Targeted Nutrition and livelihood support to vulnerable people impacted by floods and drought in Gambia

This operation has been modified as per budget revision 4 (see below).

The combined effects of the 2011/2012 Sahel Crisis and heavy flooding in July/October 2012 have eroded vulnerable households’ coping mechanisms and resulted in protracted food insecurity in pockets of the country and persisting acute malnutrition.

Despite a recovery in cereal production from the 2012/2013 harvest, access to food continues to be constrained by high food prices and the lingering effects of last year’s food crisis. Two thirds of households face food insecurity, particularly during the annual rainy season, of which 5.5 percent suffer from ‘moderate’ or ‘severe’ food insecurity. Global acute malnutrition at the national level is 9.9 percent and stunting prevalence reaches over 30 percent in one region.

This protracted relief and recovery operation aims to: (i) support the treatment and prevention of acute malnutrition among children under 5 and pregnant and lactating women in targeted regions (Strategic Objective 3); (ii) restore and rebuild the livelihoods of the most vulnerable population and support their transition to recovery (Strategic Objective 3); and, (iii) support the national disaster risk reduction agenda and enhance government and community capacity in emergency preparedness and response (Strategic Objective 2). Food assistance for all asset-creation and training activities will be through cash transfers based on beneficiary preference, functionality of markets and the low cost of cash transfers 2 relative to in-kind food distribution.

The PRRO is fully aligned with the Government’s national priorities as defined in national and sectoral plans and the latest national nutrition protocol, as well as with WFP Strategic Objectives 2 and 3. It contributes to Millennium Development Goals 1, 4, and 5 and supports the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (2012–2016).

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This budget revision extends PRRO 200557 by 15 months (January 2017 - March 2018) with an increase of the overall number of beneficiaries from 144,570 to 216,640.