei State; 14,260 fishing kits have been released to partners to reach 7 counties in Unity State
• Partners’ distribution of emergency livelihood kits is moving full speed ahead with large amounts of inputs on the road and scheduled by air to reach beneficiaries in the coming weeks.
• Road transportation for distribution remains a challenge with rainy season quickly proceeding.
• Inter-clan fighting in Rumbek North Constrained access for partners to implement their activities.

• DRC economic migrants to Congo Brazzaville: As of 29 May, 2014, the number of expelled people or returnees for fear to DRC amounted to 4,314 people on the Maluku transit site (located 90 km from downtown Kinshasa). The latest assessment report can be found here. So far, there is no observed gap in food. Distributions are provided by the Government, individuals, Caritas and CARE networks, but there is a need to improve coordination to streamline availability. Outstanding issues of logistics (transport people to their places of origin / desired) should be treated as an emergency, in order not to increase the requirements. WFP has made available 2.5 MT of food for 2 500 expelled people from Congo Brazzaville currently in Mbadaka (Equateur province). The situation is also closely followed by local actors.
• Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC): In consideration of the recommendations from the IPC Technical Working Group, the lessons learned from previous analysis, the support from the IPC Global Support Unit in Rome and the lack of dedicated funding, it was decided that the 11th cycle of analysis will be organised as follows: (i) an IPC Level 2 Training Goma (North Kivu) from 18 to 21 June 2014 (following Bujumbura one in March 2014 with nine analysts participating from DRC), with the participation of analysts from DRC and Ivory Coast; and (ii) a workshop for analysis of the food security situation in DRC Eastern provinces in Goma from June 22 to 24, 2014 covering the provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, Province Orientale, Maniema and Katanga

• Building on the experience in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Philippines, South Sudan, Somalia and a few other national clusters during 2012-2014, gFSC has developed this check list to guide Cluster Coordination teams and partners for integration of four people centric issues: age, disability, gender and protection; thus enhancing effectiveness and improving Accountability to Affected Populations. In each phase of the Humanitarian Programme Cycle 3 key minimum steps have been suggested that are practical to implement. Links to further resources for each minimum step are also provided for easy reference to concrete examples and guidance.
• R2HC second call open: submit an expression of interest - deadline 10 July 2014: The Research for Health in Humanitarian Crises (R2HC) programme's 2nd Call for Proposals is now open, with up to £4 million of research funding available for this call. The overall aim of the R2HC programme is to improve health outcomes by strengthening the evidence base for public health interventions in humanitarian crises.The R2HC programme was set up to increase the level and quality of collaborative research on recognised public health challenges in humanitarian crises, to inform effective humanitarian interventions and improve health outcomes. For more information please visit: R2HC website.
• Wired: Google’s Disaster Alerts Will Now Include Tweets From the Affected
• The draft report of the face-to-face meeting of the Urban Working Group, held on the 6 May during the Global Partners' Meeting in Rome, can be found here. Please send any comments to Marina Angeloni, marina.angeloni@wfp.org
• The draft report of the face-to-face meeting of the Programme Quality Working Group, held on 6 may during the Global Partner's Meeting in Rome, can be found here. Please send any comments to Samantha Chattaraj, samantha.chattaraj@wfp.org
• A new blog entry from mVAM (WFP) tells you about what their survey respondents have to say about remote data collection.
• HelpAge International: a survey in Kolfe Keranyio, Ethiopia assesses the nutritional status of people aged 60 and over in order to test an innovative new rapid assessment method for older people (RAM-OP). Find the report here.

UNICEF: Ethiopia, Addis Ababa. L-5, seven months. Senior Advisor, Food & Nutrition, to provide strategic and technical leadership and overall programme management for the Joint FAO/WFP/UNICEF Resilience Strategy. To apply by 19 June and for more information, please contact: hraddisababa@unicef.org

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