Fighting Hunger Worldwide

Transcription

1 Fighting Hunger Worldwide SWAZILAND ANNUAL REPORT 2010

2 Cover picture: Three-year-old Thembelihle about to eat her lunch of maize porridge and split pea stew at Mkhatsini NCP This picture: A child playing at an NCP 2

3 2010 In Review The year 2010 marked a period of significant change for WFP Swaziland. As part of the new Country Strategy, WFP provided more technical support in the areas of food security and social safety-nets as part of its core programming. This shift was in line with WFP s global commitment to provide more comprehensive food assistance and not just food aid to host governments. Despite the global financial downturn, significant progress was made by the Programme and partners in Swaziland. During 2010, WFP partnered with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and Swaziland National Nutrition Council to improve food support to patients on anti-retroviral therapy and tuberculosis treatment through the new Food by Prescription programme. WFP purchased fortified corn-soya blend (CSB) for the Ministry of Health to implement the supplementary food initiative. The major milestone achieved under this health initiative was that supplementary food was adopted as part of Swaziland's treatment protocols thus ensuring proper use of the commodity in relationship to patient care. This was a recognition that nutrition is an integral part of a patient s recovery and return to health. Halfway through the year, WFP handed over some 500 of the 766 Neighborhood Care Points its supported to the National Emergency Response Council on HIV/AIDS (NERCHA). With support from the Global Fund, NERCHA was able to provide funding to a local NGO to continue the orphaned and vulnerable child (OVC) feeding programme during the latter part of WFP also handed over 72 primary schools in the Lowveld to the Ministry of Education to be incorporated into the Government supported school meals programme. WFP maintained its support to 265 Neighborhood Care Points reaching 12,000 children a month with two meals a day. Capacity development among WFP counterparts was a priority in Technical support was provided to the Swaziland Vulnerable Assessment Committee (SVAC) to conduct the annual vulnerability assessment. A Vulnerability Assessment Mapping Officer was also provided to the Deputy Prime Minister's National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA). WFP also honoured a request made by the Secretariat of the Swaziland Country Coordination Mechanism (CCM) for a nutritionist to work in collaboration with actors to develop the Round 10 Global Fund Proposal. Cost efficiency continued to be a core theme throughout the year. WFP worked with interested partners to reduce the delivery cost of food assistance delivery without undermining the quality of various interventions. One example of technical support provided includes the hiring of an independent consultant that facilitated a cost benefit analysis for the Ministry of Education (MoE) to better understand the nutrition and cost implications of various food baskets. The consultant worked with a task force that had a broad range of government, UN and NGO representation. This assessment provided Government with sound data to make informed decisions on setting standards for social safetynets like school meals that could be budgeted from year to year while realizing cost savings. WFP staff also continued to assist the Ministry of Agriculture through several working groups during the year such as the Food and Nutrition Security Forum and Food-for-Work policy task force. A consultant was also provided to the Ministry to work on the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Plan (CAADP) providing a detailed social safety-net intervention for the CAADP Investment Plan under Pillar 3. New partnerships also emerged in A strong partnership between Peace Corps and WFP resulted in strengthening food security activities of both organizations as well as HIV/ AIDS and nutrition awareness. Finally, WFP renewed its commitment to support the Government of Swaziland and the United Nations to Deliver as One in Swaziland. Karla Hershey Representative and Country Director 3

4 Table of Contents I OPERATIONAL OVERVIEW Food Security in Swaziland 2010 in brief...5 Fighting AIDS and TB.7 Promoting agriculture development...8 Strengthening Capacity: assessments/monitoring.9 Health & Nutrition Assistance...10 WFP advocates for social safety nets..11 II PARTNERSHIPS Implementing Partner phase out...12 Innovation in data collection: US Peace Corps..12 Fundraising and Advocacy : Walk the World..13 HIV and AIDS: Wellness Centre(s)...13 Nutrition: Action Against Hunger/EGPAF...13 III 2010, 2011 & BEYOND WFP and the Millennium Development Goals...14 Country Strategy ( )..15 IV FUNDING, ADMINISTRATIVE COST MANAGEMENT & DELIVERING AS ONE Human Resources and Administration.16 Funding, Finance and Resources

5 Orphaned and vulnerable children enjoying their lunch Mkhatsini Neighbourhood Care Point Operational Overview In 2010 WFP continued supporting the Government of Swaziland to address the challenges of HIV/AIDS and natural disasters in the country through the third year of the relief and recovery operation (PRRO 10602). However, much of the support consisted of technical assistance in place of programme implementation as the office shifted away from food aid and towards food assistance in line with WFP s corporate strategic objectives. Upon agreement with Government and partners, WFP phased out and handed over the food for education activity and the relief assistance to targeted households component to Ministry of Education (MoE) and the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), respectively. The Ministry incorporated all the schools that WFP previously supported during the lean season into their national school feeding programme. The NDMA likewise took full responsibility for the households WFP formerly provided relief to. In addition, WFP scaled down the number of Neighbourhood Care Points (NCPs) and orphans and vulnerable children it supports and handed approximately 500 of the centres to the National Emergency Response Council on HIV/AIDS (NERCHA) for continued assistance through the Global Fund. WFP was requested to continue to provide food to 265 NCPs that are located in the most food insecure areas of the country. Also, WFP, together with the Ministry of Health, redesigned the supplementary feeding programme for ART, TB, PMTCT and MCHN clients. The new programme follows an evidence-based Food by Prescription approach and targets only malnourished clients and their families. A Malnutrition Baseline Survey was conducted to provide the Ministry of Health and WFP with unique data on the nutritional status of ART and TB clients to support the programme. A scaling down of food-based interventions reduced the number of Field Level Agreements that were signed with NGOs and instead WFP took on responsibility for delivering the food to the NCPs and health centres. 5

6 Food Security in Swaziland 2010 in brief Swaziland s food security situation improved slightly in 2010 as there was a reduction in the number of food insecure people when compared to last year. A total of 160,989 Swazis were found to be vulnerable to food shortages of a varying magnitude by the Swaziland Vulnerability Assessment Committee (SVAC, 2010). The focus of the SVAC 2010 assessment was on livelihoods and the extent of vulnerability in rural communities. 60,355ha recorded in 2007/08. One of the reasons for this, as noted by SVAC, is that farming costs are prohibitive for farmers, which discourages them from planting resulting in less total area planted, thus reducing yields. The reasons for the reduction in vulnerability are many-fold. One of them is the increase in the production of the staple cereal, maize, which rose by six percent to 75,068MT from 70,672 MT produced during the 2008/2009 farming season. Swaziland s domestic consumption requirement of maize is 104,700 MT. This means Swaziland experienced a shortfall of an estimated 30,000 MT. This shortfall was expected to be met through commercial imports and food aid provided by Government. The increase in production was attributed to intensified efforts by the Government of Swaziland and its partners to improve agricultural yields. These included input subsidies and improved delivery of Government services, such as tractor hire. However, erratic and extreme weather conditions and other difficulties continued to pose challenges for farmers, with prolonged dry spells and flooding characterizing the season in some parts of the country. During the 2009/10 season, land under maize production was at 52,445ha, from Orphaned and vulnerable children at a care point Despite this, household access to basic food stuffs improved in 2010 because of the stability in commodity prices, attributed chiefly to the low inflation rate. However, the SVAC noted that the country s poor economic performance over the past three years would result in fewer resources being available for social services and investment in agriculture. This could further increase households vulnerability in historically food insecure regions. WFP has taken this into consideration in the Emergency Preparedness Plan and El Nino Contingency Plan of the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Swaziland. 6

7 Fighting AIDS and TB Technical Assistance Following a needs assessment of the technical support required to integrate food and nutrition (F&N) into the Round 10 Global Fund proposals, WFP was asked to assist the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM). In the past, F&N was included in country proposals, but without adequate consideration of the gaps and needs to be addressed. Costs for procurement and distribution were also neglected. In response, WFP provided the CCM with a HIV/Nutrition Specialist, Sara Bernadini, to supply the team with technical assistance with F&N for the Round 10 Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM) Country Proposal for Swaziland. Ms. Bernardini was lead Consultant for the HIV proposal on F&N. The Consultant s role mainly concentrated on the budgeting and rationalization for F&N in the HIV proposal which had three major components: Prevention; Treatment, Care & Support; and Impact Mitigation. WFP also provided a Senior M&E Assistant, Nana Dlamini, to assist with the Impact Mitigation component of the HIV proposal. Due to under-expenditure of funds from Rounds 4 and 7 of the GFATM, WFP was invited by the Swaziland National Nutrition Council (SNNC) to submit a proposal to implement a food assistance programme for Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) clients. The proposal was approved and WFP became a sub-recipient to the GFATM, receiving funds amounting to US$360,000 that will cover activities in Memorandums of Understanding between WFP and the Ministry of Health and between WFP and the National Emergency Response Council on HIV/AIDS (NERCHA) have been developed in collaboration with the Legal Office at HQ, and with assistance from other HQ divisions. These MoUs align WFP s financial systems with those of the GFATM. The technical support consisted of including appropriate activities in the workplan, writing the narratives and ensuring the F&N component was included and budgeted for in the HIV and TB Proposals. Additionally, the Consultant s Technical Assistance was requested by the TB Proposal Development Team in order to assist them to adequately rationalize and effectively introduce food and nutrition interventions. 7

8 Promoting agriculture development Technical Assistance WFP s Deputy Executive Director for Hunger Solutions, Sheila Sisulu (centre) flanked by the Minister of Agriculture, Clement Dlamini and Deputy Prime Minister, Themba Masuku during her CAADP mission In March 2010 Swaziland s Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Compact document was signed by key Government ministries and stakeholders. Following the signing of this key document, WFP has continued to support the Government to complete the next phase of the CAADP process, the development of an Investment Plan. Among the guests at the CAADP Compact signing ceremony and accompanying Roundtable discussions was the WFP Deputy Executive Director for Hunger Solutions Ms Sheila Sisulu. During the Roundtable discussions stakeholders agreed that there was a need to strengthen the good work that has already been undertaken by the CAADP Country Team including the draft Investment Options document outlining the strategic direction for resource mobilisation. Areas that were identified as needing strengthening included incorporation of nutrition and social safety nets into the food security and nutrition framework and a detailed agriculture sector analysis to inform the investment options. 8 WFP later received a request from the Ministry of Agriculture to assist with the completion of the Social Safety Net component of the Investment Plan, and obtained funding for a local Consultant to undertake this task from July to September The Consultant worked under the supervision of the CAADP Country Team focusing on stakeholder consultation and preparing the social safety net chapter which focused on the school feeding programme. Food and Nutrition Security Forum In response to a request from the Ministry of Agriculture, in July 2010 WFP hired a Food Security and Social Safety Nets Coordination Consultant to provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Agriculture to establish a Forum which will advise Government and non-state actors on food and nutrition security issues. Through meetings with key focal points and technical working group meetings, the Terms of Reference for the Food and Nutrition Security Forum were finalised, a membership list was agreed upon and a workplan for 2011 was drafted which outlined the key issues to be addressed in the short term. The Ministry of Agriculture took the lead in the process, while WFP provided advice, administrative support and funding. The purpose of the Forum is to provide a coordination mechanism for actors working in the field of food and nutrition security. In doing so, the Forum will address issues surrounding policy and provide a platform for information sharing. WFP will be part of the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum and provide backstopping assistance and support where necessary.

9 Strengthening Capacity Assessments & Monitoring During 2010 WFP continued to provide financial, technical and capacity building support to the Swaziland Vulnerability Assessment Committee (SVAC) and participated in the national vulnerability assessments. WFP funded a VAM officer post in the SVAC unit under the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) with in the Deputy Prime Minister's Office for a year. Among the tasks of the VAM officer were: Co-ordination with relevant stakeholders on issues of vulnerability analysis and assessment at the national and regional level; taking a lead role in preparation for the annual rolling vulnerability assessment and analysis; and liaising with relevant stakeholders on national early warning information To enable the SVAC team to share information with partners more easily and to compliment previous capacity building support, WFP also donated a softwareenhanced laptop and a personal computer to the SVAC and set up internet access for the unit s staff. WFP continues to mobilize resources to support the NDMA and SVAC where possible and this will be a key focus area for capacity development in 2011 through the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) with other UN partners. WFP continued administering the various Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) tools within its operations. Central to this is Post Distribution Monitoring (PDM) - a systematic investigation to monitor the perception that both beneficiaries and nonbeneficiaries have of a WFP operation. Malnutrition Baseline Survey The Ministry of Health (MOH) through the Swaziland National Nutrition Council (SNNC) conducted a Malnutrition Baseline Survey in September/October The survey was funded by WFP and received technical support from WFP and its partners. The aim of the survey was to determine the prevalence of malnutrition or wasting in adults initiating antiretroviral (ART) and tuberculosis (TB) treatment in the country. The MoH viewed gathering nutritional status data for patients on ART and TB treatment as an important first step in integrating nutritional care programmes within the health sector. The Malnutrition Baseline Survey informed the design of the new Food by Prescription programme, which will provide integrated nutrition support to clients enrolled in the ART and TB treatment programmes. Table 1: Preliminary results ART and TB severe and moderate acute malnutrition rates 50.00% 45.00% 40.00% 35.00% 30.00% 25.00% 20.00% 15.00% 10.00% 5.00% 0.00% ART TB "n= 257" and "n=111" Moderate Acute Malnutrition Severe Acute Malnutrition

10 Health & Nutrition Assistance Food for Hope WFP and the Ministry of Health (MoH) are working together to support the introduction and implementation of a national Food by Prescription initiative. Part of the preparation process for implementation involved a comprehensive analysis of the situation in the health sector. The analysis was undertaken in order to identify the limits and challenges, as well as existing prerequisites to implement a Food by Prescription project efficiently. This included the undertaking of a nutrition survey to evaluate the nutritional status of health system clients on anti-retroviral and tuberculosis treatment. In early 2010, the MoH required WFP s technical assistance to design and conduct a Malnutrition Baseline Survey (September November 2010) at health facility level among people living with HIV and TB. Implementing an effective nutrition survey requires an in-depth analysis of the context where the study will be conducted, careful definition of survey groups and survey team, as well as efficient data collection and elaboration of the data base system. Government engaged all the main actors in Nutrition and HIV and TB areas including WFP, SNAP, National TB Control Programme (NTCP), Health Management Information System (HMIS), and UN agencies, EGPAF as well as other NGOs, who are currently contributing to the planning and preparation of the survey. The survey was completed and analysis results were used to prepare the improved Food By Prescription programme. The programme is implemented country- wide with WFP providing food assistance to a total of 11 hospitals and health centres enrolled in Food by Prescription in various parts of the country. The hospitals and health centres receiving WFP food assistance are as follows: Dvokolwako, Good Shepherd, Hlathikhulu, Mankayane, Matsanjeni, Mbabane, Mkhuzweni, Nhlangano, Pigg s Peak, Raleigh Fitkin Memorial and Sithobela. In the course of one year, WFP will provide over 3,000 ART/TB(DOTS)/ PMTCT patients with a monthly ration of 10 kilograms of micronutrient fortified corn -soya blend (CSB). CSB is normally consumed as a porridge and takes just 5-10 minutes to cook in pre-boiled water. One may add sugar and oil after cooking it. The client s family will also receive a takehome ration comprised of 36 kg of cereal, 5 kg of pulses and 2.5 litres of vegetable oil (5 litres every 2 months), which is enough to last a family of six for one month. This translates to over 19,000 beneficiaries that WFP will reach with food assistance. Food as part of ART/TB treatment is used until the client reaches an appropriate weight. The Food by Prescription programme is designed to improve the health and nutritional status of individuals on ART and TB treatment and improve their adherence and treatment outcomes. WFP has worked with the Swaziland National Nutrition Council (SNNC) of the Ministry of Health to influence health policy to influence health policy to include nutritious food in the treatment protocols endorsed by the Ministry. 10

11 Pupils queuing up to be served a meal as part of the School Meals Programme WFP advocates for social safety nets National School Meals In keeping with WFP s efforts to shift from food aid to food assistance, by mid-2010 WFP had handed over its emergency lean season school feeding operations (September to April) to the Ministry of Education (MoE), which is now providing food to virtually all primary schools across the country. The Government s school feeding programme compliments the Free Primary Education initiative that was introduced in 2010, beginning with grades one and two. To assist the government to deliver the programme more cost effectively, the Ministry of Education requested WFP to help in developing a standardized national school meals programme. As part of the process, WFP hired an independent consultant to assess the food and non-food costs of various food baskets for a period of five years beginning in The target groups for the school meals programme were children in public preprimary (early childhood education centres and neighbourhood care points), public primary (Grades 1 7), and public secondary/high schools (Forms 1 5). A National School Meals Task Force was formed with members from government ministries, UN agencies, and NGOs. The primary objective was to oversee the costing exercise and recommend to Government the preferred food basket. As a result of this highly collaborative exercise, the Task Force agreed to assess three nutritious food baskets: 1. Fortified corn-soya blend (CSB) meal; 2. Stew of maize, pulses and vegetable oil; and 3. Stew of maize alternated with rice, and pulses and vegetable oil. The final report submitted to the Ministry of Education in April 2010 identified option 2. Nutritious stew of maize, pulses and vegetable oil as the preferred school meal food basket for all grade levels. One reason cited for the selection of this food basket was because members felt this meal, while not the most cost-effective when compared to CSB, would prove the more palatable meal on a day-to-day basis. From June 2010, WFP was requested to support the MoE to include the school feeding programme as a social safety net into the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). WFP facilitated coordination between nutrition actors, the Ministry of Agriculture and MoE to produce a final input for Pillar 3 of the CAADP Plan. 11

12 Partnership Solving Hunger Together COOPERATING PARTNERS During the period January to June 2010, WFP signed field level agreements with eight cooperating partners: Africa Co-operative Action Trust (ACAT), Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), Alliance of Mayors Initiative for Community Action on AIDS at the Local Level (AMICAALL), Conserve Swaziland, Lutheran Development Services (LDS), Save the Children, Swaziland Farmer Development Foundation (SFDF), World Vision. The NGOs listed above were implementing various food assistance programmes in the traditional WFP operational areas of the Lowveld and Lubombo Plateau, as well as selected urban centres where health centres and neighbourhood care points are located. However, as a result of the prioritization of programme activities, and in line with the shift from food aid to food assistance, from June 2010 WFP phased out its partnerships with the Cooperating Partners and began direct distribution of food commodities to beneficiaries. WFP & US PEACE CORPS In 2009, WFP in Swaziland and the United States Peace Corps (PC) joined hands and are now working together to reduce hunger by merging technology with on-the-ground solutions. WFP has trained Peace Corp Volunteers (PCVs) on establishing permaculture gardens in primary schools, at neighbourhood care points, and amongst households and communities in selected areas throughout the country; as well as the implementation of its new Food by Prescription programme. The goal of this partnership initiative is to reduce hunger and malnutrition in a country where levels of chronic malnutrition are soaring at 50 percent for children 5 years and under (SVAC 2009). The volunteers also participate in routine data collection exercises to help improve the oversight of WFP s activities and ensure the service provided is consistent and delivers the intended impact. The innovative component of these routine exercise is that PCVs are using cell phones to update WFP via sms-ing real-time data on a routine basis. The data is collected using the well-known Frontline SMS software package. The data serves to red flag WFP when pipeline breaks are about to occur so that food shortages, for example, can be avoided and/or rapidly addressed to ensure beneficiaries are not made to go without. The WFP Country Office also benefits from a Third Year Peace Corps Volunteer working on HIV/AIDS and nutrition issues, who joined the Mbabane-based team in

13 Partnership Solving Hunger Together The challenges faced by OVC need the combined efforts of everyone to ensure a bright future for these children, she said WFP Country Director, Karla Hershey with the Deputy Prime Minister, Honourable Themba Masuku at the Walk the World 2010 event held in Lobamba WFP & ESICOJENI FOUNDATION In August 2010, WFP joined its private sector partner, Esicojeni Foundation, in the hosting of the global fundraising and advocacy event, End Hunger, Walk the World. The walk, which began and ended at Somhlolo Stadium in Lobamba, was attended by over 3,000 people including a representative of His Majesty King Mswati III, Cabinet Ministers, Parliamentarians, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, officials from Government, UN and NGOs. In her remarks at the occasion, WFP Country Director Karla Hershey acknowledged the long-standing partnership between her organisation and Esicojeni Foundation. She also expressed gratitude for the support that the Walk the World initiative has received over the past six years. WFP & NORTH STAR ALLIANCE WFP rekindled its partnership with North Star Alliance in 2010 to provide support to the latter in the establishment of a new Wellness Centre for truck-drivers in the Matsapha Industrial Site. The original Wellness Centre located at the Ngwenya/ Oshoek border has been in existence since 2006 and provides front-line prevention and treatment services to transporters, sex workers and transport community members. WFP also provides storage facilities, communication support and other assistance to North Star Alliance for its activities in the country under a Cooperative Agreement signed in WFP & ACTION AGAINST HUNGER / EGPAF In 2010, Action Against Hunger emerged as a major partner to WFP in nutrition issues, playing a key role in carrying out the Malnutrition Baseline Survey of October 2010 and in the design of the Food by Prescription programme, particularly the infant feeding component. Also, WFP and the Elizabeth Glasier Pediatrics AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) advocate together for policy and programmes that promote good nutrition in the country, especially among vulnerable groups. Activities like this help to minimize the need for food aid and thus ensure long-term solutions to hunger can be found. 13

14 WFP Swaziland and the MDGS 2010 in Review People/Beneficiaries Key Figures MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOAL 1 : Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger 160, 989 hungry people in Swaziland 10,878 women reached by WFP through targeted food distribution MDG 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education 70,577 school children received schools meals from WFP 48 percent were girls MDG 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women 99,436 of WFP beneficiaries were women or girls 475 women were in leadership positions in WFP food management committees MDG 4: Reduce Child Mortality 33,087 children under 5 were assisted in WFP operations MDG 5: Improve Maternal Health 1,474 vulnerable women received nutritional support from WFP through maternal child health interventions MDG 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Other Diseases 52,175 people affected by HIV and AIDS and/or TB received WFP food assistance MDG 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability 7,060 people received WFP food as an incentive to build community assets, attend training and build resilience to shock and preserve livelihoods MDG 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development 8 non-governmental organizations worked with WFP 14

15 2011 & Beyond From Food Aid to Food Assistance The WFP Country Strategy for Swaziland outlines WFP s approach and interventions that will best contribute to Government s efforts in addressing hunger and malnutrition from The Strategy is also a defining measure towards realizing the objectives outlined in WFP s corporate Strategic Plan ( ), as it moves from a food aid to food assistance organization. The extensive process of preparing the WFP Country Strategy for Swaziland began in early February 2009 when WFP participated as a member of the United Nations Country Team in carrying out the Complementary Country Analysis, an initiative that served as the basis for the UNDAF The Country Strategy aligns with the new UNDAF, with food and nutrition security a significant component under Pillar 2: Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Livelihoods. The Strategy also follows Government s commitment to the priorities put forward in the National Development Strategy and the 2015 Millennium Development Goals, implemented through the Poverty Reduction Strategy and Action Programme ( ). The development process involved an extensive literature review and numerous consultations conducted by an independent consultant with high level officials from government ministries at national and local levels, UN agencies, NGOs, donors, beneficiaries and other stakeholders concerned with eradicating hunger and malnutrition. In 2009, WFP in collaboration with Government carried out a Community and Household Survey and a Food and Nutrition Security study to assess the country context and future challenges. The results from these assessments also contributed to the final strategy. A Technical Expert Consultative meeting of relevant Government, UN agencies and NGO stakeholders was held on 14 January 2010 to review, discuss and refine the drafted Country Strategy. On 9 February 2010, a stakeholder meeting was held to present the revised Strategy to government ministries and all stakeholders for final endorsement. The strategy was adapted by Government at that time. Vision Statement and Priorities WFP and Government s shared vision for Swaziland is a country that is free from chronic hunger and its debilitating impacts on human potential and national development. WFP Swaziland s mission ( ) is to strengthen Government s capacity to break the cycle of chronic hunger in the country. Two priorities for WFP include: 1. Support for the protection and restoration of livelihoods of people affected by economic shocks, climate change and/or HIV and AIDS; and 2. Support the development of human capital. 15

16 HR & Administration Ensuring cost-efficiency STAFFING REVIEW EXERCISE (SRE) WFP Swaziland conducted a Staffing Review Exercise in May 2010 to align staffing levels to the operational requirements faced by the office. The SRE was necessitated by the critical resource shortfalls faced by the Country Office (41.6% resourced). As staff costs represent 77 percent of direct support costs, there was a need to reduce expenditure by 31 percent. Table 1: Staff Complement before and after SRE (as at April and July 2010) Contract Types Before International Staff 2 Service Contract 20 Fixed Term 11 SSA 3 Interns 0 Total 36 Gender Statistics as at January 2011 Males 11 Females 11 Total 22* *From July 2010 to January 2011, four staff members resigned while one was re-assigned. REDUCTION IN OPERATIONAL COSTS After 1 16 WFP disposed of four of its vehicles to further reduce operational costs, the sale of which generated a total amount of US $51,874 for the Country Office. The vehicle sales were open to the general public and conducted through sealed bids STAFF TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT WFP Swaziland facilitated and funded training for 17 staff members in the past year, which prioritized relevant on-the-job training to develop staff skills and competences. The workshops were conducted in various locations including Swaziland, South Africa, Kenya, Italy, Mozambique, Uganda and Ethiopia. Three staff members were assigned on temporary duty (TDY) to back-stop colleagues in WFP offices in Rwanda, South Africa and Mozambique during the course of WFP Swaziland generated a total cost-saving of about US$22,000 by releasing these staff members to provide support to other WFP offices. SECURITY To ensure the security of WFP premises and staff, the Field Office was relocated from Siphofaneni in the Lowveld to Siteki in the Lubombo Plateau. The office move enhanced staff presence and visibility within the operational area, and has ensured close monitoring of activities. The Country Office secured about US$ 18,000 funding from Headquarters for the relocation, which included installation of burglar bars, a fire alarm system, transport costs and computer network services. Security measures were further enhanced to comply with the Minimum Operating Security Standards (MOSS) of the UN System. Bomb blast film was installed on office windows at a cost of US$ 4,620. A perimeter fence was also erected at the Siphofaneni warehouse for US$3,400.

17 Logistics Creating Solutions As a result, the Extended Distribution Points (EDPs) at Siphofaneni and Ndzevane were upgraded to fully-fledged warehouses. This involved reinforcement of concrete slabs and ensuring the availability of other warehouse materials necessary to store a larger quantity of food commodities than in the past. The two warehouses now have a combined capacity of 2,100 mt. Transporters collect food from the two EDPs for direct distribution to WFP beneficiaries in the operational area. Maize cereal stored at Lawini warehouse in Mpaka By early 2010, WFP Swaziland was struggling to generate sufficient funding for its activities in Swaziland to implement the ongoing relief and recovery operation ( ). As a result, an agreement was reached with the Government in May 2010 to prioritize key activities and suspend the remainder in order for WFP to save costs and be able to meet its obligations to beneficiaries in a consistent and efficient manner. WFP warehousing was one of the key sectors affected by the need to prioritize and save costs. After eight years of maintaining a Central Warehouse as the main Transshipment Point for its food commodities in the centralized industrial town of Matsapha, WFP did not renew its lease from August This followed the decision to refocus WFP s attention to its main areas of operation, namely Siphofaneni and Ndzevane. Also, WFP suspended it support to HIV/ AIDS and TB patients to revamp the programme into a new Food by Prescription activity, to ensure that food is prioritized as integral to the treatment process. Beneficiaries receive an individual ration of Corn Soya Blend and a family ration of cereals, pulses and vegetable oil. To facilitate this, WFP had to pre-package a consignment of maize and pulses from the original 50 kg packaging to the required 36 kg and 5 kg bags, respectively, to be distributed to beneficiary families in hospitals and health centres. The prepackaged food commodities have been prepositioned at hospitals and health centres in readiness for the implementation of the new Food by Prescription activity. WFP logistics also assessed the availability of structures to serve as food storage and distribution centres in the 11 selected sites of the new Food by Prescription programme. Although most have the required space, some need assistance in this regard. WFP has received donor funding to construct four prefabricated structures for this purpose in early 2011.

18 Funding, Finance & Resources Maximising resources By the end of 2010, WFP Swaziland had managed to raise only 41.6 percent (US$ 14,908,465 ) of the resources required to implement the ongoing relief and recovery operation (May 2008 April 2011). For 2010, donor contributions amounted to US$2,179, 218. The reduction in the beneficiary caseload and commodity tonnage enabled WFP to maximise the available resources to ensure its beneficiaries (mainly orphaned and vulnerable children) receive a full ration of the food basket: cereals, pulses and vegetable oil as well as nutrient-fortified Corn Soya Blend each month since July Also, WFP revised its budget and extended the relief and recovery operation for eight months so that its implementation now ends in December Table 2: Reduction in Monthly Operational Costs (in US Dollars) Expenditure 100,000 90,000 80,000 70,000 60,000 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 - Expenditure

19 WFP Swaziland s Corporate Profile Fighting Hunger Worldwide Global Mission Statement WFP s Key Programmes in 2011 The World Food Programme (WFP) is the food assistance arm of the United Nations System. WFP is mandated to provide food assistance to save lives in refugee and emergency situations, to improve the nutrition and quality of life of the most vulnerable people at critical times in their lives, and to help build assets and promote self-reliance of poor people and communities. WFP concentrates its efforts and resources on the neediest people and countries. Its assistance is guided solely by need and is targeted to those most at risk from the consequences of food shortages, following a sound assessment that considers the different needs and vulnerabilities of the affected population. WFP is implementing two main programmes prioritised in the ongoing relief and recovery operation (PRRO106020: ): Food by Prescription food assistance is provided to vulnerable, food insecure people on antiretroviral (ART), tuberculosis (TB) and prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) treatment programmes. Patients receive an individual supplementary ration of nutrient-fortified Corn Soya Blend (CSB) as well as a take-home family ration of cereals, pulses and vegetable oil. WFP Swaziland Mission/Vision WFP and Government s shared vision for Swaziland is a country that is free from chronic hunger and its debilitating impacts on human potential and national development. WFP Swaziland s mission ( ) is to strengthen Government s capacity to break the cycle of chronic hunger in the country. Two priorities for WFP Swaziland include: 1. Support for the protection and restoration of livelihoods of people affected by economic shocks, climate change and/or HIV and AIDS; and Support to orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) in neighbourhood care points (NCPs) OVC receive two hot meals daily: a breakfast of Corn Soya porridge and a full lunch of cereals, pulses and vegetable oil as part of a comprehensive package of care and support at the centres. Other partners provide basic lessons, skills and HIV/ AIDS awareness training. WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. Each year, on average, WFP feeds more than 90 million people in more than 70 countries. 2. Support the development of human capital.

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