Mid-Year Review of the Humanitarian Response Plan for Yemen 2012

3.2.3 FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Summary of updated cluster response plan

Cluster lead agency	WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME
Cluster member organizations	ACTED, ADRA, CARE International, DRC, FAO, IOM, Islamic Relief Yemen, Mercy Corps, Oxfam, Relief International, Save the Children, Vision Hope International, InterSos (four new members since CAP 2012).
Number of projects	24.
Cluster objectives	Save lives and protect livelihoods in emergencies. Improve the food security and nutritional status of IDPs. Maintain and / or improve food security status of vulnerable communities. Save essential agricultural assets.
Funds required	Original: $154,013,036. Revised at mid-year: $200,620,910 (with a continued trend of up scaling)
Funds required per priority level	Live-saving: $150,132,475. Time-critical: $50,488,435.
Funding to date	$139,996,798 (70% of revised requirements)
Contact information	Lubna Alaman – [e-mail]

Categories and disaggregated numbers of affected population and beneficiaries

Category of people in need	Number of people in need			Number of targeted beneficiaries			Number of people covered
	Total__Female'>Female	Male	Total	Female	Male	Total	Female	Male	Total
Severely food-insecure	2,643,347	2,647,579	5,290,926	2,216,425	2,219,975	4,436,400	655,347	656,397	1,311,744
IDPs and other conflict affected (returnees, etc)	369,471	370,062	739,533	310,317	306,183	616,500	198,585	198,903	397,488
Farmers receiving agricultural assistance	169,504	169,776	339,280	46,712	47,088	93,800	2,247	1,251	3,500
Totals	3,182,322	3,187,417	6,369,739	2,255,209	2,254,491	5,145,700	856,181	856,551	1,712,732

The CFSS conducted by WFP in 19 of 21 governorates revealed an 87.3% increase in the percentage of the population suffering from severe food insecurity compared to a previous assessment using a similar methodology two years ago. At present, 22.2% of the population is severely food-insecure. Food insecurity is measured by the Food Consumption Score in the context of Yemen. Based on this information, the diet for around five million severely food-insecure Yemenis consists of vegetables, staples, sugar and vegetable oil only. Severely food-insecure Yemenis have access to proteins such as pulses, dairy products, meat and fruit less than once a week.

Market price monitoring confirms these findings. High price levels, low domestic production and an economic downturn indicate that access to safe and sufficient food for a healthy life will remain the main challenge for five million severely food-insecure Yemenis, and also constitute a major risk for another five million Yemenis, who are currently moderately food-insecure and at risk (especially given the economic decline) becoming severely food-insecure.

Achievements to date

General food distributions (GFDs) reach a very high number of the targeted IDPs and other conflict-affected populations. These projects enjoy the highest funding levels of all projects in the Food and Agriculture Cluster. Emergency safety nets and livelihood support projects also have a high overall implementation rate, but some activities have been delayed due to a poor security situation and funding gaps. This is particularly the case for agricultural interventions.

Implementation challenges

A recent survey among Cluster members revealed that the main obstacles for programme implementation are access constraints and security for national and international staff. Moreover, Cluster members are committed to increasing the capacity of local actors, Government partners and the civil society through a number of capacity-building measures. The Cluster is in the process of developing a capacity-building strategy in this regard. A number of projects in the Cluster include multi-sectoral components and livelihood elements. These activities are linked to Early Recovery, Health, Nutrition and WASH Cluster activities. Unfortunately, these projects received very little funding and could only be implemented in part.

Changes in targeted population

Given the findings of the CFSS, agencies and NGOs are currently scaling up their capacity and response activities to meet humanitarian needs. A significant number of new and revised projects are included in this MYR. The Cluster expects more project updates and in particular a significant increase in programming figures of UN agencies in the near future.

The Cluster developed a needs assessment strategy that directly feeds into the development of new projects and the revision of existing projects. Cluster members not only develop projects based on a regular exchange amongst Cluster members, but also in consultation with the relevant actors outside the CAP, including the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Social Fund for Development.
Discussions are currently underway regarding how the Food Security and Agriculture Sector activities which are currently not part of the CAP can be linked closer to Cluster activities. Additional IM capacity for the Cluster will be provided by iMMAP to enhance collaboration and coordination amongst the partners in this regard.
Table of mid-year monitoring vs. objectives

Outcomes with corresponding targets	Outputs with corresponding targets	Indicators with corresponding targets and baseline	Achieved as mid-year
Objective 1: Save lives and protect livelihoods in emergencies
Number of IDPs receiving food items.	GFDs to IDPs (targeted 448,315 IDPs, excluding Sa’ada).	Number of IDPs receiving food items.	397,488 IDPs receiving food assistance, i.e. 88%.
Objective 2: Improve the food security and nutritional status of IDPs.
Food items distributed.	Actual tonnage of food distributed (21,140 metric tons for first trimester).	Total tonnage of food distributed to IDPs.	18,271 tons, i.e. 86% (for first trimester).
Objective 3: Maintain and / or improve food security status of vulnerable communities.
Food security status is stable or improving.	Distributions under the Emergency Safety Net Programme (ESNP).	Number of beneficiaries.	More than 473,144 beneficiaries under the cash and voucher component within the ESNP in addition to other vulnerable populations assisted (numbers forthcoming).
Objective 4: Save essential agricultural assets.
Increased food production and preservation of essential agricultural assets.	Distribution of agricultural assets.	Number of households receiving assistance.	No activity (0% funding).