Highlights
WFP continues its relief food assistance to displaced and returnee populations in the country’s north-west, complemented by livelihoods, nutrition and education support in the region alongside other targeted districts across Pakistan.
Consultation meetings of the Food Security and Nutrition Strategic Review have been initiated.
Cash-based livelihood support activities are in progress in Bajaur, Muhmand and Khyber of FATA.
Implementation of livelihood support activities using the cash modality, in South Waziristan agency of FATA and Chitral district of KP, is due to start in the month of September.
Operational Updates
The first Provincial Consultation Workshop on the Strategic Review of Food Security and Nutrition was held on 31 August – 01 September 2016 in Quetta. During the meeting, the Terms of References (TORs) and workplan of the strategic review exercise were reviewed by all relevant public and private sector stakeholders, for endorsement. The participants shared their recommendations which would be incorporated in the final workplan and TORs. The second consultative workshop is planned to be conducted in Muzaffarabad in the first week of September 2016.
Implementation strategy for cash-based livelihoods and nutrition-sensitive interventions in Balochistan was finalized based on the consultations with relevant stakeholders including government counterparts. The process for partner selection was initiated and is due to be completed in September 2016, followed by field assessment and implementation.
Three rounds of consultation meetings were held with consortium members - FAO and UNICEF - for the continuation of the second phase of cash-based livelihoods recovery interventions in earthquake and flood-affected areas of Chitral district. A joint strategy was devised whereby the three agencies will work through one partner, the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP). Two Union Councils were prioritized for interventions and a joint budget was developed.
Cash disbursment to all participants was concluded after the completion of physical activity implementation under WFPSDC joint Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction initiative in the Bajaur and Mohmand Agencies of FATA. The first round activities focused on 31 villages out of the total targeted 100 disaster-prone villages. Major interventions undertaken in the first round included rehabilitation of check dams, protection walls and water ponds; disaster risk reduction (DRR) training and kitchen gardening.
WFP Pakistan facilitated the participation of provincial education secretaries of KPK and Punjab in the South Asia School Feeding Conference, organized by the Regional Bureau in Bhutan. This learning exchange will support the participants’ understanding of the school feeding programme design and will serve as advocacy for school feeding.
WFP initiated preparations for operationalizing stunting prevention intervention in FATA and Balochistan. The inception phase is ongoing, and implementation is due to start in 2016.
The meeting of the SUN Business Network Executive Committee was held in August. In addition, WFP is also supporting the formulation of the Pakistan Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Strategy under the banner of Scaling Up Nutrition.
National Fortification Alliance Core Group meeting was held for the finalization of the draft National Fortification Strategy in Pakistan.