US embassy cable - 05ROME715

UNCLAS  ROME 000715 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
FROM U.S. MISSION TO THE UN AGENCIES IN ROME 
 
USAID FOR DCHA/FFP LANDIS AND WHELAN 
INFO STATE FOR PRM/P AND IO/EDA 
USDA FOR FAS CHAMBLISS 
GENEVA FOR RMA AND NKYLOH/USAID 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: EAID, EAGR, PREF, AORC, WFP 
SUBJECT: WFP EMERGENCY NEEDS ASSESSMENT UPDATE 
 
Ref: 04 Rome 2839 
 
1. Summary.  At its third regular Executive Board session in 
October 2004, WFP presented an update on actions already 
taken and activities to be implemented in a 30-month 
timeframe that will enable it to strengthen "its 
competencies and capacities to ensure the quality, 
credibility, comparability and transparency of emergency 
needs assessments."  Since then WFP has continued to 
strengthen its ENA capacity with the support of a recently 
launched ECHO-funded project, which is proceeding apace with 
meetings of its advisory group and technical committee in 
mid-March 2005.  End summary. 
 
2. Background.  In February and again in October 2003, 
following extensive criticism of emergency needs assessments 
(ENAs), WFP's Executive Board endorsed an ENA strengthening 
program to increase transparency and accountability, 
strengthen methodology, improve crisis information for 
selected crisis-prone countries, and augment ENA capacity 
through learning programs for staff and partners.  In 
addition, in June 2004, per reftel, G-8 countries pledged to 
improve ENAs and response systems despite funding 
uncertainties. 
 
3. In recent discussions with USUN Rome representative 
Philip Lamade, WFP's Wolfgang Herbinger indicated that WFP's 
recent activities generally correspond with the 2004 through 
2006 timetable of the paper presented to the October 2004 
Executive Board on strengthening ENAs.  For example, under 
transparency and accountability, an estimated 40 to 50 
reports have been posted, and checklists for ENA reports are 
now being filed for each assessment. 
 
4. Similarly, under methodologies and guidance, joint 
WFP/UNHCR guidelines have been issued.  A draft of the 
emergency food security assessment (EFSA) handbook has been 
issued, but a revision of the 1996 crop food supply 
assessment mission (CFSAM) handbook used for joint missions 
with FAO is not likely to be completed until 2006.  With 
regard to building capacity, in 2005 and 2006, WFP 
anticipates training 300 WFP staff as well as NGO and 
governmental personnel to strengthen necessary skills for 
ENAs.  Next week in Rome, WFP plans to pilot test a one-week 
training seminar; in April, a joint UNHCR/WFP workshop in 
Dar es Salaam is being scheduled. 
 
5. Also in October 2004, the European Community Humanitarian 
Aid department (ECHO) provided funds to WFP in the amount of 
Euro 4.5 million to cover the first 12 months (although 
given initial delays, possibly 15 months) of a potential 30- 
month project to strengthen emergency needs assessment 
capacity (SENAC).  The project covers some of the activities 
listed in the timetable discussed above, e.g., ENA website 
access, research and field-testing of methodologies, and 
regional assessment specialists.  Essentially, three Rome- 
based project personnel will be augmented at WFP regional 
bureaus by a total of 12 assessment specialists, of whom 8 
have already been recruited. 
 
6. The SENAC project is guided by a technical committee 
consisting of donor representatives and supervised by WFP's 
Wolfgang Herbinger.  The project is also supported by an 
advisory group of experts representing academia, government, 
non-governmental organizations, and other UN agencies.  The 
technical committee is scheduled to meet for the third time 
on March 16 and 17, 2005; the advisory group, including 
members of the technical committee and ECHO project staff, 
meets for the first time on March 14 and 15, 2005. 
 
7. In the first year, project foci will include the role of 
markets and effects of food aid on markets, the impact of 
food aid on households, chronic versus transitory food 
insecurity, non-food responses to food crises, and baseline 
and crisis information systems.  Planned activities include 
the following: 
 
-- Developing food security pre-crisis baselines in Angola, 
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, Myanmar, 
 
Nepal, Niger, Uganda, and Zambia. 
 
-- Developing food security monitoring systems in 
Afghanistan, Burundi, Central African Republic, Cote 
D'Ivoire, Sudan, and Haiti. 
 
-- Developing assessment tools related to the role of 
markets. 
-- Testing and adapting ENA methods in Burundi, Cote 
D'Ivoire, Liberia, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Angola, and 
Mozambique. 
 
Hall 
 
 
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	2005ROME00715 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED