Field Consultation-Faizabad
Regional level coordination arrangements FSAC is active in 5 regions out of 6 from fall 2012. Regular meetings held in Mazar-e-Sharif, Hirat, Jalalabad, Faizabad, Kandahar and Kabul. WFP, FAO or another agency (NGO, DAIL) chair the FSAC coordination meetings at regional levels. The FSAC acts as a forum for an open discussion on current food security and agricultural issues, sharing of ideas and best practices, and advocacy for the sector. Meetings are held on a regular basis, and are attended by a variety of stakeholders, including Government officials, NGOs, donors and UN Agencies. It is worth to be mentioning that the regional coordination mechanism in south region has been inactive since March 2014, it need to be re-activated in the region.
Objective of field consultation . Consultation with partners to identify changes in humanitarian needs. . To design Humanitarian Program Cycle (HPC) based on HNO. . To Assess coordination needs & current arrangement
List of Participants Total 19 participants (14 partners) attended: WFP, FOCUS, UNEP, WMSSO, Rupani Foundation, DAIL of Takhar, ACTED, DAIL Badakhshan, Afghanaid, UNAMA, SFL, RCWO, Mission East, FAO and FSAC Kabul. Situation overview
Food security situation in North East Region
. The upcoming harvest was estimated to be normal for majority of Northeastern region (except a few cold climate areas) during field consultation partners reported that rust and fungus affected wheat harvest, about 80% land affected in Badakhshan (20 districts), which has caused considerable reduction in harvest in cold climate areas of the province. . Due to long-lasting rainfalls in spring time during 2014/2015, farmers in upper/cold climate areas of Badakhshan province cultivated their rain-fed lands later than normal and couldn’t harvest before snowfall, therefore in the last two years the lean season in those areas were longer than normal and issues of food gaps were reported. . High food shortage and significantly high food prices reported in 5 districts of Badakhshan (Zebak, Ishkamish, Shoghla, Yamgan, Ragistan). . extremely high food price reported (50% higher than other places) due to road blockage in (Maimy, Shaky, Nosay, Kofab districts) closed of border with Tajikistan is another problem for the border districts . Partners also reported livestock lose due to cold winter season.
Takhar province has 6 irrigated and 11 rain fed districts, partners reported less production from rain fed districts this year.
Impact of weather (rain, flood)
. This year the severity of flash flood was more than last year, left lots of damages. (WFP to add detail of damages) . During Jan-July 2015: . 13,433 individuals (1.4% of total population) were affected by natural disasters. . 90 individuals died and 68 individuals injured and 15 people are missing. . 513 houses were destroyed. . 57 houses were damaged. . 525 families were displaced. . 5,449 IDPs were recorded due to conflict in the province. . Flood in Takhar: 1130 families affected by flood/landslide . 430 hectars land affected by flood in Talogan center of Takhar.
Conflict
Insecurity increased, resulted higher number of displacement in the region created problem of access to humanitarian partners. Total 10% of the population affected in Badakhshan by conflict, reduced access to market due high price of food. Insecurity also
affected access to pasture in some areas.
Access
. 22% of Badakhshan does not have access for 6 months and another 8% have no access for big truck total 30% are suffering from improper accessibility issues. . Currently no access from Tajikistan to all border districts, also Tajikistan has closed the joint border markets which were a major source of food availability for the border districts of Badakhshan province. . No access problem reported in Takhar province.
Price: extremely high food price reported (50% higher than other places) due to road blockage in (Maimy, Shaky, Nosay, Kofab, Wakhan, Shighnan districts) currently no access from Tajikistan to the border districts.
Crop condition: Is not better than last year in some districts due to cold weather (Jorm district) in Badakhshan province, partners also that cold weather affected the rice production in Takhar in addition, rust and fungus affected wheat crop about 80% land affected in Badakhshan (20 districts)
Livestock condition
Due to increased insecurity issues and presence of AGEs (that forcefully take some livestock) caused llimited access to SHIVA Pasture lands which is the spring-summer pasture area for many herdsmen from Badakhshan, Takhar and even Kunduz province. These affected herdsmen are expected to suffer fodder issues for the winter, or they may sale more livestock (than normal) which can cause decrease of livestock prices and weakening of their livelihood means.
Partner also reported low price of livestock & more animal disease than last year no report in hand to justify this in addition no animal fodder distributed in 2015,
Market: 5 districts in Badakhshan have market, cash & voucher program should be implemented only in two districts (Faizabad, Kishim) the remaining 23 districts do not have a big markets.
What has been done?
Province Planned Activities Achieved Gaps
Badakhshan 3000 MT was planned by MAIL to 500 MT 2500 MT be delivered to Badakhshan from Tajikistan No seed distribution plan for 2016 (MAIL) WFP has delivered 6,059 WFP’s initial plan for 2015 was to Half ration were provided by WFP to deliver 16,981 MT of mixed food MT of mixed food some the beneficiaries due to food commodities to 457,056 food commodities to 156,498 shortfall in 2015. insecure people in Badakhshan beneficiaries during the According to NRVA 2011/2012; province. But due to budget/food period of 01 Jan 2015 Badakhshan province has: 596,410 shortfalls; WFP will be able to until 31 Aug 2015. VSFI and SFI population (62.7% of deliver only 11,818 MT to total population). 310,743 food insecure (35.7% of the initial plan In 2015 WFP has plan to provide beneficiaries until the end of and 51% of the final plan food assistance to 310,743 2015. achieved is achieved until beneficiaries (32.7% of total This shows a decrease of 32% in the end of August 2015) population). Therefore in 2015, beneficiary coverage in 47.9% of VSFI and SFI population Badakhshan province. will not benefit from WFP’s food assistance in Badakhshan province. (47.9% gap) According to NRVA 2011/2012; Takhar WFP’s initial plan for 2015 was to WFP has delivered 3,339 Takhar province has: 394,754 VSFI deliver 7,056 MT of mixed food MT of mixed food and SFI population (40.1% of total commodities to 252,221 food commodities to 91,807 population). In 2015 WFP has plan to provide insecure beneficiaries in Takhar beneficiaries during the food assistance to 134,454 province. But due to budget/food period of 01 Jan 2015 shortfalls; WFP will be able to beneficiaries (13.7%). Therefore in deliver only 4,660 MT to 134,454
food insecure beneficiaries until until 31 Aug 2015. 2015; 65.9% of VSFI and SFI the end of 2015. population will not benefit from This shows a decrease of 46.7% (47.3% of the initial plan WFP’s food assistance in Takhar in beneficiary coverage in Takhar and 71.6% of the final province. (65.9% gap) province. plan is achieved until end of Aug 2015. Very less/few assistants were provided to remote districts in Badakhshan (Khahan, Raghistan, Yawan, Kohistan, Koran o Monjan, Yomgan. These mentioned districts are not the remote districts and benefited from the provided assistances of humanitarian organizations: Baharak, Shohada, Kishim, Argo, Yaftal Payaan, Khashru)
No early recovery response to affected families in Badakhshan & Takhar(14 districts)
14 districts recently affected by flood in Takhar and Badakhshan, no response to the need of famers, total 12600 families affected- WFP only responded to the need of 600 families
WFP winterization program only cover the need of 50% of food insecure.
Gaps in data collection.
High food gaps are observed in insecure and remote/hardly accessible districts.
Province Ranking
Province Total IDPs Natural Food Marginally Moderate Sever food SFSA IPC population disaster secure % food food insecure% Updated insecure% insecure% population 2015-2016: Badakhshan
(1st priority) (950,953) 919,000 5,449 198 12.6 42.2 39.7 5.5 3 3 Takhar (2nd priority) (983,336) 950,100 - 219 26.1 39.6 24.1 10.2 3 2 Kundoz(3rd 2 priority) (1,010,037) 972,200 36,629 0 24.6 36.7 22.5 6.3 3 Baghlan(4th 2 priority) (910,784) 879,000 0 662 23.8 47.1 24.6 4.5 3
Target groups
Conflict & natural hazard-affected IDPs
High food insecure people in the region.
Affected people in 5 districts of Badakhshan due to food shortage.
Landless poor people
Livestock owners.
Famers whose has been destroyed by flood (host communities)
Locations
Badakhshan: partners recommended the following remote district s for response.
(Wakhan, Eshkashim, Zebak, Shoghnan, Maimay, Shokay, Nusai, Kofab) Khahaan, Raghistan, Kohistan, Yawan, Shahri Bozorg, Tagab, Arghanjkhah, Yamgan, Koran wa Monjan, Wardoj.
Takhar: all 11 rain fed districts (Chahab, Rostaq, Kaakfgan, Farhar, Warsag, Chal, Namak ab, Hazar somag, Eshkamish, Bungi and Baharak districts.
Recommended activities
• Food assistance (first priority) • Livelihood support and Early recovery activities (2nd priority) • DRR (3rd priority) • NRM (4th priority) • Supply of Improved seeds with chemical fertilizer. • Emergency livestock support • Nutrition and food security project
Operational update: FSAC 3Ws Jan-June 2015 Through field consultation FSAC corrected the 3Ws for each province, It was noticed that 11 partners did not report to FSAC on their activities. As some of WFP partners have their own Food Security/Agriculture projects, also all of them are contributing to the projects from their own budgets/or other sources (partnership), we suggest their names to be included in NER 3Ws.
Province Food Cash Agriculture Livestock DRR
Badakhshan WFP, NEI, COAR, ACTED, ACTED, Afghanaid, Afghanaid, Mission East, Afghanaid, WFP Afghanaid, COAR, DCA, AKF WFP, NAC, FOCUS, FOCUS, Mission East, GIZ, Rupani Foundation, Rupani AKF, FAO, MAAO, RGEO, Foundation, COCERN, GIZ, KSOW, RADP-North, WMSSO, NAC, WCS, BVWO, BDLO, BWHO, DCLWO (funded also by UNDP/WFP),
Takhar WFP, NEI, WFP ACTED, AKF, AKF, GIZ, DCA FAO, Mission East, SFL, SFL, ACW Mission East, WFP, FOCUS, DTH SFL, CONCERN, WFP, DTH
Kundoz WFP, NEI NRC ACTED 0 0
Baghlan WFP, NEI, SCI 0 ACTED 0 Mission East, FAO
Assessing Coordination needs and current arrangement The regional FSAC Coordination mechanism in North East Region was established in August 2012 co-chaired by WFP, FAO and elected NGO co-chair included Concern Worldwide & Women Message Social and Services Organization (WMSSO) for their support as NGO Co-chair for FSAC in the past 4 years, Shelter for Life (SFL) has been selected as the new NGO co-chair for FSAC in the region . Regional FSAC active and functional since August 2012 and has close linkage with national FSAC. FSAC Regional co-leads organize regular coordination meetings on bi- monthly basis and call ad-hoc meeting when require. The co-chairing of those meetings are arranged on the availability and agreement between the co-chairs WFP, FAO and elected NGOs (also known as the regional focal points) As per the National FSAC follow up the minimum attendance were 9 and the maximum 20 partners usually attend the meeting they are from NNGOs, INGOs, UN agencies and government line department (DAIL). During field consultation partners were asked if they need FSAC coordination mechanism in the region, majority said yes they need and would like to further strength the existing coordination mechanism and requested to pay attention to capacity building of partners on technical assessment and proposal writing, a joint FSAC leaded food security/livelihood assessment in remote districts of Badakhshan is required as well as to train FSAC partners on DRR in Takhar province in addition they requested awareness raising on food security and nutrition. They also recommend to conduct the coordination mechanism in Badakhshan & Takhar provinces. If Baghlan and Kunduz continue to stay within the coverage area of NER, the FSAC meetings should be organized on rotation basis in all four provinces in order to ensure their maximum participation in the meetings. Partners also agreed to share their update on food security situation with FSAC focal point in the region.
Recommendation . FSAC partners recommended active participation of OCHA representative in all FSAC meeting. . National FSAC should advocate on behalf of NER IPC team on the changes made to the IPC phase classification of Badakhshan and Takhar provinces. NER IPC requests national TWG/GSU to share the evidences that based on them, the phases has been changed for these two provinces. Also the additional evidences that were recently shared with IPC secretariat should be considered. . National FSAC to decide on Baghlan and Kunduz provinces (whether to assign them to North region or they will stay with NER?) . North East Region’s FSAC Co-leads and Partners would like to thank Women Message Social and Services Organization (WMSSO) for its supports as NGO Co-chair for the region during last 8 months. Also would like to announce that Shelter for Life International (SFL) has been selected as the new NGO Co-chair for the region.