WFP Kenya Update: February 2013 15 March 2013

Highlights

The short rains assessment indicates that there is substantial improvement in food secu-rity across Kenya, with the number of food insecure people reducing to 1.1 million from the 2.1 million assessed in August 2012.

Preliminary findings of the comprehensive study on market and financial services in arid areas were presented on 27 February. The study concluded that the single most limiting factor to market-based transfers (cash or vouchers) is whether the market is located on or off the main transport corridor.

Food distributions under the drought recovery operation (PRRO 200294) were low in Febru-ary mainly because of erratic food supplies caused by resourcing shortfalls. Funds trans-fers under food-for-assets were made to reduce a growing backlog of entitle-ments.

WFP signed an agreement with Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to implement the comprehensive joint programme on food security aimed at building resilience against drought emergencies.

Data collection for the Safe Access to Fire-wood and alternative Energy (SAFE) was con-ducted in Kakuma. The results will inform whether fuel-efficient stoves prevented sexual and gender-based violence and/or protected the environment, by reducing firewood collec-tion and consumption.

Total resource shortfalls from March to Au-gust 2013 are S$61.9 million, of which US$31.7 for the drought recovery operation and US$30.1 million to support refugees.

WFP :: Kenya Update :: February 2013

2012 Short Rains Assessment: The recently concluded

assessment of the 2012 short rains season has found that the number

of people in need of food assistance has declined from 2.1 million

people in August 2012, to about 1.1 million people in February 2013.

The report cited the main contributing factor as the good rainfall

received towards the end of the season in most parts of the country. In

agro-pastoral and northwestern pastoral zones (Turkana, West Pokot,

Marsabit, Samburu, Baringo, Laikipia, Kajiado and Narok ), this was

the third good season in a row. The high amounts of rainfall resulted

in good crop harvests, reduced maize prices, increased water access,

improved livestock conditions and increased milk availability to

households. The proportion of children aged five years and below who

were ‘at risk’ of malnutrition has declined in almost all livelihood

zones according to the surveillance data from National Drought

Management Authority (NDMA). This is indicative of improved food

access and consumption. Households that are still food insecure are in

localized areas where poor rainfall performance has been persistent or

are chronically poor with limited productive assets.

For the upcoming long rains season (March to May), the prognosis is

that western and coastal areas may receive enhanced rainfall, while

pastoral and southeastern marginal agricultural lowlands are

forecasted to receive normal to below normal rainfall according to the

Kenya Meteorological Department. This reinforces the need to

continue building resilience of fragile livelihoods to mitigate impact of

future shocks. The full assessment report is available on www.wfp.org/

countries/kenya

Market and Financial Study in Arid Areas: On 27 February,

WFP presented to stakeholders the preliminary analysis and findings

of the comprehensive market and financial study in arid areas. The

study sought to understand how markets and financial services in arid

areas function and what response capacity they may have. The study

also explored how different transfer modalities could support food

assistance or livelihoods, and how each option could affect the gender

dynamics in the communities.

The study looked at markets along the primary transport routes to

South Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia, and visited over 80 markets with

different levels of complexity (Nairobi markets, hub markets in the

central highlands, main markets in the arid lands and remote markets

in the arid lands). More than 1,600 traders were interviewed focusing

on supply of four commodity types, i.e., staples, vegetables, dairy

products and processed food. One of the main conclusions was that

the factor of greatest importance to market responsiveness is whether

a market is located on or off the main transport corridor as road

infrastructure dictates how well a market functions and its potential to

respond to increased demand. The final report will be uploaded on

WFP’s website once it is completed.

1. Food and Nutrition Security

WFP Kenya Update: February 2013 15 March 2013

Drought Recovery Operation (PRRO 200294) Based on the seasonality livelihood analysis done in 2012, there were

no food or cash distributions planned for February in marginal

agricultural areas where most of the asset creation (FFA/CFA)

activities are undertaken. However, distributions/transfers did take

place for work carried out the previous month mainly because

households usually receive their entitlements at least one month in

arrears after project work performed has been verified. Additionally,

WFP has a growing debt owed to households participating in CFA.

Liabilities are cleared once resources become available.

The number of people reached and quantity of food distributed

through general food distributions (mostly in pastoral areas), was

affected by low food stocks due to insufficient resources. There were

no pulses and vegetable oil to distribute. Additionally, Garissa, Wajir

and Mandera counties only received food towards the end of February

but distributions could not begin until after the general elections

(presidential, parliamentary and gubernatorial) in early March. Under

supplementary feeding programme, a decrease in the number of

beneficiaries collecting the required two rations in a month was noted.

This was attributed to improved food access at the household level.

WFP received 828 mt of Plumpy’Sup at the port of Mombasa procured

by UNICEF on behalf of the government with funding from the World

Bank. Through a service agreement with UNICEF, WFP is delivering

the commodities to the health centres for distribution to moderately

malnourished children below five years. The first batches have already

arrived in the health centers. The supplies are sufficient to cover about

six months’ requirements, after which WFP will resume distributing

its own supplies of Plumpy’Sup.

PRRO 200294: Food and cash transfers – February 2013

Beneficiaries Tonnage (mt) Cash transfers (US$)

Planned Actual Planned Actual Planned Actual

General food distri-

butions (GFD)

683,890 521,170 (76%)

9,273 3,987

(43%)

Food-for-assets

(FFA)

283,190 178,586

(63%)

3,100 1,424

(46%)

Targeted supple-

mentary feeding

(TSFP)*

115,000 74,389

(65%)

885 429

(49%)

Cash-for-assets

(CFA)

- 192,149 - 2,071,101

Unconditional Cash

Transfers (UCT)

16,190 15,677

(97%)

105,235 222,329

(211%)

GRAND TOTAL 1,098,270 981,971

(89%)

105,235 2,293,430

(2,179%)

Cash Transfers in Arid Areas - Use of Mobile Money Services (MMS) and Com-plaints and Feedback Mechanism

The unconditional cash transfers in arid reached 2,797 households, which represented 98.5 percent of the plan with KES 27 million (US$ 313,000) being disbursed during the pilot pe-riod.

During registration of the beneficiar-ies, 13 percent of the households did not have national identification cards (ID), which is required to transact money using a mobile phone. WFP facilitated the registration of alter-nates to collect their entitlements.

Less than 1 percent of beneficiaries receiving their cash through an alter-nate reported any problem in access-ing their cash, which suggests that the use of beneficiary alternates does not have a significant negative effect on reaching the intended beneficiar-ies.

The majority of beneficiaries were moderately or very satisfied with the MMS delivery mechanism. The main source of dissatisfaction was the waiting time experienced by benefici-aries at MMS agents’ shops.

The majority of beneficiaries (95 per-cent) reported that they knew there were mechanisms of raising a com-plaint or providing feedback to WFP, with 92 percent reporting knowing how use the hotline.

Some 254 complaints were received during the life span of the MMS pilot. After a direct follow-up interview with complainants, about 85 percent of them reported to be satisfied with the way WFP dealt with their com-plaint. The dissatisfaction expressed by some complainants was mainly due to what was perceived as delays by WFP in providing a positive feed-back to their complaint.

2. WFP Response in February 2013

WFP Kenya Update: February 2013 15 March 2013

WFP completed the 3-month pilot cash transfer using

mobile money services (MMS) in arid areas i.e., Isiolo

(Isiolo town), Turkana (Lodwar and Kalokol) and Wajir

(Habaswein and Eldas). The selected sites are located in

areas with functional markets along the main transport

and trade corridors. Besides meeting household food

needs, other objectives of the pilot were to test the use of

mobile money transfer services in delivery of assistance,

build WFP’s and partners’ capacity to use cash transfers

as an emergency response, and test a mobile phone-based

beneficiary complaints and feedback mechanism. In line

with WFP’s seasonal approach to providing food

assistance, transfers were made to meet food needs for

October, November and February. Double payments were

made in February to cater for missed transfers during the

previous months. The transfer amount was based on the

equivalent retail value of WFP’s food ration, plus an

amount to cover one withdrawal fee per month.

On 21 February, WFP and FAO signed a strategic

partnership for a Joint Programme Initiative on Disaster

Risk Reduction and Resilience Building to improve food

security and build capacity to manage shocks. The initial

joint activities will start in Garissa, Turkana and Kitui

counties. WFP committed to provide US$3.3 million for

rainwater harvesting structures, crop production, pasture

and browse regeneration alongside capacity strengthening

of government, partners and communities. The other

Rome-based agency, International Fund for Agriculture

Development (IFAD), will join the partnership later in

2013 or 2014 when their strategic shift in funding will

cover the arid and semi-arid areas.

During March, WFP will begin retargeting and registering

new beneficiaries to reduce the numbers to 1.1 million

people as per the assessment recommendations. A budget

revision will be prepared to cater for the reduced

requirements over the next six months.

Refugee Operation (PRRO 200174)

There were 554,000 registered refugees living in Kenyan

camps by the end of February i.e. 444,000 in Dadaab and

110,000 in Kakuma.

In February, WFP collected data for the end project study

of the Safe Access to Firewood and alternative Energy

(SAFE) initiative in Kakuma. The study aimed to

ascertain whether:

the fuel-efficient stoves used less fuel to cook

compared to previously used stoves;

there is a reduction in time spent, frequency of

collection and distance travelled by women and girls

in the collection of firewood;

A nomadic herder watering his livestock at a pan built through FFA in Turkana

PHOTO: WFP/Rose Ogola

PRRO 200174: Food Distributions – February 2013

Beneficiaries Food tonnage

(mt)

Planned Actual Planned Actual

General food distributions (GFD) 580,000 553,56

5 (95%)

9,744 8,672

(89%)

Targeted supplementary feeding

programme (TSFP) – moderately

malnourished children aged 6 to 59

months

15,000 8,832

(59%)

45 18

(40%)

MCHN – Children aged 6 to 23

months

35,000 23,037

(66%)

226 132

(58%)

MCHN – Pregnant & Lactating

Women

26,000 18,325

(70%)

74 54

(73%)

School meals programme (SMP)

including girls take home rations

71,000 58,304

(82%)

156 142

(91%)

Institutional feeding (Hospital, HIV,

TB & other special cases)

4,300 1,954

(45%)

42 11

(26%)

Food-for-assets (host communities) 36,000 19,708

(55%)

475 229

(48%)

Food-for-training (youth from host

and refugee communities)

2,000 1,154

(58%)

18 3

(17%)

Summary of the Beneficiary Planned Number by Activity: April to Septem-ber 2013

GFD (Food)

GFD (Cash)

FFA (Food)

FFA (Cash)

Total

Pastoral and Agro-pastoral areas

413,900 15,800 260,800 0 690,500

Marginal Agricultural (semi-arid) areas

28,000 0 61,000 370,000 459,000

TOTAL 441,900 15,800 321,800 370,000 1,149,500

Proportionate Share

40% 60%

WFP Kenya Update: February 2013 15 March 2013

the potential time saved that could result from the provision of firewood translates into time spent on productive

activities.

The report is being prepared and will include a desk review for Dadaab to complement the in-depth survey in

Kakuma. By the end of the pilot in March 2013, WFP should have distributed 24,500 fuel-efficient stoves to

households in Kakuma and Dadaab, benefitting refugee and host communities.

Country Programme (CP 106680) On 21 and 22 February, WFP participated in a strategic meeting organized by the Ministry of Education where a joint

work plan on technical assistance to the ministry was discussed and finalized. The work plan outlines partners’

activities and contributions towards strengthening the capacity of the government to effectively implement and

manage its homegrown school meals programme, and ensure it is sustainable.

Purchase for Progress (P4P) WFP issued contracts for 1,223 mt of food worth US$529,974 to 25 farmer organizations and small scale traders.

Thirteen of these were new farmer organizations who were awarded contracts for the first time through direct

negotiations (non-competitive modality). WFP directly negotiates with new farmer organizations at least twice before

they can participate in competitive tendering process. This gives them an opportunity to learn about WFP

procurement processes and improve the quality of their grains.

Donor Missions During the last two months, WFP hosted several high level missions to the field as follows:

On 11 January, WFP facilitated a joint donor mission to

Dadaab refugee camps. There were representatives from

European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil

Protection (ECHO), France, Switzerland and Sweden.

On 22 January, Mr Richard Marles, Parliamentary Secretary

for Foreign Affairs in Australia visited various sites in Dadaab

refugee camps. The Australian Ambassador to Kenya H.E.

Geoffrey Tooth accompanied him.

Between 21 and 25 January, WFP and UNICEF participated in

a five-day scoping mission by the Canadian International

Development Agency (CIDA) to Turkana County. The mission

sought to gain a better understanding on the potential

programme issues and context around resilience, extractive

industries (oil and energy), livelihoods and education. The

probe questions included current challenges, opportunities and

gaps in addressing each of the sectors. Limited project

monitoring for CIDA-funded activities with UNHCR and WFP

in the Kakuma refugee camp was also undertaken.

On 06 February, WFP organized a joint donor mission various

activities in Turkana County. Present were H.E. David Angell,

Canadian High Commissioner; H.E. Sofie From-Emmesberger,

Finnish Ambassador; Mr. Ricardo Losa, Deputy Head of

Mission - Embassy of Spain; Mr. Takaaaki Takezawa, First

Secretary - Embassy of Japan. There was also representation

from the government (National Drought Management

Above and below, some of the high level donor missions

that visited WFP operations in Kenya in January and Febru-

ary 2013

PHOTOS: WFP/ Rose Ogola

WFP Kenya Update: February 2013 15 March 2013

3. Resourcing and Pipeline Summaries (through August 2013 )

Authority and Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and United Nations agencies (FAO and IFAD).

On 11 February, Ms Eltje Aderhold of the German Foreign Office accompanied by Malte Locknitz of the German

Embassy visited nutrition programmes in Dadaab refugee camps

On 21 February, the US Ambassador to Kenya H.E Robert F. Godec accompanied by United States Department of

Agriculture (USDA) visited WFP’s school meals programme in Stara Rescue Centre in Nairobi. Stara is one of 89

schools in Nairobi’s unplanned settlements where pupils receive a hot lunch from WFP.

WFP’s resource shortfalls for the next six months (March to August 2013) were US$61.9 million for operations in Kenya as of 28 February 2013.

The drought recovery operation (PRRO 200294) does not have Super Cereal and salt to distribute from April onwards. As of 28 February, the shortfalls through August 2013 were US$31.7 million of which US$19.1 million is for cash transfers. Because of lack of adequate funds, the operation is accruing increasing liabilities to households participating in its cash-for-assets activity. Already, US$6.8 million is owed for work completed in the previous months and will be repaid from new contributions.

Whereas the pipeline for the refugee operation (PRRO 200174) improved after some contributions were received, it remained fragile with huge outstanding advances. Therefore, besides addressing resource gaps, the advances need to be repaid from donor cash contributions. The six-month shortfall is US$30.1 million.

The Country Programme (CP 106680) requires US$100,000 to meet the needs of beneficiaries HIV and AIDS programme, which has already been substantially reduced because of inadequate funding.

The shortfalls are illustrated on the next page.

WFP Kenya Update: February 2013 15 March 2013

0

2

4

6

8

Mar-13 Apr-13 May-13 Jun-13 Jul-13 Aug-13 Sep-13

US$

in M

illio

ns

PRRO 200294 - Drought Operation - Cash Transfers (US$)

Needs Shortfalls

10500

10600

10700

10800

10900

11000

Mar-13 Apr-13 May-13 Jun-13 Jul-13 Aug-13 Sep-13

PRRO 200174 - Refugee Operation - Food in mt

Needs Shortfalls

0

5000

10000

Mar-13 Apr-13 May-13 Jun-13 Jul-13 Aug-13 Sep-13

CP 106680- Country Programme- Food in mt

Needs Shortfalls

Resource shortfalls

for food distributions

over the next six

months (March to

August 2013) are

US$12.6 million

(excludes unpaid ad-

Shortfalls for cash-for

-assets activities are

US$19.1 million.

The shortfalls for the

refugee operation

are US$30.1 million,

including unpaid ad-

vance requests

Six months resource

shortfalls for the

Country Programme

are US$100,000

0

0

0

0

Mar-13 Apr-13 May-13 Jun-13 Jul-13 Aug-13

Foo

d i

n m

t

PRRO 200294 - Drought Operation - Food Distributions (mt)

Needs Shortfalls