US embassy cable - 03ROME1511

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ROME 001511 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AIDAC 
 
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME 
 
STATE FOR A/S PRM DEWEY, IO A/S HOLMES, IO/EDA WINNICK, E 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  01511  01 OF 04  091003Z 
FOR CPENCE 
STATE FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS, 
RTILSWORTH AND TWEDT USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, 
D/DCHA/OFDA BMCCONNELL, D/DCHA/FFP LANDIS AND WWHELEN 
USUN FOR MLUTZ 
USAID DAKAR FOR ESTES 
GENEVA FOR RMA 
BRUSSELS FOR USEU 
NSC FOR JDWORKEN 
 
E.O.  12958:  N/A 
TAGS: EAID, AORC, PREF, EAGR, ECON, KUNR, AORC, PREF, EAGR, ECON, KUNR, AORC, PREF, EAGR, ECON, KUNR, AORC, PREF, EAGR, ECON, KUNR, UN, WFP    EAID, UN, WFP    EAID, UN, WFP    EAID, UN, WFP 
SUBJECT: WFP-PARTNER CONSULTATION OF EMERGENCY NEEDS 
ASSESSMENTS - ROME MARCH 12-14, 2003 
 
------- 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
1. WFP HOSTED A TWO-AND-ONE-HALF DAY CONSULTATION ON 
EMERGENCY NEEDS ASSESSMENTS (ENA) AT CASTEL GANDOLFO (NEAR 
ROME) MARCH 12-14, WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF EIGHT DONORS, 
FIVE UN AGENCIES, NINE NGOS, USAID'S FAMINE EARLY WARNING 
SYSTEM NETWORK (FEWS NET), AND TWO PROMINENT REGIONAL 
ORGANIZATIONS FROM SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA (CILSS AND SADC). BOTH 
US MISSION AND USAID/FFP/W WERE REPRESENTED AT THE MEETING. 
THE CONSULTATION FOCUSED ON THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES: A) 
IDENTIFY A MINIMUM SET OF REQUIREMENTS EXPECTED FROM 
ASSESSMENTS FOR PROGRAMMING AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION 
DECISIONS; B) INVENTORY CAPACITIES IN ENA AND STRENGTHEN 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  01511  01 OF 04  091003Z 
UNDERSTANDING OF AREAS AND COMPETENCIES; C) IDENTIFY 
INFORMATION LINKAGES BETWEEN NEEDS ASSESSMENTS AND 
BASELINES, EARLY WARNING AND PROGRAM MONITORING AND 
EVALUATION, AND HOW THESE COULD BE BETTER FACILITATED; AND 
D) BROADEN AND STRENGTHEN ENA PARTNERSHIPS AMONG WFP AND 
OTHER ACTORS. PARTICIPANTS ARGUED FOR COMPARABILITY AND 
MINIMUM DATA SETS; ENDORSED REGIONAL AND SUB-REGIONAL 
APPROACHES TO ASSESSMENTS; AND PROMOTED APPROACHES THAT 
DISTINGUISH ACUTE FROM CHRONIC NEEDS. PARTICIPANTS ALSO 
URGED MORE DETAILED ENA ANALYSIS ON LIVELIHOODS WHILE 
RECOGNIZING DIFFICULTIES IN COMPARING LIVELIHOOD 
VULNERABILITY INDICATORS AS COUNTRIES HAVE DIFFERENT 
RISKS/ASSETS/COPING STRATEGIES. FINALLY, PARTICIPANTS 
CONCLUDED THAT SPECIFIC METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES NEEDED 
REFINEMENTS ON ESTIMATES OF POTENTIAL FOR COMMERCIAL IMPORTS 
TO FILL A DOMESTIC FOOD SUPPLY GAP - ENDORSING INCREASED 
FOCUS ON HOW MARKETS CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVELY USED TO BOLSTER 
FOOD SECURITY IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. END SUMMARY. 
 
---------- 
BACKGROUND 
---------- 
 
2. FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE HAS 
TOTALED AROUND U.S. DOLLARS 5.5 BILLION/ANNUM. WORLDWIDE, 35 
MILLION PEOPLE HAVE FLED THEIR HOMES BECAUSE OF FEAR OF 
PERSECUTION OR WAR. THIS YEAR WFP EMERGENCY OPERATIONS 
(EMOPS) WILL TARGET (EXCLUDING IRAQ) 39.2 MILLION 
BENEFICIARIES, AND WILL REQUIRE AN INPUT OF ALMOST 2.4 
MILLION TONS. PROJECTED REQUIREMENTS FOR PROTRACTED RELIEF 
AND RECOVERY OPERATIONS (PRROS) WILL INCREASE SUBSTANTIALLY, 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  01511  01 OF 04  091003Z 
TARGETING 25 MILLION BENEFICIARIES WITH UP TO 1.6 MILLION 
TONS FOR 2003. WFP, AND BY EXTENSION THE OTHER UN 
HUMANITARIAN ACTORS, NEED TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THEIR 
EMERGENCY ASSESSMENTS ARE SUFFICIENTLY CREDIBLE SO THAT ALL 
DONORS ABLE TO RESPOND WILL BE WILLING TO RESPOND. IN 
PARTICULAR, THE UN AGENCIES NEED TO DEMONSTRATE THAT RIGOR 
IS SYSTEMATICALLY APPLIED TO THE APPEALS PROCESS IN ORDER TO 
AVOID "INFLATING THE NUMBERS."  THERE IS A GENERAL DONOR 
BIAS (LED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION) THAT FOOD AID 
REQUIREMENTS FOR EMERGENCIES ARE INVARIABLY OVER-ESTIMATED 
WHICH, IF THE APPEALS ARE MET, COULD IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON 
LOCAL MARKETS. IT WAS NOTED THAT BECAUSE WFP EMERGENCY 
OPERATIONS (EMOPS) IN THE PAST FEW YEARS HAVE FREQUENTLY 
BEEN MET WITH A 50-70 PERCENT RESPONSE, THERE APPEARS TO BE 
A TENDENCY TO SHOOT HIGH IN THE ENAS TO COMPENSATE. THIS 
PRACTICE, IN TURN, REINFORCES DONOR CONCERNS ABOUT 
CREDIBILITY. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
METHODS USED BY DIFFERENT ASSESSMENT APPROACHES 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
3. A NUMBER OF METHODOLOGICAL APPROACHES WERE REVIEWED AND 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ9494 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  01511  02 OF 04  091003Z 
ACTION AID-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AF-00    AGRE-00  CIAE-00  COME-00  INL-00 
      USNW-00  DODE-00  DOTE-00  WHA-00   SRPP-00  EAP-00   EB-00 
      EUR-00   FAAE-00  UTED-00  VC-00    TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00 
      VCE-00   DCP-01   NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OES-00   OIC-02   PER-00 
      IRM-00   TEST-00  TRSE-00  EPAE-00  ECA-00   PRM-00   DRL-01 
      NFAT-00  SAS-00     /004W 
                  ------------------52D6CC  091003Z /38 
P 091000Z APR 03 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9174 
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE 
AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU 
AMEMBASSY DAKAR 
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 
AMEMBASSY TOKYO 
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 
USEU BRUSSELS 3187 
USMISSION GENEVA 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 04 ROME 001511 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AIDAC 
 
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME 
 
STATE FOR A/S PRM DEWEY, IO A/S HOLMES, IO/EDA WINNICK, E 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  01511  02 OF 04  091003Z 
FOR CPENCE 
STATE FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS, 
RTILSWORTH AND TWEDT USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, 
D/DCHA/OFDA BMCCONNELL, D/DCHA/FFP LANDIS AND WWHELEN 
USUN FOR MLUTZ 
USAID DAKAR FOR ESTES 
GENEVA FOR RMA 
BRUSSELS FOR USEU 
NSC FOR JDWORKEN 
 
E.O.  12958:  N/A 
TAGS:     EAID, AORC, UN, PREF, EAGR, ECON, KUNR, WFP 
SUBJECT: WFP-PARTNER CONSULTATION OF EMERGENCY NEEDS 
ASSESSMENTS - ROME MARCH 12-14, 2003 
 
ARE BRIEFLY DESCRIBED HEREWITH: 
 
-CARE LIVELIHOOD SECURITY - TO PROVIDE A MULTI-DIMENSIONAL 
VIEW OF LIVELIHOODS TO IDENTIFY VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS, AND 
PEOPLE'S GOALS TO IDENTIFY PROGRAMMING PRIORITIES. DATA 
SOURCES: PRIMARY AND SECONDARY; QUALITATIVE AND 
QUANTITATIVE. METHOD OF PRIMARY DATA COLLECTION: KEY 
INFORMANT INTERVIEWS, FOCUS GROUPS, PROPORTIONAL PILING, 
RANKING, MAPPING, TIME TRENDS, SEASONAL CALENDARS, TRANSECT 
WALKS, DIRECT OBSERVATION, HOUSEHOLD INTERVIEWS, 
ANTHROPOMETRIC SURVEY; 
 
-OXFAM FOOD SECURITY - TO DETERMINE THE SEVERITY OF FOOD 
INSECURITY IN TERMS OF RISKS TO LIVES AND TO LIVELIHOODS, 
AND TO IDENTIFY APPROPRIATE INTERVENTIONS. DATA SOURCES AND 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  01511  02 OF 04  091003Z 
METHOD OF PRIMARY DATA COLLECTION: SAME AS CARE; 
 
-SAVE THE CHILDREN UK HOUSEHOLD ECONOMY - TO ESTIMATE THE 
IMPACT OF A `SHOCK' ON THE ABILITY OF A HOUSEHOLD TO ACQUIRE 
FOOD AND NON-FOOD GOODS. DATA SOURCES: PRIMARY AND 
SECONDARY; QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE. METHOD OF PRIMARY 
DATA COLLECTION: KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEWS, FOCUS GROUPS, 
PROPORTIONAL PILING, RANKING, MAPPING, TIME TRENDS, SEASONAL 
CALENDARS, TRANSECT WALKS, DIRECT OBSERVATION, HOUSEHOLD 
INTERVIEWS FOR DIFFERENT WEALTH GROUPS; 
 
INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS (ICRC) ECONOMIC 
SECURITY - TO DETERMINE THE RISK OF DECAPITALIZATION AND TO 
INTERVENE TO PREVENT THIS. DATA SOURCES: PRIMARY DATA; 
QUALITATIVE. METHOD OF PRIMARY DATA COLLECTION: KEY 
INFORMANT INTERVIEWS, ANTHROPOMETRIC SURVEY; 
 
MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES (MSF) HOLLAND FOOD SECURITY - TO 
DETERMINE THE STAGE OF FOOD INSECURITY AND APPROPRIATE FOOD 
AND HEALTH INTERVENTIONS. DATA SOURCES: PRIMARY DATA; 
QUALITATIVE. METHOD OF PRIMARY DATA COLLECTION: KEY 
INFORMANT INTERVIEWS, FOCUS GROUPS, ANTHROPOMETRIC SURVEY; 
 
WFP VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT MAPPING (VAM) - TO PROVIDE A 
DETAILED UNDERSTANDING OF FOOD INSECURITY AND VULNERABILITY 
CONDITIONS AND THUS SUPPORT PROGRAM DESIGN, PARTICULARLY 
REGARDING FOOD AID TARGETING AND PRIORITY GROUPS. DATA 
SOURCES: MAINLY SECONDARY DATA COLLECTION; QUANTITATIVE; 
 
USAID FAMINE EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS NETWORK (FEWS NET) - TO 
MANAGE THREATS TO FOOD SECURITY THROUGH PROVISION OF TIMELY 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  01511  02 OF 04  091003Z 
AND ANALYTICAL EARLY WARNING AND VULNERABILITY INFORMATION, 
WITH A COROLLARY OBJECTIVE OF BUILDING NETWORKS AND 
CAPACITIES IN REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.  DATA SOURCES: MAINLY 
SECONDARY DATA COLLECTION; MAINLY QUANTITATIVE; 
 
ANTHROPOLOGICAL RESEARCH - TO IMPROVE KNOWLEDGE OF SOCIAL 
AND CULTURAL DYNAMICS TO INFORM INTERVENTIONS. DATA SOURCES: 
PRIMARY DATA; QUALITATIVE. METHOD OF PRIMARY DATA 
COLLECTION: PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION, KEY INFORMANT 
INTERVIEWS, FOCUS GROUPS, MAPPING, TIME TRENDS, SEASONAL 
CALENDARS, TRANSECT WALKS. 
 
------------------------------------ 
GENERAL AGREEMENT AMONG PARTICIPANTS 
------------------------------------ 
 
4. PARTICIPANTS ARGUED FOR COMPARABILITY AND MINIMUM DATA 
SETS; ENDORSED REGIONAL AND SUB-REGIONAL APPROACHES TO 
ASSESSMENTS; PROMOTED APPROACHES THAT DISTINGUISH ACUTE FROM 
CHRONIC NEEDS. PARTICIPANTS ALSO URGED MORE DETAILED ENA 
ANALYSIS ON LIVELIHOODS WHILE RECOGNIZING DIFFICULTIES IN 
COMPARING LIVELIHOOD VULNERABILITY INDICATORS AS COUNTRIES 
HAVE DIFFERENT RISKS/ASSETS/COPING STRATEGIES. FINALLY, 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ9495 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  01511  03 OF 04  091004Z 
ACTION AID-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AF-00    AGRE-00  CIAE-00  COME-00  INL-00 
      USNW-00  DODE-00  DOTE-00  WHA-00   SRPP-00  EAP-00   EB-00 
      EUR-00   FAAE-00  UTED-00  VC-00    TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00 
      VCE-00   DCP-01   NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OES-00   OIC-02   PER-00 
      IRM-00   TEST-00  TRSE-00  EPAE-00  ECA-00   PRM-00   DRL-01 
      NFAT-00  SAS-00     /004W 
                  ------------------52D6D1  091004Z /38 
P 091000Z APR 03 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9175 
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE 
AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU 
AMEMBASSY DAKAR 
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 
AMEMBASSY TOKYO 
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 
USEU BRUSSELS 3188 
USMISSION GENEVA 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 04 ROME 001511 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AIDAC 
 
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME 
 
STATE FOR A/S PRM DEWEY, IO A/S HOLMES, IO/EDA WINNICK, E 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  01511  03 OF 04  091004Z 
FOR CPENCE 
STATE FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS, 
RTILSWORTH AND TWEDT USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, 
D/DCHA/OFDA BMCCONNELL, D/DCHA/FFP LANDIS AND WWHELEN 
USUN FOR MLUTZ 
USAID DAKAR FOR ESTES 
GENEVA FOR RMA 
BRUSSELS FOR USEU 
NSC FOR JDWORKEN 
 
E.O.  12958:  N/A 
TAGS:     EAID, AORC, UN, PREF, EAGR, ECON, KUNR, WFP 
SUBJECT: WFP-PARTNER CONSULTATION OF EMERGENCY NEEDS 
ASSESSMENTS - ROME MARCH 12-14, 2003 
 
PARTICIPANTS CONCLUDED THAT SPECIFIC METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES 
NEEDED REFINEMENTS ON ESTIMATES OF POTENTIAL FOR COMMERCIAL 
AND REGIONAL CROSS BORDER IMPORTS TO FILL A DOMESTIC FOOD 
SUPPLY GAP - ENDORSING AN INCREASED FOCUS ON HOW MARKETS CAN 
BOLSTER FOOD SECURITY IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. 
 
--------------------------------- 
U.S. COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 
--------------------------------- 
 
5. THE INITIATIVE TAKEN BY FAO/GLOBAL INFORMATION AND EARLY 
WARNING SYSTEM (GIEWS) TO WORK WITH WFP IN OPENING UP 
PARTICIPATION IN THE CROP AND FOOD SUPPLY ASSESSMENTS IS 
VERY WELCOME. IN THIS REGARD, THE UNITED STATES STRESSED THE 
IMPORTANCE OF FAO AND WFP ENGAGING DONORS WHEN EARLY SIGNS 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  01511  03 OF 04  091004Z 
OF A POTENTIAL CRISIS ARISE. IN THIS WAY DONORS CAN DIRECTLY 
RAISE ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO THEM RELATED TO METHODOLOGY, 
TIMING, PARTICIPATION IN ASSESSMENTS, ETC. IT WAS SUGGESTED 
THAT ONE PRACTICAL WAY TO OVERCOME THE PERCEPTION OF FOOD 
AID BIAS, AND POSSIBLE HARM TO LOCAL MARKETS, WAS TO ENSURE 
THAT NEEDS ANALYSES ADEQUATELY REFLECT MARKET CONDITIONS 
AFFECTING BOTH THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND FOR FOOD BY VULNERABLE 
GROUPS. IN SHORT, CONTINGENCY PLANNING INVOLVING ALL 
RELEVANT IN-COUNTRY ACTORS WILL LEAD TO EARLIER CONSENSUS 
ABOUT ACTIONS REQUIRED IN RESPONSE TO NEEDS IDENTIFIED IN 
THE ENA. AS SUCH, FEWS NET CONTINUES TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT 
ROLE IN FACILITATING ASSESSMENT PLANNING AND IN ASSISTING 
CROP AND FOOD SUPPLY ASSESSMENT MISSIONS (CFSAMS) IN THOSE 
COUNTRIES WHERE IT HAS A REPRESENTATIVE IN COUNTRY. 
 
6. WHERE FOOD AID IS APPROPRIATE, INTERVENTIONS NEED TO TAKE 
INTO ACCOUNT SUPPLIES OF FOOD THROUGH LOCAL MARKETS 
(EXISTING PRIVATE SECTOR SYSTEMS) AND THROUGH FOSTERING 
INCREASED PURCHASING POWER WHEREVER FEASIBLE. USING MARKETS 
TO DELIVER RELIEF ASSISTANCE CAN CONTRIBUTE TO SELF- 
SUFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY. ASSESSMENTS NEED TO CONSIDER 
WAYS OF IMPROVING THE NATIONAL CAPACITY (CONTINGENCY AND 
RESPONSE PLANNING) TO IMPORT FOOD ON TIME AND GET IT TO 
WHERE IT IS NEEDED. MOREOVER, A FOCUS ON THE NEED TO QUICKLY 
RESTORE LOCAL MARKETS TO NORMALITY NEEDS TO BE A CRITICAL 
COMPONENT OF ANY EMERGENCY NEEDS ANALYSIS. 
 
7. PRE AND POST SEASON TECHNICAL FORA, WHICH ALREADY EXIST 
IN SOME COUNTRIES AND REGIONS, PROVIDE FOR A VERY USEFUL 
PROCESS FOR PLANNING JOINT ASSESSMENTS AND FOR EARLY 
AGREEMENT ON PARTICIPATION AND METHODOLOGICAL ELEMENTS. 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  01511  03 OF 04  091004Z 
 
8. WHERE THERE IS A STRONG SUB-REGIONAL ORGANIZATION (E.G. 
SOUTHERN AFRICA DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY (SADC) OR THE (CILSS) 
SAHEL PERMANENT INTER-STATE ANTI-DROUGHT COMMISSION), UN 
AGENCIES AND TECHNICAL NETWORKS ARE ENCOURAGED TO "DEEPEN" 
PARTNERSHIPS, FOCUSED ON FURTHER STRENGTHENING CAPACITIES OF 
REGIONAL BODIES TO DIRECTLY IMPACT ON IMPROVING FOOD 
SECURITY POLICY ENVIRONMENTS. 
 
9. MAJOR INDICATORS OF HEALTH STATUS THAT SHOULD RECEIVE 
PRIORITY ATTENTION IN EMERGENCIES INCLUDE THE CRUDE 
MORTALITY RATE (CMR), THE U-5 MORTALITY RATE AND THE 
NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF CHILDREN UNDER FIVE. IN EMERGENCY 
SITUATIONS, IT IS NECESSARY TO MEASURE THE NUMBER OF DEATHS 
PER DAY PER 10,000 PEOPLE. THE GOAL IS TO MAINTAIN A CMR OF 
LESS THAN 1 PER 10,000 PER DAY AND LESS THAN 2 PER 10,000 
PER DAY IN THE U-5. (THE AVERAGE MORTALITY IN DEVELOPING 
COUNTRIES IS 0.5/10,000/DAY.)  MORTALITY DATA SHOULD BE 
DISAGGREGATED BY AGE AND GENDER TO DETERMINE THE NEED FOR 
TARGETED INTERVENTIONS. 
 
10. UNITED NATIONS AGENCIES NEED TO COMMIT THEMSELVES TO 
REVIEWING THEIR EMERGENCY AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS IN AREAS 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ9496 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  01511  04 OF 04  091004Z 
ACTION AID-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AF-00    AGRE-00  CIAE-00  COME-00  INL-00 
      USNW-00  DODE-00  DOTE-00  WHA-00   SRPP-00  EAP-00   EB-00 
      EUR-00   FAAE-00  UTED-00  VC-00    TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00 
      VCE-00   DCP-01   NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OES-00   OIC-02   PER-00 
      IRM-00   TEST-00  TRSE-00  EPAE-00  ECA-00   PRM-00   DRL-01 
      NFAT-00  SAS-00     /004W 
                  ------------------52D6DC  091004Z /38 
P 091000Z APR 03 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9176 
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE 
AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU 
AMEMBASSY DAKAR 
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 
AMEMBASSY TOKYO 
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 
USEU BRUSSELS 3189 
USMISSION GENEVA 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 04 OF 04 ROME 001511 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AIDAC 
 
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME 
 
STATE FOR A/S PRM DEWEY, IO A/S HOLMES, IO/EDA WINNICK, E 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  01511  04 OF 04  091004Z 
FOR CPENCE 
STATE FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS, 
RTILSWORTH AND TWEDT USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, 
D/DCHA/OFDA BMCCONNELL, D/DCHA/FFP LANDIS AND WWHELEN 
USUN FOR MLUTZ 
USAID DAKAR FOR ESTES 
GENEVA FOR RMA 
BRUSSELS FOR USEU 
NSC FOR JDWORKEN 
 
E.O.  12958:  N/A 
TAGS:     EAID, AORC, UN, PREF, EAGR, ECON, KUNR, WFP 
SUBJECT: WFP-PARTNER CONSULTATION OF EMERGENCY NEEDS 
ASSESSMENTS - ROME MARCH 12-14, 2003 
 
OF HIGH HIV PREVALENCE THROUGH THE "LENS" OF HIV/AIDS. UN 
PARTNERS NEED TO COME TOGETHER IN ESTABLISHING STANDARD 
INDICATORS AND METHODS FOR INCORPORATING HIV/AIDS IN FOOD 
SECURITY, CROP AND VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENTS. 
 
11. THE U.S. APPRECIATES THE JOINT EFFORTS OF BOTH WFP AND 
FAO TO ESTABLISH A COMPREHENSIVE FOOD SECURITY AND 
INFORMATION SYSTEM IN AFGHANISTAN IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE 
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND THE 
MINISTRY OF RECONSTRUCTION AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT. THE 
AVAILABILITY OF TIMELY PREDICTIONS OF FOOD SHORTAGES AND 
INFORMATION ABOUT AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND THE FOOD 
SECURITY SITUATION OF RURAL HOUSEHOLDS WILL GREATLY ASSIST 
IN IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  01511  04 OF 04  091004Z 
12. THE UN AGENCIES NEED TO PRIORITIZE ASSISTANCE TO THE 
ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONWIDE NUTRITION SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS 
IN DISASTER-PRONE COUNTRIES SUCH AS ETHIOPIA AND ZIMBABWE. 
WE ARE SIMPLY NOT GETTING THE "WARNING" DATA WE NEED TO 
RESPOND AS REQUIRED. 
 
13. ASSESSMENTS SHOULD ADDRESS GENDER AND AGE CONSIDERATIONS 
IN TERMS OF ACCESS TO, PREPARATION OF, AND DISTRIBUTION OF 
FOOD WITHIN THE HOUSEHOLD. EQUAL AND APPROPRIATE FOOD 
CONSUMPTION PATTERNS SHOULD BE ENSURED IN ANY FOOD 
DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM. ESTIMATING FOOD REQUIREMENTS IN THE 
CONTEXT OF AVAILABLE FOOD, BOTH LOCALLY AND EXTERNALLY 
PROVIDED, IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES LOCAL 
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE. 
 
14. UN IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO CONSISTENTLY CARRY OUT POST- 
DISTRIBUTION MONITORING. SUCH MONITORING RESULTS SHOULD BE 
DISSEMINATED TO DONORS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS AS WELL AS TO 
THE UN. 
 
15. THE U.S. AGREES WITH AN OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE 
(ODI) PRELIMINARY FINDING ON "MEASURING NEEDS" THAT THERE 
ARE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH ASSESSMENTS: MONEY, TIME, HUMAN 
RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITY COSTS AND THAT WE SHOULD BE 
STRIVING TO ENSURE THE "RIGHT BALANCE" BETWEEN ASSESSMENT 
(INITIAL, CONTINUOUS) AND RESPONSE. 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  01511  04 OF 04  091004Z 
16. US MISSION IS COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH WFP AND FAO TO 
ENSURE THAT EMERGENCY NEEDS ASSESSMENTS TRULY BECOME 
CONSENSUS BUILDING PROCESSES, SO THAT THE RESULTS ARE FULLY 
CREDIBLE AND ACTIONABLE, HAVING COVERED ALL THE IMPORTANT 
MEASUREMENTS AND NEEDS ANALYSES, INCLUDING THE ROLE OF 
MARKETS IN MEETING EMERGENCY NEEDS. HALL 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
> 
 2003ROME01511 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED