Midterm Review of the Food Security Sector 22 – 23 June 2009, Baghdad

UN Agencies WFP & FAO NGOs (National/International) ACTED, IOM, Mercy Corps, Mercy Hands & IR Chaired by WFP Line Ministries Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Displacement and Migration, Ministry of Education Partnerships and Coordination

UN Assistance Strategy National priority or goals (NDS ) Goal 1: Mitigate Poverty and Hunger Goal 3: Enhancing gender equity and strengthening women issues Goal 4: Reduce children deaths Goal 5: Reduce maternity deaths To contribute to the achievement of the goals defined in the National Development Strategy (NDS), International Compact with Iraq (ICI) benchmarks, and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Food Security Sector

UN Assistance Strategy (cont.) ICI Targets Social sector reform and integration of vulnerable populations. Protect the poor and vulnerable groups from the fallout of change and reintegrate them into society, community and economy. Address the needs of IDPs, refugees and returnees while also enabling them to realize their potential as contributing members of the economic community. Millennium Development Goals Goal 1: Eradicate extreme Poverty and Hunger Goal 4: Reduce child mortality Goal 5: Improve maternal health

Sectoral Achievements & Contributions Food insecurity has dropped significantly, falling from 15.4% (2005) to 3.1% (2008) of the population. Drop in acute malnutrition rate from 9% in 2005 to 4.7% in Distribution of 36,980 metric tons of food to 667,416 IDP beneficiaries including 51% women. Distribution of one-time food packages amounting to 1879 metric tons to 187,944 IDPs awaiting Public Distribution System (PDS) card regularisation. Additionally, local and International NGOs provided food assistance to 85,267 individuals under the Emergency Response Fund.

8 governorates with food security units to monitor the impact of food distribution. Active partner in supporting the GoI to develop contingency and emergency response planning in response to food insecurity. Provision of 544 metric tons of emergency food rations to affected populations during military operations in Sadr City and Basrah. Food assistance beneficiaries also included vulnerable persons affected by violence in other areas of Iraq. Sectoral Achievements & Contributions (cont.)

Adoption of a dynamic strategy to better respond to evolving situational challenges vis-à-vis the food related needs of target groups. Re-focusing sector priorities in order to support the development of Public Distribution System. Need to constantly build the capacities of implementing partners for the effective execution of activities and plans. Non standardization of food health certification in Iraq remains a challenge to timely implementation. Lessons Learned

Selection of eligible beneficiaries involving relevant local authorities is time consuming process especially in Baghdad and Mosul. Need to strengthen dialogue with Ministry of Displacement and Migration and/or relevant Ministries in Iraq to ensure the smooth implementation of the projects. Reporting standards need to be improved. Urgent need to standardize the food basket quantitatively and qualitatively for food assistance consistency and satisfaction of beneficiaries. Lessons Learned (cont.)

Continue confidence building by providing assistance to vulnerable groups and returnees quickly. Continue engagement with the GoI to improve the efficiency of the PDS food supply chain. Develop innovative approaches to assist the vulnerable population including in-kind and cash transfers. Encourage cooperating partners to expand their activities and beneficiary coverage. Key Recommendations

Increase partnership base for improved coverage and effective implementation of food assistance activities. Optimize partnership with local government to facilitate needs assessment for beneficiary identification. Urgent need to mobilize resources to support development of basic agriculture & micro-income assistance. Ensure cooperating partners have sufficient resources to implement the programme efficiently. Strengthen inter-sectoral coordination such as Water and Sanitation, and Health and Nutrition to maximize the impact of the UN Assistance Strategy. Key Recommendations (cont.)

Thank You