Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO) Yemen , Food Assistance to Somali Refugees in Yemen EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

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1 Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO) Yemen , Food Assistance to Somali Refugees in Yemen Duration: 23 months (1 February December 2011) Number of beneficiaries: 183,000 WFP food tonnage: 9,063 mt WFP food cost: US$ 4,308,860 WFP voucher cost: US$ 200,000 Total cost to WFP: US$ 7,009,882 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY UNHCR estimates that there are at present more than 150,000 registered refugees in Yemen (with tens of thousands of new arrivals each year), the majority of whom are Somalis fleeing the ongoing instability in their country. Volatility in the Horn of Africa adds to Yemen s protracted refugee crisis. The most vulnerable refugees are housed in the isolated Kharaz refugee camp, although many choose to settle in Yemen s urban centres. The Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO) represents an expansion and realignment of the current PRRO A joint assessment mission (JAM) conducted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and WFP in June 2009 observed that camp refugees continue to rely exclusively on food and nutritional assistance as income generating opportunities remain limited. This PRRO aims to provide emergency food assistance to new arrivals, refugees at the Kharaz refugee camp and to urban refugees. In Kharaz camp, WFP provides general food assistance for all residents, meals for primary school students, and supplementary feeding programmes (SFP) for malnourished children under 5, pregnant and lactating women, and other vulnerable groups. The assistance to urban refugees in Al-Basateen provides targeted school meals and SFPs. In 2010 the operation will pilot a voucher for a vocational training activity benefiting 1,000 urban refugee families in Sana a and Aden. The activity will promote the development of human capital and support improved employment opportunities for the refugees, with the cash voucher bridging any food access gaps during the training sessions. The PRRO will be implemented in close collaboration with the Government of Yemen, and in partnership with UNHCR and several international and national cooperating partners (CPs). The operation is in line with WFP s Strategic Objectives (SOs): 1 Save Lives and Protect Livelihoods in Emergencies, and SO 3 Restore and rebuild lives and livelihoods in postconflict, post-disaster or transition situations. Furthermore, the PRRO addresses Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 1 Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; MDG 2 Achieve universal primary education; MDG 4 Reduce child mortality; and MDG 5 Improve maternal health. The PRRO covers a protracted refugee situation, and thus viable exit strategies are extremely limited. Any handover strategy would need to be linked to UNHCR s durable solutions. There is currently no durable solution for Yemen s refugees, as resettlement options are limited and continued hostilities hinder repatriation efforts.

2 SITUATION ANALYSIS AND SCENARIO(S) 1. Located in the southern Arabian Peninsula on the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, Yemen is a food deficit country and one of the world s Least Developed Countries (LDC), ranking 140th out of 182 countries in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) s 2009 Human Development Index (HDI). Yemen has an annual per capita income of US$930, 1 and a poverty rate of 42 percent. 2 The situation of women in Yemen is of particular concern: the country ranked last on the 2009 Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM) and for the third year running last in the 2008 Global Gender Gap Index (GGGI), with illiteracy rates among women reaching 65 percent (compared to 27 percent for men). On other indicators of social and economic progress, Yemen ranks 80 th out of 88 countries on the 2008 Global Hunger Index (GHI) and 59 th out of 81 countries for 2008 s Poverty and Hunger Index (PHI). Infant and under-5 mortality rates are estimated at 75 and 102 per 1,000 live births respectively The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that there are more than 150,000 registered Convention and Mandate refugees in Yemen, the majority living in urban settlements. A total of 95 percent are of Somali origin - a result of the Somali civil war and the protracted failure of the Somali state since the early 1990s. The ongoing volatility in Somalia will not allow for approved repatriation schemes in the near future, whilst other durable solutions such as integration or third-country resettlement are at present unlikely. 3. Regional insecurity and economic hardship have seen a growth in the number of refugees from other countries. Yemen represents a natural transitory point for refugees from the Horn of Africa, many of whom are seeking to reach the oil-rich Gulf or Europe following treacherous sea crossings. During 2008, 50,000 new refugees arrived in Yemen; a further 65,000 arrived in The number of crossings increases during the October to April period, when the seas are calmer. 4. The majority of the refugees are scattered throughout Yemen s major urban centres - in particular Sana a and Al-Basateen in Aden - where they find work in the informal economy. Al-Basateen, a compact suburb of Aden, houses the largest population of Somali refugees in Yemen, while in Sana a the refugee populations are more dispersed. Kharaz camp in Lahj Governorate - Yemen s only refugee camp - accommodates the poorest and most vulnerable refugees. Kharaz currently hosts 15,886 refugees, although this figure includes short-term residents who will eventually move on to urban centres. 5. WFP food assistance is primarily targeted towards emergency provisions for new arrivals and for the refugee population in Kharaz. Supplementary feeding programmes (SFPs) targeting moderately malnourished children under 5, pregnant and lactating mothers and other vulnerable groups are provided in Kharaz and Al-Basateen. Both areas are also supported through school meals in three primary schools and a day-care centre. School meals aim to ensure retention and maintain enrolment and attendance. The primary school in Al-Basateen is attended by 2,500 students, of whom 43 percent are girls (although mostly at the lower grade levels); 35 percent of the student population are Somali refugees. The two schools in Kharaz (Salam and Radda Barnen) are more evenly genderbalanced. All three schools follow the Yemeni curriculum. 1 UNDP (2007), Human Development Index. 2 HDI (2009): 35.7 percent of Yemenis fall below the poverty threshold level. 3 Ministry of Health and Population; Pan Arab Project for Family Health (2003) Yemen Family Health Survey 2

3 6. WFP will be piloting a new intervention under this operation targeting urban refugees in Sana a and Aden with cash-value food vouchers as an incentive for attending vocational training, while at the same time reducing the food access gap that may develop for families of participants faced with the loss of income during the training sessions. 7. A joint assessment mission (JAM) was conducted by UNHCR and WFP in June It evaluated the services and activities available to refugees in Kharaz, Al-Basateen and (for the first time) the Sana a urban area. The exercise was undertaken in collaboration with the Government, local authorities, cooperating partners (CPs) active in the field and refugee representatives (elders and women s committees, block leaders, Somali and Ethiopian youth groups). 8. The JAM reported that the overarching goal of the PRRO was successfully attained: the basic food and nutritional requirements of the camp population and other vulnerable refugee groups were met, while food assistance helped maintain minimum nutritional levels for the refugee population. 9. The JAM concluded that residents of Kharaz continued to be dependent on WFP general food rations and complementary food commodities provided by CPs to meet their basic needs. Opportunities for self-reliance, income-generating activities and agriculture production were very limited due to the camp s isolation, harsh physical environment and lack of access to markets or employment. The health and nutritional status of refugees in all zones - though rated poor to serious according to WHO standards - had remained stable between the May 2009 nutrition survey results and those from January Cases of severe acute malnutrition were low, and the percentages of children underweight or stunted (15-27 percent and percent, respectively), though medium to high, were lower than the national average For Kharaz, the only reliable source of daily micronutrients comes from fortified WFP rations: wheat-soya blend (WSB), fortified wheat flour (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid and iron) and fortified vegetable oil distributed to beneficiaries of general food rations, school meals and SFPs, all enriched with vitamins A and D. Urban refugees participating in targeted feeding programmes also benefit from such food commodities, although they also have access to fresh produce and alternative food commodities. POLICIES, CAPACITIES AND ACTIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT(S) AND OTHERS 11. Since Somalia s Civil War commenced in the early 1990s, the Government of Yemen has recognized Somalis as refugees on a prima facie basis. The Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UNHCR to provide international protection and humanitarian assistance and has requested that WFP provide food assistance to vulnerable refugees. 12. UNHCR supports the Government in fulfilling its obligations as a signatory to the 1951 Geneva Convention relating to the status of refugees, and its 1967 Protocol. The interministerial National Sub-Committee for Refugee Affairs (NASCRA) facilitates 4 Family Health Survey (2003): 12.4 percent of children under 5 are wasted (high), 53.1 percent are stunted (very high), and 45.6 percent are underweight (very high). In 18 out of 21 governorates, the prevalence rate of stunting is critical according to WHO criteria (>40 percent), whilst the remaining three governorates show serious levels (>30 percent). 3

4 government cooperation with UNHCR. Registered Somalis are issued refugee cards cosigned by UNHCR that legalize their presence in Yemen and allow freedom of movement. 13. In mid-2009, the Government of Yemen - in coordination with UNHCR - began a mass registration effort using a computerized biometric process to more accurately ascertain the numbers and location of Somali refugees currently in the country. 14. UNHCR conducts Refugee Status Determination (RSD) for refugee claimants who arrive from other countries. A growing number of Ethiopian, Roma and Iraqi nationals are recognized as mandate refugees by UNHCR, although not all are acknowledged as such by the Yemeni Government. 15. The Comprehensive Plan of Action (CPA) 5 for Somali Refugees, initiated by UNHCR and co-sponsored by the Governments of Denmark, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, was initiated in Ongoing volatility in Somalia has prevented its implementation. 16. An annual Joint Plan of Action (JPA) has been developed by UNHCR and WFP since The JPA has proved to be a flexible tool to clarify the agencies respective roles and responsibilities. OBJECTIVES OF WFP ASSISTANCE 17. This PRRO aims to ensure that the basic nutritional needs of refugees are met until they are resettled in a third country or conditions are appropriate for repatriation to their countries of origin. The specific objectives of the PRRO are: To save lives and maintain adequate nutritional and dietary standards for refugee populations living in camps (linked to WFP s Strategic Objective (SO) 1 Save Lives and Protect Livelihoods in Emergencies ); To reduce acute malnutrition through the distribution of supplementary food commodities for targeted beneficiaries with special nutritional needs, including pregnant or lactating women, malnourished children under 5 and other vulnerable groups in both the camp and urban settings (SO 1); To maintain retention, enrolment and attendance in WFP-assisted primary schools in camp and urban settings, through the provision of school meals (SO 3 Restore and rebuild lives and livelihoods in post-conflict, post-disaster or transition situations ); and To develop the human capital of refugee populations enrolled in vocational training programmes, while mitigating the food access gap for students through the provision of cash vouchers (SO3 Restore and rebuild lives and livelihoods in post-conflict, post-disaster or transition situations ). WFP RESPONSE STRATEGY 18. WFP has provided food assistance to refugees in Yemen since The current PRRO was approved in January 2008 for 24 months, with the aim to assist 43,500 5 The CPA focuses on identifying appropriate durable solutions for Somalis and host countries; increasing the attractiveness and sustainability of return to safe areas within Somalia; enhancing asylum and resettlement for those for whom other durable solutions are not available; promoting refugees self-reliance capacity; and working towards rehabilitation and development of areas affected by protracted refugee situations. 4

5 beneficiaries with a total tonnage of 5,051 mt, at a cost of US$4.37 million. Reflecting the increasing numbers of new arrivals, a budget revision in November 2008 expanded the 2009 caseload to 51,500 and the total tonnage to 5,570 mt. 19. The programme components of this PRRO continue to include both relief and recovery assistance, with an expanded focus on the plight of urban refugees. Relief assistance 20. Relief assistance is provided through emergency assistance for new arrivals, general food distribution (GFD) for the population of Kharaz, and targeted SFPs. Upon arrival on the coast, new refugees receive 100 grams of high-energy biscuits (HEB) and water; those transported to reception centres are provided with cooked meals for one to three days. New arrivals transported from reception centres to the Kharaz refugee camp initially receive prepared meals for three to five days. Registered camp refugees receive monthly GFD. 21. This assistance will be complemented by SFPs provided at mother-and-child health (MCH) centres in Kharaz and Al-Basateen. Malnourished children under 5, pregnant and lactating mothers and other vulnerable refugees will receive take-home rations (individual rations in Kharaz and double individual rations in Al-Basateen) that will help them meet their specific nutritional requirements. 22. NGO partners such as Charitable Society for Social Welfare (CSSW) and Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) will continue their community outreach activities to provide for the early detection of malnutrition. Children under 5 in Al- Basateen found to be severely malnourished will be admitted to the therapeutic feeding programme (TFP): UNICEF provides special therapeutic milk (F-75 and F-100) and Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) for the beneficiaries. Upon exit from the TFP, those children who are still malnourished will be entered into the SFP. Recovery 23. Recovery is addressed through school meals in primary schools and through a voucherbased vocational training pilot project that will target urban refugees. The recovery component links to the objective of increasing enrolment, retention and participation of primary schoolchildren especially girls in education while at the same time supporting the development of human capital through vocational training. 24. The voucher for vocational training programme will seek to improve employment opportunities for urban refugees in Sana a and Aden, thereby reducing the impact of shocks, while allowing them to bridge their food access gap. The vouchers will give choice and dignity to beneficiaries, and will serve as an incentive for beneficiaries to maintain attendance and actively participate in the training. 25. The school feeding programme targets three primary schools in Kharaz and Al-Basateen. The schools follow the Yemeni curriculum, which helps graduating students to continue within the Yemeni education system. The schools in Kharaz serve the refugee population, while the Al-Basateen primary school is a mixture of refugees and the host Yemeni community. 26. The PRRO will seek to implement project activities in line with WFP s new Gender Policy. Gender aspects will be specifically addressed through the following activities: SFPs targeting malnourished children under 5 and pregnant or lactating women; School feeding activities to promote girls attendance in schools and enhance opportunities for continuing education; 5

6 Facilitating the equal participation of women in distribution committees and decision-making positions, and promoting women as food entitlement holders of ration cards; and Ensuring that women and teenage girls benefit equally from a voucher programme. Handover strategy 27. This operation covers a protracted refugee situation, and thus viable exit strategies are extremely limited. Any handover strategy would need to be linked to UNHCR s durable solutions repatriation of refugees, third-country resettlement or national integration all of which are unlikely to be implemented during the timeframe of this operation. Repatriation of refugees, primarily to Somalia, necessitates an improved security situation. During 2008, only 40 Somali refugees repatriated voluntarily and 354 were resettled in third countries. 28. The voucher for the vocational training pilot project, targeting urban refugees, promotes the development of students human capital, strengthens their marketable skills, and provides assistance in finding employment for participants. Such activities will gradually allow beneficiaries to reinforce their self-reliance and move away from assistance. BENEFICIARIES AND TARGETING 29. Table 1 below shows the estimated number and sex of refugees who will benefit from food assistance through various WFP activities in 2010 and Table 1: Beneficiaries by Year and Activity ACTIVITY Male Female Total Male Female Total NEW ARRIVALS Coastal Arrivals 50,000 25,000 75,000 50,000 25,000 75,000 Reception Centres 28,460 14,540 43,000 28,460 14,540 43,000 Kharaz Camp 15,885 10,115 26,000 15,885 10,115 26,000 Sub-Total 6 50,000 25,000 75,000 50,000 25,000 75,000 KHARAZ CAMP GFD 8,900 10,100 19,000 9,830 11,170 21,000 SFP 1,000 1,500 2, School Feeding 1,370 1,630 3,000 1,655 1,845 3,500 Sub-Total 7 8,900 10,100 19,000 9,830 11,170 21,000 URBAN REFUGEES SFP , ,500 6 Beneficiaries at Kharaz and Reception Centers also receive food as coastal arrivals, thus the total number of individual beneficiaries under the new arrival category is 75, Beneficiaries of SFP and school meals also benefit from GFD: total number of individual beneficiaries is 19,000. 6

7 School Feeding 1, ,500 1,990 1,010 3,000 Vouchers 3,250 1,750 5,000 Sub-Total 8 5,650 6,575 9,000 2,670 1,830 4,500 Sub-Total 9 62,950 37, ,000 61,430 36,570 98,000 TOTAL FOR THE PRRO ,000 New Arrivals 30. To ensure adequate provision of food commodities, WFP and UNHCR s figures for new arrivals are based on historical trends and updated regional security assessments. Yemen continues to receive a large number of new refugees each year, the vast majority of whom are young men. For 2010, UNHCR foresees 75,000 new arrivals in Yemen (30,000 of Somali origin and 45,000 of non-somali origin). All arrivals will receive emergency food assistance through the provision of HEBs. The same number of new arrivals is estimated for A majority of the arrivals will be assisted at three reception centres established along the coast at Maifa a, Ahwar and Doubab, where WFP will provide food for approximately 3,550 refugees a month. 32. Around 2,100 new refugees are transported to Kharaz monthly, where they receive cooked meals for five days. Subsequently, most move to urban areas on their own accord, although around 10 percent remain in the camp. Moreover, some refugees who are assessed as unable to cope in urban areas due to the rising cost of living and declining incomes are transferred back to Kharaz. Camp Refugees 33. A total of 19,000 and 21,000 refugees are targeted in the Kharaz refugee camp in 2010 and 2011, respectively. The vast majority of the refugees are Somali, although 6 percent come from Ethiopia. More than 53 percent of the camp s population are under the age of 18. Females marginally outnumber males, and 63 percent of households are femaleheaded. 34. A number of Kharaz residents move between the camp and urban settlements, raising concerns that urban refugees return to Kharaz to receive rations. The Government of Yemen and UNHCR have undertaken a comprehensive registration and review process that seeks to limit ineligible urban-dwelling refugees from receiving monthly distributions. 35. New camp arrivals receive laminated temporary ration cards (TRC) valid for three months. The TRCs have colour photos for clear identification of beneficiaries, and contain information about the family and family size to ensure that appropriate food and 8 There is some overlap between beneficiaries of the SFP and those who are provided with school meals; thus the total number of unique beneficiaries in urban centres is 13, As indicated in the text below, around percent of new arrivals rest at Kharaz Camp and receive general food rations, and thus are not counted twice. 10 This figure represents the number of individual beneficiaries taking into account annual overlap. The figure takes into account the number of urban and camp refugees who will benefit from WFP assistance throughout the duration of this operation, as well as the new arrivals in both 2010 and

8 non-food items (NFI) are provided. After a confirmed presence of three months, the refugees are added to the camp s GFD list and are issued permanent ration cards. Only children above six months are registered as beneficiaries for GFD. 36. Families are encouraged to register the name of a female family member as the food entitlement holder. This contributes to refugee women exerting a greater control over food rations. 37. Following the recommendations of a 2008 joint WFP/UNHCR nutrition survey, WFP changed the modality of SFP for children under 5 from targeted feeding for those with moderate acute malnutrition to blanket supplementary feeding. Blanket feeding for children under 5 will be maintained for However, a nutrition study will be conducted in the camp, in advance of a return to a targeted supplementary feeding programme in Pregnant women may enter the SFP at 3 months of pregnancy, and remain in the programme until 6 months after giving birth. Food is provided at motherand-child health centres. Beneficiaries of SFPs receive individual take-home rations. CSSW (UNHCR s health implementing partner in Kharaz) takes weight-for-height (WFH) measurements when the children visit the health centre on a bi-weekly or monthly basis. Furthermore, UNHCR CPs conduct periodic screenings of all children in Kharaz camp. 38. School meals in Kharaz will assist 3,000 children in the two camp schools and day-care centre through the provision of fortified foods for hot daily meals. WFP has previously observed that without the provision of school meals, refugee children in the camp simply do not attend school, resulting in high levels of absenteeism. The school feeding activity is a proven intervention to mitigate absenteeism. Furthermore, following JAM recommendations, WFP has altered the meal composition and time of distribution to maximize participation by students. The food basket will provide for two different meals during the school year, promoting dietary diversity and increasing uptake among students. Urban Refugees 39. In Al-Basateen, WFP provides food assistance to a public primary school and targeted malnourished and vulnerable populations attending health clinics. About 17,500 refugees live in Al-Basateen, with limited opportunities for economic activities. WFP s school meals provide on-site feeding for 2,500 children at the sole primary school in Al- Basateen, which has the largest refugee student population in Aden. 11 The SFP is operated out of the CSSW-run MCH centre. Entry and exit criteria are based on weight for height (WFH) measurements. Severely malnourished cases are referred to the Al- Wahda hospital in Aden for therapeutic feeding. The SFP will provide recipients with a take-home double ration to reduce the impact of a sharing of the ration within the household: 1,500 MCH centre attendees are forecast for In 2010, WFP is piloting in a voucher for vocational training programme in partnership with ADRA. A one-year pilot project allows for multiple groups of students to enter, participate and complete vocational training, thus presenting a greater number of opportunities to assess the impact of the programme. By having staggered groups, the project allows for mid-course evaluation and adjustment if necessary. The one-year timeframe also provides an opportunity for extension or expansion into 2011 if successful. 11 To mitigate any pull-factor that school feeding in an urban area may have, WFP assists girls schools nearby through the ongoing Country Programme. 8

9 41. The vocational training programme will target 5,000 urban refugees (1,000 families) in 2010 in Sana a and Aden. Monthly cash-value vouchers will provide incentives to refugees attending vocational trainings and apprenticeships in the two urban centres. Vouchers will be distributed to roughly 250 participants each month. NUTRITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS AND RATIONS / VALUE OF VOUCHER TRANSFERS 42. The food basket for GFD will contain a nutritious combination of basic commodities: wheat flour, rice, pulses, vegetable oil, sugar and salt, which provide a total of 2,138 kcal per person per day. The take-home rations provide 11.6 percent (52.5 g) of energy from protein, and 15.1 percent (40 g) from fat. 43. UNHCR s May 2009 nutrition survey 12 highlighted the high rate of malnutrition in all areas; there has not been any change since WFP and UNHCR s comprehensive nutrition study in The survey found that global acute malnutrition (GAM) was lowest in locations where WFP is providing supplementary feeding (7.2 percent in Kharaz and 9.2 percent in Al-Basateen). For Sana a and the villages surrounding Kharaz, the GAM rates were 10.9 percent and 9.9 percent, respectively. The SFPs in both Kharaz and Al- Basateen provide dry take-home rations of WSB, oil and sugar. In Kharaz, individual rations are provided, while in Al-Basateen a double ration is distributed. 44. The food basket for SFP in Al-Basateen will consist of a daily double ration of 200 g WSB, 20 g vegetable oil and 20 g sugar, providing a total of 1,057 kcal per person per day. Due to the fact that all SFP beneficiaries in Kharaz also receive general rations, the 2008 JAM recommended reducing the overall SFP basket to 80 g WSB, 10 g oil and 10 g sugar, which provides a total of 449 kcal per day. 45. Primary school children in Kharaz and Al-Basateen will receive on-site hot meals at the three schools supported by WFP. Diversity will be maintained by alternating meals of WSB pancakes/porridge and bread with lentil paste. A new school kitchen has opened in Al-Basateen, allowing for the daily preparation of hot meals in Kharaz and Al-Basateen. 46. New arrivals at Kharaz and the three reception centres will be provided with on-site feeding by CPs. WFP will provide dry rations consisting of fortified wheat flour, rice, pulses, vegetable oil, sugar and salt, which provides 2,100 kcal per person per day. Coastal arrivals will receive HEBs and water when they are picked up by UNHCR s CPs. 47. The monthly cash value for the voucher project is US$60 (YR 12,000), which is the average cost on the local market of the WFP family food basket for monthly general food rations. The price of a basket of basic commodities will be monitored in urban markets; if there is substantial inflation or deflation, the value of the subsequent vouchers distributed will be adjusted accordingly. 12 Machibya, Lucas (2009). Anthropometric, retrospective mortality and haemoglobin measurement survey. Yemen: UNHCR 9

10 Table 2: DAILY FOOD RATION/TRANSFER BY ACTIVITY (g/person/day) Commodity Type/Voucher Coastal Arrivals Reception Centres New Arrivals GFD Kharaz SFP Kharaz School Feeding (Kharaz/Basateen) SFP Basateen 13 C/V* Wheat Flour Rice Pulse Veg. Oil Salt Sugar WSB HEB Voucher $60 Total Total kcal/day 450 2,094 2,094 2, ,057 - % Kcal from protein % Kcal from fat *C/V: cash vouchers 48. The total food requirements are based on planning figures for which have been developed in collaboration with UNHCR. New arrivals are based on historical trends and analysis of the current security situation, as well as natural population growth in Kharaz and urban refugees. The total food requirement for is 9,063 mt, while US$200,000 is forecast for the pilot voucher project. Should there be major changes in the regional situation, the CO will consider a budget revision. Table 3: TOTAL REQUIREMENTS BY ACTIVITY (mt) Commodity Type/ Voucher Coastal Arrivals Reception Centres New Arrivals GFD SFP Kharaz School Feeding Kharaz SFP Basateen School Feeding Basateen Total C/V Wheat Flour , ,464 - Rice , ,152 - Pulse Veg. Oil Double rations will be given to compensate for sharing among family members. Thus each beneficiary will receive 400 g WSB, 40 g sugar and 40 g vegetable oil per day. 10

11 Salt Sugar WSB HEB Voucher $200,000 Total , ,063 - IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS 49. UNHCR remains the principal partner for WFP during this operation. WFP is responsible for meeting the basic food needs of the refugees through the provision of specific commodities, as outlined in the MoU between the two agencies. UNHCR and its CPs are expected to provide complementary food commodities (such as milk or tomato paste; during Ramadan/Eid, meat is sometimes distributed) and all necessary NFIs. The contractual arrangements for food distribution are directly agreed between UNHCR and its CPs. 50. UNHCR s CPs locate new arrivals on the coast and transport the refugees to the three reception centres. Two NGOs are responsible for receiving and storing the commodities, and providing the meals at the reception centres: Society for Humanitarian Solidarity (SHS) at Maifa a and Ahwar and the Yemeni Red Crescent (YRC) at Doubab. 51. SHS is responsible for the storage and distribution of WFP food commodities in Kharaz. In the camp, UNHCR handles the registration of beneficiaries, the provision of ration cards and the final verification of the recipients at distribution centres. Food distributors are paid directly by UNHCR CPs following the monthly distributions. Each distribution is coordinated by WFP, UNHCR and the applicable CP, in close collaboration with the refugees elders and women s committees. 52. School meals are implemented in cooperation with UNHCR, SHS, Save the Children Sweden and ADRA. For daily on-site feeding, each child attends a half-day of schooling (either the morning or afternoon shift) six days a week (Saturday to Thursday) during which a WFP-supplied hot meal is served. UNHCR, in collaboration with its CPs, is responsible for ensuring that the kitchen facilities and food preparation methods are hygienic and appropriate. 53. CSSW health workers operate the SFP in Kharaz and Al-Basateen, which is monitored by WFP and UNHCR. CSSW also conducts regular nutrition screenings (WFH) in both areas. 54. The cash voucher for the vocational training pilot project will be implemented in partnership with ADRA. WFP and ADRA will develop selection criteria for participating stores and ADRA will enter into agreementa with the selected stores. ADRA has a presence in Sana a and Aden, and its community workers will assess and select participants and undertake sensitization campaigns to introduce the voucher scheme to beneficiaries. Students who meet minimum participation and attendance criteria will receive a family cash-value voucher that can be redeemed at assigned grocery stores. Both ADRA and WFP will randomly visit the participating stores to monitor for fraud and improper redemption practices by either the stores or beneficiaries. 11

12 55. A number of different vocational training courses have been proposed, including car mechanics, electrical repairs (home appliances, mobile phone repair, etc.), workshop apprenticeships, advanced handicrafts and advanced literacy/numeracy courses. Course content will be finalized in early ADRA has proposed courses that cater to skills that have been specifically requested by urban refugees and are required by the job market. In order for courses to be included in the voucher programme, they must have a minimum duration of three months, although they could last longer for professional apprenticeships. 56. At the end of every month, students who meet minimum participation and attendance criteria will receive a cash-value paper voucher that can be used in an assigned grocery store. The voucher will be distributed to the participating student by ADRA staff, and either the student or the female head of household (names are entered on the voucher) can redeem the voucher. Stores will present the redeemed vouchers to ADRA for verification; ADRA will provide the verified vouchers to WFP for reimbursement on a monthly basis. 57. Logistics Arrangements: The Logistics Unit will carry out local food procurement, monitor the pipeline situation and liaise with HQ Procurement Division on international food procurement. External food shipments are received through two seaports: Ma alla and Aden Container Terminal (ACT). For the refugee operation, WFP rents two warehouses: the PRRO central warehouse in Aden and one at Kharaz. 58. Transport will be principally assured by private sector transporters which will be selected by the Logistics Unit according to WFP s tendering procedures. Furthermore, the unit will assign an agent to clear all WFP food to avoid unnecessary delays or demurrage. 59. Food commodity dispatches are to be monitored through the Commodity Movement, Processing and Analysis System (COMPAS). 60. Procurement: For the previous refugee operation, local purchases accounted for 50 percent of total food commodities received. Food purchases are expected to account for 40 percent of total food commodities for the new operation. PERFORMANCE MONITORING 61. The PRRO s progress will be monitored using WFP standard monitoring and evaluation guidelines. WFP will organize mid-year and annual reviews and workshops with CPs at the sub-office and CO level. The performance monitoring plan will be based on the PRRO s logical framework which is developed around WFP s new strategic objectives. CPs will provide monthly reports on their activities, while UNHCR s Health Information System (HIS) will provide nutritional data. Additional data will be obtained from postdistribution monitoring as well as monthly distribution and stock reports. 62. Each CP involved will provide distribution reports. WFP sub-office staff and CPs will monitor all food distributions. Monitoring takes place before, during and after all distributions, with monitoring reports shared on a monthly basis between all partners. WFP and UNHCR s continued close monitoring particularly of GFD in Kharaz will seek to ensure that urban dwellers do not hold ration cards. A nutritional survey of Kharaz Camp will be conducted in late 2010, and will inform the transition from blanket to targeted SFP in Monitoring of the vouchers programme will be conducted in collaboration with ADRA. The training institutions will provide monthly attendance and participation reports for all programme beneficiaries, supplemented with random visits by ADRA and WFP staff. Participating stores will be randomly monitored to ensure full adherence with contractual 12

13 agreements. Post-distribution surveys will be conducted to assess the impact of the vouchers on household food purchases and consumption. 64. A JAM will be undertaken in mid RISK ASSESSMENT AND CONTINGENCY PLANNING Risk assessment 65. Operational shortfalls present a major risk. As new arrivals and the camp refugee population rely almost exclusively on WFP rations, reduced or delayed distributions will have a negative impact on the refugees nutritional and health status. It is also essential that other partners have strong implementing capacity, particularly with regard to the provision of complementary food commodities, essential NFIs and community services. Reduced contributions will also affect the prompt distribution of cash vouchers. 66. Access to Kharaz by international staff could possibly be affected due to insecurity or threats from the local population. WFP maintains two months of supplies in camp warehouse to offset such concerns. Continued dialogue with the surrounding villages will be maintained to reduce insecurity. 67. The risk of unforeseen refugee influxes is unlikely as UNHCR regularly shares information with WFP on the regional security situation, forecasts migration flows from Somalia, and their possible impact on neighbouring and host countries. Contingency Planning 68. The WFP Yemen CO is an active member of the United Nations Emergency Preparedness and Response Team (UNEPRT). UNEPRT prepares an annual United Nations Interagency Contingency Plan for Yemen, in which a potential scenario for a sudden mass influx of refugees has been developed. 69. UNHCR and WFP have collaborated to develop annual planning figures for the upcoming year in order to ensure that the WFP pipeline can respond to refugee requirements. In the event of a larger-than-planned influx, this operation would require a budget revision. SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS 70. Yemen is in United Nations security phase three for the entire country; security incidents targeting the refugee operation are rare. Incidents between the villages surrounding Kharaz camp and UNHCR or its CPs have increased in recent years, exacerbated by tribesmen s demands for water, electricity and access to services. 71. A United Nations Area Security Focal Point is posted in the UNHCR sub-office in Aden and is assisted in regular security assessments by a field security officer based in Kharaz. Security clearance is provided at the national level by the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) in Sana a. 72. The three reception centres and Kharaz camp are only accessible by vehicle under military escort. All WFP field staff members have undergone advanced security training in the field, as well as radio communication training. In areas where movement requires military escort for WFP staff or WFP food deliveries, arrangements are made by the WFP Yemen 13

14 CO in Sana a for military escorts through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Interior. 73. Both the WFP Country Office in Sana a and the Aden sub-office are fully compliant with Minimum Operating Security Standards (MOSS) and Minimum Security Telecommunication Standards (MISTS). All United Nations partners working in this PRRO are MOSS and MISTS compliant. RECOMMENDATION 74. The proposed PRRO Yemen requiring 9,063 mt of commodities with a food value of US$4.3 million and a voucher value of US$200,000, and a total cost to WFP of US$7 million, is recommended for approval by the Executive Director. APPROVAL Josette Sheeran Executive Director Date:. 14

15 ANNEX I - A: WFP PROJECT COST BREAKDOWN Commodity Related Portion Voucher Transfer Total Project COSTS Tonnage (mt) Rate (US$) Value (US$) Value (US$) A. Direct operational costs Cereals 6, ,482,260 Pulses ,772 Oil & Fats ,081 Mixed & Blended Food ,013 Others ,734 Cash Voucher 200, ,000 Total 9, ,000 Total commodities and cash 4,508,860 External transport 319,384 Total LTSH 540,939 Other Direct Operational Costs 147,844 Total direct operational costs 5,517,027 B. Direct Support Costs (see table below for details) 1,034,264 C. Indirect Support Costs (7 percent of total direct costs) 458,591 TOTAL WFP COSTS 7,009,882 15

16 ANNEX I-B DIRECT SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS (US$) Staff to 20 International Professional Staff 335, to 22 International GS Staff National Professional Officers 84, National GS Staff 131, Temporary Assistance 10, Overtime 10, Hazard Pay & Hardship Allowance 148, International Consultants National Consultants UNVs Commercial Consultancy Services Staff Duty Travel 119,004 Subtotal 839,011 Recurring Expenses Rental of Facility 21, Utilities General 11, Office Supplies and Other Consumables 19, Communications and IT Services 40, Equipment Repair and Maintenance 2, Vehicle Maintenance and Running Cost 12, Office Set-up and Repairs 6,785 Subtotal 115,063 Equipment & Capital Costs Vehicle Leasing 20, TC/IT Equipment, 8, Local Security Costs planning 51,450 Subtotal 80,190 TOTAL DIRECT SUPPORT COSTS 1,034,264 16

17 ANNEX II - Logical Framework Summary for Yemen, PRRO Results-Chain (Logic Model) Performance Indicators Risks, Assumptions SO 1: SAVE LIVES AND PROTECT LIVELIHOODS IN EMERGENCIES Goal: To save lives in emergencies and reduce acute malnutrition caused by shocks to below emergency levels; to reach refugees whose food and nutrition security has been adversely affected by shocks Components: New Arrivals, Reception Centres, GFD, SFP Outcomes: 1.1 Reduced or stabilized acute malnutrition in children under 5 in targeted emergency-affected populations Outcome indicators: Prevalence of acute malnutrition among children under 5 (WFH as %) 1.3 Improved food consumption over assistance period for targeted emergency-affected households Household food consumption score Outputs: 1.1. Food and NFIs distributed in sufficient quantity and quality to targeted beneficiaries under secure conditions Output indicators: Number of beneficiaries receiving food and nonfood items, by category and as % of planned figures Tonnage of food distributed, by type, as % of planned distribution 1.1.3a,b. Quantity of fortified foods, complementary foods and special nutritional products distributed, by type, as % of planned distribution, as % of actual distribution Insufficient funding Food pipeline is uninterrupted Adequate activities and partners identified by UNHCR Security situation hinders the implementation of 17

18 1.1.5 Number of security incidents SO 3: Restore and rebuild lives and livelihoods in post-conflict, post-disaster or transition situations Component: SFP, School Feeding, Conditional Cash Vouchers Outcomes: 4.1b Adequate food consumption over assistance period for targeted households. Outcome indicators: Household food consumption score the project 4.1c Targeted households have increased their human and financial capital to break the inter-generational cycle of chronic hunger Household human and financial capital score 4.2a Increased access to education and human capital development in assisted schools Enrolment: average annual rate of change in number of girls and boys enrolled Retention rate Attendance rate as % of total number of schooldays Gender ratio: ratio of girls to boys enrolled 4.3 Improved nutritional status of targeted women, girls and boys (blanket and targeted SFP) Prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) in pregnant and lactating women Prevalence of weight for height (WfH) stunting, among targeted children under 5 Data collected by UNHCR CPs in both Kharaz and Al Basateen (currently CSSW). 18

19 Household Food Expenditure Outputs: 4.1 Food distributed in sufficient quantity and quality to targeted beneficiaries under secure conditions OUTPUT INDICATORS: Number of beneficiaries receiving food and nonfood items, by category and as % of planned figures See Above Tonnage of food distributed, by type, as % of planned distribution 4.1.3a,b Quantity of fortified foods, complementary foods and special nutritional products distributed, by type, as % of planned distribution, as % of actual distribution Number of security incidents 4.1c Developed, and/or enhanced human and financial capital for targeted households 4.2a School Feeding coverage aligned with programme of 4.1.1c Number of targeted households with developed and/or enhanced human and financial capital, by type 4.2.1a Number of schools assisted by WFP 19

20 work 4.3 Vouchers distributed in sufficient quantity and on time to targeted beneficiaries under secure conditions Number of beneficiaries receiving vouchers, as percentage of planned Number of women heads of household receiving vouchers, as percentage of planned beneficiaries 4.3.3a Total voucher amount and numbers distributed as percentage of planned 4.3.3b Number of men/women exchanging vouchers in shops Percentage of beneficiaries receiving vouchers on time as planned Vouchers redeemed, as percentage of total vouchers distributed, per distribution 20

21 WFP/EB.A/2009/ ANNEX III - LIST OF ACRONYMS USED IN THE DOCUMENT ACT Aden Container Terminal ADRA Adventist Development and Relief Agency CO Country Office COMPAS Commodity Movement, Processing and Analysis System CPA Comprehensive Plan of Action CSSW Charitable Society for Social Welfare ECW Enhanced Commitments to Women GAM Global Acute Malnutrition GEM Gender Empowerment Measure GFD General Food Distribution GGGI Global Gender Gap Index GHI Global Hunger Index HDI Human Development Index HEB High Energy Biscuits HIS Health Information System IP Implementing Partner JAM Joint Assessment Mission JPA Joint Plan of Action Kcal Kilocalories LDC Least Developed Country MCH Mother-and-Child Health MISTS Minimum Security Telecommunication Standards MOSS Minimum Operating Security Standards MoU Memorandum of Understanding MUAC Middle-Upper Arm Circumference NASCRA National Sub-Committee for Refugee Affairs NFI Non-Food Items NGO Non-Governmental Organization PHI Poverty and Hunger Index PRRO Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation RSD Refugee Status Determination RUTF Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food SFP Supplementary Feeding Programme SHS Society for Humanitarian Solidarity SO Strategic Objective TFP Therapeutic Feeding Programme TRC Temporary Ration Cards UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNDSS United Nations Department of Safety and Security UNEPRT United Nations Emergency Preparedness and Response Team UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees WFH Weight for Height UNICEF United Nations Children s Fund WHO World Health Organization WFP World Food Programme WSB Wheat-Soya Blend YRC Yemeni Red Crescent

22 ANNEXE IV MAP