NEWSLETTERGLOBAL FOOD SECURITY CLUSTER
As we write this in October, the world is witnessing an unprecedented number of increasingly complex food security crises. With causes ranging from climate disasters to economic and financial turmoil, conflict and the ongoing pandemic, the FSC has been called on to coordinate response to needs that only seem to spiral further as the year progresses. The earthquake in Haiti, conflict in Ethiopia and the turmoil in Afghanistan are but the latest in a tide of worsening vulnerabilities that shows no sign of turning. The magnitude and severity of hunger today continue to drive the FSC’s operations and focus, strengthening our commitment to coordinate anticipatory action and rapid response to safeguard the most vulnerable
people across the world.
MESSAGE FROM THE gFSC GLOBAL CO-COORDINATORS With a view to strengthening our support to country clusters in these unprecedented times, the gFSC is reinforcing the cluster structure and introducing a new co-leadership arrangement, with two dedicated Global Coordinators – who remain guided by the WFP and FAO Directors of Emergencies. We are therefore delighted to introduce Abdul Majid as the newly-appointed FAO Global Cluster Co-Coordinator, who as of 1 November will lead the
gFSC alongside Naouar Labidi in her role as WFP Global Cluster Co-Coordinator. Read full message
AFGHANISTAN - The Food Security and Agriculture Cluster (FSAC)in Afghanistan conducted an annual Seasonal Food Security Assessment (SFSA) in September, covering the entire country and interviewing 11,250 households in 34 provinces. The assessment highlights the main drivers of food insecurity and consequences in terms of vulnerability and coping mechanisms. The FSAC also completed an IPC analysis from 27th September to 5th October 2021, with the final report expected to be released in mid-October
2021.
- Together with the inter-cluster team, FSAC developed and published a flash appeal on urgent humanitarian needs in Afghanistan, both those within the 2021 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) and with expanded activities to meet new emerging needs driven by changes in the operating environment. The plan seeks USD 606 million to provide multi-sectoral assistance to 11 million people in the four remaining months of 2021. Immediate food assistance to 7.3 million food-insecure people has been prioritized, including for those affected by drought between September and December 2021. This will be delivered during the prolonged lean season, which coincides with the
country’s harsh winter. FSAC partners also need USD 70 million to deliver critical livelihoods assistance, with early support for the winter wheat planting season, livestock assistance and support for smallholder farmers affected by the drought.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (DRC) - In 2021 the FSC in DRC is targeting 10 million people, chiefly through emergency food distributions and cash
transfers. In the first half of the year, the FSC coordinated assistance for 4 million people, out of 27 million food insecure. The vast majority, about 3.2 million, received in-kind food distributions, vouchers or cash transfers. FSC partners aim to reach some 9 million people this year overall, mainly in the provinces of North Kivu, Ituri, South Kivu, Tanganyika, Kassai and Central Kassai. Meanwhile, activities to rebuild livelihoods or strengthen food systems have been constrained due to severe underfunding.
The FSC has launched a new Advocacy Working Group with members from national and international NGOs, FAO, WFP and a coalition of all INGOs in DRC. Their work will afford greater visibility to the
unprecedented number of food-insecure people in DRC, mobilize resources and build coalitions for an impactful response. The strategy covers several years and aims for long-term change in the visibility, funding, and technical commitments for food security investment in DRC. The FSC has embarked on a national-level study to define and strengthen the strategic targeting of its response for both humanitarian and post-emergency interventions. A high-level workshop is planned before the end of the year to discuss the conclusions of this study.
MADAGASCAR - Madagascar is facing its most severe drought in 40 years, affecting primarily areas in the Grand South and causing a severe humanitarian crisis. The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis is alarming, with 1.3 million people projected to be in Crisis (IPC Phase 3 or above) between October and December 2021, and pockets of the population in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5).
- FSC partners defined the cluster’s response strategy based on these results, identifying priority areas, population coverage and food baskets to be delivered. The FSC and the Cash Working Group
meanwhile agreed to revise cash transfers upwards to cater for high consumption gaps identified by a Household Economy Analysis. This strategy fed into the revised Flash Appeal, published in August 2021.
- The FSC also conducted a gap analysis for the upcoming lean season 2021-2022, which showed relatively good coverage of needs although some shortfalls remain in resource mobilization. This is especially concerning given the late start of the rainy and planting seasons, which will likely affect households’ capacity to earn an income until early 2022.
NORTHERN ETHIOPIA RESPONSE
Tigray Region The Food Cluster and Agriculture Task Force are working with partners and local authorities to scale up assistance in northern Ethiopia, including Tigray and conflict-affected Amhara and Afar. - Between April and September, food distributions were hampered by insecurity, lack of access and supply constraints. Distribution rounds stretched from the initial six weeks up to five months, so while 5.7 million people were reached, the delivered food basket could cover less than the 63% of minimum daily caloric needs as initially planned for the six weeks.
- Since August, stocks for common food baskets have been running extremely low as the delivery of humanitarian supplies remains heavily constrained via the only access route to the region (Semera-Abala-Mekelle corridor).
From April to September, Agriculture Task Force partners reached 1 million farmers with inputs to support the Meher production season. The late start to the season and insecurity have affected agriculture, with almost 50% less land planted than forecast at 0.34 million tonnes - 16 % of normal output. - Shortages of fuel, cash and communication networks are also significantly hindering food security response, with most currently operating on credit. If the issue of access to cash and fuel is not urgently resolved, partners will soon be forced to cease operations.
The FSC is coordinating post-distribution surveys and strengthening community-based feedback mechanisms. Market price monitoring started in September and a household-level food security survey in accessible areas across the region will be rolled out in October 2021.
SAVE THE DATE! GLOBAL PARTNERS MEETING
NOVEMBER 2021
The next gFSC global partners meeting will be held on the 29 & 30 November and 1 December, 1-4pm (Rome time). Further details to be confirmed soon. All partners will be notified by email. If you would like more info, please contact: info@fscluster.org
GLOBAL SUPPORT & SURGE MISSIONS
Click on MAP to find out more on support/surge missions by the gFSC
Four years of the Rohingya Refugee Crisis in Cox’s Bazar (Storymap)
The 25th of August 2021 marked 4 years since more than 700,000 Rohingya refugees fled violence in their home state of Rakhine, Myanmar, crossing the border into Bangladesh in search of safety. During that time, FSS partners have worked tirelessly to respond to the needs of affected populations, improving their food security and building resilience. While significant improvements have been made to services since the onset of the crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic repercussions have eroded much of the progress made in reducing vulnerabilities of the Rohingya and Bangladeshi host communities. Read the Food Security Cluster story map What is food insecurity? (video)
On World Humanitarian Day 2021, OCHA hosted a series of testimonials and advocacy events to highlight the impact of climate change on food security. Marc Sekpon, Cluster Coordinator in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), explains what food insecurity is, the level and determining factors of food insecurity in the DRC, as well as the impacts of climate change for the country.
The global support team welcomes George Kassab to the Global Support Team in Rome. George is a national of Lebanon and holds a Master's in International Cooperation in Urban Development (TU Darmstadt, Germany) as well as a Master's in Sustainable Emergency Architecture (UIC Barcelona, Spain). George has been working with WFP since 2011 and joins the gFSC as a Data Analyst. He most recently served as IMO in Libya and prior to that worked mainly in information and knowledge management in emergencies, in HQ as well as in the Lebanon and Mozambique offices. He enjoys bringing together analysis, information and design to creatively communicate food security
messages.
|