United States Agency for International Development Bureau of Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance Office of Food for Peace

Annual Results Report

Awardee Name and Host Country Humanity and Inclusion Mali Award Number 72DFFP18GR00017 Activity Name Alliance for Community Resilience (ARC) Activity Start Date February 6th, 2018 Activity End Date March 5th, 2019 Submission Date November 05th 2018 Reporting Fiscal Year February 6th 2018 – September 30th 2018 Awardee HQ Contact Name Jeffrey Meer, Executive Director Awardee HQ Contact Address Handicap International – US 8757 Georgia Avenue, Suite 420 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Awardee HQ Contact Telephone Number Office tel.: +1-301-891-2138 Office fax: +1-301-891-9193 Awardee HQ Contact Email Address Host Country Office Contact Name Myriam Abord-Hugon, Program Director Host Country Office Contact Telephone +223 76 40 59 39 Number Host Country Office Contact Email Address Handicap International – Mali BPE 22 99 Badalabougou SEMA Rue 136 Porte 924 Bamako – Mali

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ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

ACF Action Against Hunger (Action Contre la Faim) ARC Alliance for Community Resilience CMDT Malian Cotton Commercial Zone DRC Danish Refugee Council ECHO European Civil Protection And Humanitarian Aid Operations EU European Union HEA Household Economy Approach HH Household HI Handicap International IGA Income Generating Activities IRC International Rescue Committee LRRD Linking Relief, Rehabilitation and Development NRC Norwegian Refugee Council PDM Post Distribution Monitoring PDSEC Cultural Social and Economic Development Program PSCV Participatory Study of Capabilities and Vulnerabilities

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i. ACTIVITY INTERVENTIONS AND RESULTS a. Award Summary

The project contributes to increasing resilience in northern Mali among very poor households at risk of food, nutritional and economic insecurity. The ARC approach is aligned with national resilience priorities. The action focuses on the reinforcement of households’ livelihoods through cash transfer, support measures, contribution to the decrease of acute and chronic malnutrition through research and nutritional sensitization, reduction of vulnerability to environmental shocks and coordination and reinforcement of institutional actors. The previous project (September 29th 2016- December 31th 2017) involved 9,296 households from 9 communes. The current funding is intended to support 14,561 very poor households, including 9,296 in 17 communes from Timbuktu, Gao, Mopti and Menaka regions through unconditional cash distributions and/or livelihood support measures. The targeting of the communes took into account the initiatives already under way by partner non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to enable synergy between the proposed activities and to strengthen their impact. The members of the project’s consortium also took into account projects already implemented by other stakeholders in proposed intervention areas to avoid duplication. Introductory paragraph The first phase of project implementation involved conducting information sessions on the new funding. To this end, launching workshops have been held at the level of the communes. These workshops brought together project officers, authorities, community representatives and technical services. The purpose of these meetings was to inform the participants about the new project including its objectives, the activities to be carried out, the work plan and the process of updating the list of beneficiaries. It was also about exchanging information with stakeholders. Furthermore, during this first phase, contracting with distribution providers continued and the first distribution was conducted by some partners.

During the second phase, covering the period from July to September, the following activities were carried out: • Realization of cash transfer or food voucher distribution • Presentation to the various stakeholders of the top up:  Reasons for adding additional beneficiary households to the project  Additional targeting criteria for beneficiaries • Targeting process for additional beneficiaries • Continuation of civil documentation and DRR activities

Beneficiary’s identification and selection Given that 11,463 households had already been identified in 2017, the lists have been exhaustively updated to check the actual presence of households. As a reminder, the identification and selection of beneficiaries took place in 2017 following the Household Economy Approach (HEA) or in a community-based manner. This updating stage was implemented in a participatory manner through village general assemblies gathering the communities, targeting committees and project officers. The methodology adopted is as follows:  Remind participants of the program's strategy and objectives;  Identify the households present by comparing the list and the beneficiaries’ cards;  Determine the reasons for possible absences of households and take the appropriate measures depending on the case (death, final, temporary departure, etc.).  When the absence is due to a permanent departure of all the members of the household, the HH is replaced by another one coming from the waiting list of the

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initial targeting, or through a community decision during the same village assembly;  In the case of a temporary absence or death of the head of household, the members appoint his/her replacement, who is then certified by the village assembly;

 Prepare Minutes to record any amendments. Subsequently, beneficiary cards were prepared for distribution to beneficiaries before cash transfers. The results of this process conducted between February and May 2018 are recorded in the table below:

Number of Number of Number of households households Number of Number of Number of households whose head is whose head is NGO Commune initial households displaced whose absent and dead, the family households present households head is replaced by displaced and dead their replaced by representative others

ACF Talataye 630 630

ACF Bourra 689 689

SI Sarayamou 669 656 13 20 111

SI Tindirma 169 168 1 3 9

SI Binga 136 136 14

SI Tienkour 236 236 1

SI Kondi 91 91 7 9

SI Tonka 2362 2352 10 57 150 14

ACTED Anderamboukane 1334 1333 1 13

ACTED Alata 184 184

ACTED Inekar 501 501 4

HI Rharous 1324 1324 29

IRC Hombori 1129 1129

IRC Djaptodji 1409 1409

DRC Ouinerden 600 600

Total 11463 11438 25 134 293 14

Targeting process for additional beneficiaries under the Top Up As part of the Top-Up and given the wide range of needs, USAID/FFP has given additional funding to target more beneficiaries. This increase in number of beneficiaries has been formalized by a contract amendment. Presentation workshops were held to explain the increase in number of beneficiaries, in the presence of community leaders, municipal authorities and the beneficiary community. Mainly, these workshops allowed consortium partners to present the reasons for the increase and the identification process and the targeting criteria of these new beneficiaries.

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Following that, a specific activity of identification and selection of additional households was organized. As was done in 2017 and as for all project activities, the selection of households was conducted in collaboration with the municipality leaders and the local technical services. The HEA methodology was chosen to select additional beneficiaries. Specifically, the targeting of additional beneficiaries took into account: . The inputs from municipality leaders and the local technical services, the community Support Committee and the Village General Assembly (VGA), . A priority for very poor households who recently arrived in some villages and those who have experienced significant loss of livestock due to drought. Households mainly headed by women and widows; households having exhausted their livelihood capacities; households without food stocks and/or small ruminants; mothers of children under 5 who meet the vulnerability criteria; host households for returnees who meet the vulnerability criteria; households with a vulnerable dependent (disabled, elderly over 60, orphans, widowed, chronic disease ...) . Geographical targeting: the size of the population of the various sites selected, as well as the coverage rate by the first phase of the ARC project; . A Household Vulnerability Verification Survey (organized by IRC and ACTED). All project communities have very well received the increase of the number of beneficiaries. Distribution to additional households will take place during the next reporting period for all partners. Table 2: Identification and Selection of additional beneficiaries: Number of beneficiaries Number of additional Intervention areas on the 1st distribution beneficiaries (Top Up) HI 1324 260 Rharous, Benguel, Bankoma et Tintadeni ACTED 1979 338 Alata, Inékar et Andéramboukane ACF 1319 297 Bourra et de Talataye Ouattagouna et Bara DRC 60 720 Ouinerden SI 3 663 890 Guinda Gatta, Bancani Village, Bancani Camp, Yourni, Tintafarak, Mekoreye, Saya, Tonka, Thierwell, Tintara IRC 2538 593 Hombori, Djaptodji

Identification and selection of providers After updating the beneficiary lists, the next step was the selection of providers to carry out cash transfers or exchange food vouchers. For the specific case of food vouchers: . A survey of the prices of the main products to be exchanged was carried out: Prior to distribution, the prices of the main products to be exchanged were analyzed in order to select providers and verify unjustified price increases. To do this, we used the results of our monthly monitoring of markets, secondary data from WFP and the observatory of agricultural products. The following products were concerned: cereals and by-products (rice, millet, maize, sorghum and pasta), oil, milk, sugar, dried fish and meat, vegetables (cowpea), oilseeds (peanut), condiments, soaps and tea. After the analysis, a proposal was submitted to traders. A price negotiation session was subsequently organized in the presence of representatives of the municipality, traders, technical services and representatives of beneficiaries. The aim is to regulate the prices charged by traders so that they are not above market prices. Overall, the prices charged are close to those collected on the markets according to the comments of beneficiaries. Indeed, during monitoring, the beneficiaries were asked to give the prices charged by traders and the price of the same products on the market at the same time. 5

It was found that, on average, the prices charged were 3% higher than those of the markets but with variations according to the products. For example, the kilo of millet was sold at 295 F compared to 285 FCFA in the market; . Call for proposals launched to select the service providers, analysis of tenders by a committee composed of the representatives of the municipality, the technical services and the partners In Tonka and Diré, the following criteria were applied in the selection of providers: ability to insure the amount of funds; ability to ensure the safety of beneficiaries and funds; reputation and seriousness of the organization; experience and professionalism of the organization in general; experience and professionalism of the organization in this specific area. In Rharous, a tender was launched and a total of 16 traders have applied, of which 14 were partners since 2014, the other two were bidding for the first time. A committee made up of representatives of the municipality, technical services and HI analyzed the bids. The commission retained all 16 traders and partnership protocols were signed between HI and each of them. In the Menaka and Mopti regions, ACTED and IRC have encountered difficulties in identifying a providers who agree to implement cash transfers. After extensive discussions, the contract was signed between ACTED and the service provider identified on August 27, 2018. IRC has increased contacts with potential providers (shopkeepers, microfinance agencies, banks, mobile phone service). These difficulties are explained by the insecurity linked to transferring funds to the areas of intervention. Negotiations are currently underway with a provider for distribution in mid- November in Hombori. b. Award Outputs

General Objective: Contribute to the sustainable improvement of food and nutritional security for vulnerable households in northern Mali Specific Objective 1: Strengthen the capacity of very poor households in northern Mali to meet their basic food and nutritional needs by limiting their recourse to negative coping strategies Specific Objective 2: Protect the livelihoods of households by supporting the reduction of risks related to social and climate shocks Outcome 1: Improving food security of the poorest households in Northern Mali. Activity1: 1.1 14,561 (11,463+3,098) very poor households are identified and benefit from cash transfers for a total of 120,000 FCFA per household (communes funded exclusively by FFP and communes funded by FFP and EUTF) - Distribution

1st distribution (2018): In the first distribution, out of the 11,463 HH targeted, 10,261 (93%) were reached The first cash distribution took place in April and May in the circles of Diré, Tonka and Rharous, (SI and HI areas of intervention). Distribution operations took place between April 28 and May 5 in the circles of Diré and Tonka and between May 14 and 21 in Rharous. However, security difficulties, coupled with the difficulties of identification of providers, led to delays in distribution especially in the areas of ACTED, IRC, and ACF where only the update of the beneficiary lists was carried out between February and June 2018. For DRC, the team conducted new targeting of their beneficiary and the selection of providers in August 2018. ACTED was not able to make the first scheduled distribution in May due to difficulties in identifying providers. ACTED has therefore made its first distribution in September in the Ménaka

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area. IRC has encountered the same difficulties in identifying partners in the Mopti region. The first distribution was scheduled for May but it was held in July following the late identification of cash distribution providers. For one of the communes in the region, no provider could be identified to make cash distributions between February and September 2018. In the Ouinerden area, the major security problems, which affected the DRC sub-base in Gossi, led to a suspension of activities. DRC relocated its staff from April to June and was therefore unable to make the first scheduled distribution in May, which was postponed to September. Finally, due to the difficulties encountered in targeting beneficiaries, distributions were delayed in ACF areas. At end of September, the first cash/food voucher distribution was almost entirely done, despite the delay of some partners. 2nd distribution (2018): During the 2nd distribution, out of the 11,463 beneficiary households targeted, 4,980 HH (47%) were reached. The second distribution has been done by HI and SI and is still ongoing for ACTED, DRC, ACF and IRC. During the period from July to September 2018, activities focused mainly on the preparation and realization of the second cash transfer/food vouchers distribution. It was organized in a participatory manner, involving local stakeholders. For ACTED, IRC, ACF and DRC the second distribution will be held during the months of October and November. Table 3: Dates of voucher/cash transfer operations: 3rd 1st 2nd NGO Commune cash/voucher cash/voucher cash/voucher transfer (2017) transfer (2018) transfer (2018) ACF Talataye 13/11/2017 09-13/07/2018. ACF Bourra 22 /12/2017 03-07/07/2018 SI Sarayamou 28 to 29/10/2017 05/05/2018 07-08/07/ 2018 SI Tindirma 28 to 29/10/2017 29/04/2018 07-08/07/ 2018 SI Binga 03/05/2018 07-08/07/ 2018 SI Tienkour 29/04/2018 07-08/07/ 2018 SI Kondi 28 to 29/10/2017 29/04/2018 07-08/07/ 2018 SI Tonka 28 to 29/10/2017 28/04/2018 07-08/07/ 2018 ACTED Anderamboukane 3 to 17/11/2017 03-04/09/2018

ACTED Alata 21 to 25/11/2017 06-07/09/2018

ACTED Inekar 25 to 28/10/2017 14-15/09/2018

HI Rharous 23 au 27/10/2017 14-21/05/2018 11-15/07/2018 IRC Hombori

17/07/2018 - IRC Djaptodji 07/08/2018 30/08/2018 - DRC Ouinerden 02/09/ 2018 DRC Gossi 9 to 13/10/2017

Some households were absent during voucher distribution. In Ménaka, out of a total of 2019 beneficiaries expected, 40 were in transhumance, ACTED planned to serve them upon their return. In Djaptodji, household absences were related to cases of travel or loss of beneficiary cards. SI also noted that informing beneficiaries only the day before the distribution, because of security reasons, contributed to the absence of some households in the circle of Diré and Goundam. The project teams plan to complete the distributions to the absent households as soon as they return.

Table 4: Distributions of cash and food vouchers between February and September 2018: 3rd Cash transfer/Food 1st Cash transfer/Food voucher 2nd Cash transfer/ Food voucher (2017) (2018) voucher (2018)

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NGO Communes Househo Househo % of Househo Househo % of Househo Househo % of lds lds reach lds lds reach lds lds reach Targeted reached ed Targeted reached ed targeted reached ed hh HH HH

ACF Talataye 630 630 100% 630 628 100% 630 0%

ACF Boura 689 689 100% 689 687 100% 689 0%

SI Sareyamou 669 669 100% 669 663 99% 669 660 99%

SI Tindirma 169 169 100% 169 169 100% 169 169 100%

SI Binga 136 136 100% 136 136 100%

SI Tienkour 236 236 100% 236 236 100%

SI Kondi 91 91 100% 91 91 100% 91 91 100%

SI Tonka 2362 2362 100% 2362 2361 100% 2362 2 361 100%

ACT Anderambou 1334 1334 100% 1334 1310 98% 1334 0% ED kane ACT Alata 184 184 100% 184 184 100% 184 0% ED ACT Inékar 501 501 100% 501 485 97% 501 0% ED HI Rharous 1324 1324 100% 1324 1324 100% 1324 1 324 100%

IRC Hombori 1129 0% 1129 0%

IRC Djaptodji 1409 1 390 99% 1409 0%

DRC Ouinerden 600 600 100% 600 0%

DRC Gossi 1343 1343 100%

Total 9296 9296 100% 11 463 10261 93% 11 463 4980 47%

Update on Cash transfers and Food Vouchers Chart 5: Cash transfer and food vouchers activities implemented during the year

Cash Transfer Food Voucher Total CT+FV SI ACTED IRC Total CT HI ACF DRC Total FV Planned # of Vouchers/Transfers for 10,617 4,038 2538 171,93 3,972 2,638 1,943 8,553 25,746 reporting period Value of Individual 74 80 107 80 74 80 70 75 78 Voucher/Transfer ($USD)1 Total Amount Approved 135,37 for reporting period 782,481 323,040 271,566 1, 377,087 292,604 210,117 638,100 2,015,187 9 ($USD) for Cash/Vouchers Actual # of Vouchers/Transfers 10,600 3,998 1,390 15,988 3,972 2,634 1,943 8,549 24,537 Redeemed for reporting period Total Actual Cost ($USD) 135,37 for Cash/Vouchers for 768,474 318,661 111,200 1,198,335 292,604 209,704 637,687 1,836,022 9 reporting period Actual # of Beneficiaries N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Per Month

1 The difference between the values of individual vouchers / transfers is linked to the different exchange rates applicable depending on the date of transfer 8

# of Months of N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Cash/Voucher support within reporting period Frequency of 2 1 1 N/A 2 1 1 N/A N/A Cash/Voucher Distribution within reporting period

- Use of cash Transfer The first item of household expenditure is food (67%). Households exchanged vouchers for basic commodities, mainly rice, pasta and millet. The second biggest item is the repayment of debts (9%). These debts can be explained by the early lean season that has led many households to resort to borrowing to cope with food difficulties. Health, NFIs and assets come next with 7%; 5% and 4% of the support provided. Chart1: Use of cash transfer

2% 4% 3% Alimentation 9%

Santé 5% Hygiène

Education 7% 67% NFI

Outcome 2: Livelihoods of households are protected by the implementation of activities related to civil documentation and land legalization NRC is responsible for providing legal assistance in civil documentation and ensuring land property legal documentation. NRC also participates in the capacity building activities of the authorities, providing materials support, training on the collaborative management of land disputes (CDR) and training on the rights of Housing, Land and Property (HLP). To ensure complementarity with other partners and facilitate their access to cash transfer services, NRC worked with the direct beneficiaries of other ARC Consortium NGOs. For each beneficiary, NRC agents organized individual interviews to analyze specific needs in targeted households and prepare assistance activities. In each household, direct recipients of transfers (i.e. household heads) were prioritized to receive civil documentation assistance. NRC has also targeted children to facilitate access to birth certificates. These activities were conducted in the communes of Rharous, Inekar, Anderamboukane and Boura. The NRC team encountered difficulties in accessing Talataye for security reasons that led to the reduction of movements in the area. In Talataye, some activities were carried out but there are still 3 sensitization sessions and the top up activities planned in October left to be done. - Activity 2.1: 5,000 people (3500+1500) (adults and children) are identified and benefit from individualized civil documentation support and orientation 1,271 beneficiaries (868 men and 403 women) received legal assistance services in civil documentation. Out of these 1,271, 351 also benefited from one-on-one counseling and

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assistance sessions to access to civil documentation. Regarding HLP rights 724 beneficiaries, (464 men and 260 women) received individual information and advice sessions on access to civil documentation.

- Activity 2.2:6 trainings sessions on civil status and 26 community dialogues are organised to reinforce the access to civil documentation. 17 community-based civil documentation dialogues reached 255 people (199 men and 56 women) - Activity 2.3. 30 sensitization sessions are organised civil documentation and land tenure rights (Housing, Land and Property) 18 sensitization sessions to provide information on access to civil documentation and the rights of housing and land property (HLP), having reached 414 men and 258 women, for a total of 672 people.

- Activity 2.4.300 land title deeds are issued to secure housing and 20 market gardening sites are identified and legalized Four gardening sites belonging to associations in Talataye were identified and legalized during the month of September. Other sites are being identified and will be supported by NRC teams before the end of the project. Gardening sites will be identified in October and related activities will take place in November.

- Activity 2.5. An assessment of the commission for land and their revitalization if needed are carried out in the communes of Boura, Talataye, Alata, Anderaboukane and Banikane. Planned for November

- Activity 2.6: 5 (4+1) trainings on conflict management are realized 3 CDR/MCRD training courses were organized in Boura and Rharous, in the Ansongo circle, involving 50 people, including 39 men and 11 women.

- Activity 2.7. 6 trainings on Housing, Land and Property are realized 4 training courses on the Housing, Land and Property (HLP) rights benefiting 51 people (39 men and 12 women)

In addition to the planned activities, 2 support kits (the content of which varies according to the needs identified) have been distributed to the authorities in charge of civil documentation in Talataye and Boura municipalities. These various materials help the authorities to be able to prepare documents (RAM paper, envelope, stapler, folder, register, calculator, notepad ...)

Outcome 3: Livelihoods of households are protected and strengthened through the implementation of vulnerability reduction activities in the face of climate shocks In this area, the project's intervention communes were selected in May 2018. Thus, for this FFP2, RRC activities will be implemented in the following 6 communes: Andéramboukane, Alata (Menaka region), Tonka, Saréyamou, Ouinerden and Rharous (Timbuktu region). As a reminder, initially the diagnosis implemented in 2017 had made it possible to select the communes of Andéramboukane, Alata (Ménaka region) and Tonka (Timbuktu region). The current funding has covered 3 new communes. For logistical and human resources reasons (2 new facilitator positions) in the regions of Menaka and Timbuktu have been recruited. Thus, the communes of Saréyamou, Ouinerden and Rharous are the 3 new communes selected for this FFP2. - Activity 3.1: 3 Disaster risk reduction committees are created Three of these communes targeted by the activity, Tonka, Anderamboukane and Alata, had already benefitted from the establishment of committees and training of the members of a

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communal committee for disaster risk reduction with the support from the General Directorate of Civil Protection (DGPC) during the last year (FFP1 2016-2017). The other 3 remaining communes namely, Sareyamou, Ouinerdene and Gourma-rharous, are those not covered in 2017 and which benefit from the creation of disaster risk reduction the committees. In addition, following discussions between ACTED and DGPC, the latter expressed the need to be supported on the coordination for the preparation of regional contingency plans. Thus, the collaboration agreement with the General Directorate of Civil Protection (DGPC) for the implementation of this activity is under discussion. The signature is scheduled for November 2018. This collaboration agreement will cover two essential elements, namely:

(i) the establishment and training of members of communal committees for disaster risk reduction (in accordance with the decree of the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Republic of Mali). These committees will be set up in the communes of Sareyamou, Ouinerdene and Gourma-rharous and (ii) Organization of a coordination and contingency planning workshop. - Activity 3.2: 6 communes are supported through the improvement of their Early Warning System To support the national early warning system national coverage, the project supports revitalization or establishment of communal food security committees that are their respondent at the commune level. In order to implement this activity, a collaboration agreement signed between ACTED and the regional coordination of the early warning system in Timbuktu provides for the establishment of EWS commissions and training members of the communal food security committees. The rural commune of Tonka located in the circle of Goundam had already benefited in 2017 from the establishment, operationalization and training of the members of a communal commission with support from of CRS2. The other 5 remaining communes namely Anderamboukane, Alata, Saréyamou, Ouinerdene and Gourma-Rharous are therefore those that have benefited from the scheme for this second year of implementation: • From 05 to 07 June 2018 for the commune of Gourma-rharous, • From 08 to 10 June 2018 for the commune of Ouinerdene. • From 14 to 15 July in the commune of Sareyamou, • From 28 to 30 August in the commune of Alata • From 5 to 7 September in the commune of Anderamboukane. Thus 5 commissions were put in place out of the 6 planned under this project. As mentioned above, the commission of the 6th commune, Tonka commission was set up by another partner. These sessions of setting up and training of members of these commissions were carried out with the involvement of the regional coordination of the early warning system of Gao and Timbuktu, with which partnership agreements were signed. The communal committees are composed of 16 members from the early warning system in the municipality and which is made up of different social components such as: - The traditional chieftaincy (the village chief and his advisers) - Representatives of civil society organizations (leaders of organizations of women, youth, opinions and cults etc.) - Representatives of socio-professional groups (farmers, fishermen, breeders, craftsmen, traders, etc.). The process took place in two phases namely;

2 CRS : Catholic Relief Services 11

- A first stage of inclusive implementation of commissions to represent the different localities/geographical areas of the commune. All social components of the commune were consulted. - And a second stage of training of the commission members was set up according to the concepts defined by the EWS. These relate to the presentation, the missions and the methodology of the EWS as well as filling of monthly questionnaires. As part of the collaboration with ACTED, the Timbuktu EWS was also able to produce, in July, the training report of communal committees of Gourma-Rharous, Ouinerden and Sareyamou.

- Activity 3.3: 21 awareness sessions on DRR are realized Following the identification of communes, activities were initiated at the field level to identify local radio stations for the definition of partnership agreements for editing, designing and distributing radio programs on DRR. The local radios selected are those present in the communes, sufficiently listened to and with good geographical coverage. Preparation of the recording of programs to be broadcast by radio stations and sensitization of groups at the village level, conducted by ACTED, (is in progress at the time of writing this report). Technical services of agriculture, the office of veterinary products, water and forestry and civil protection will be involved in the realization of this radio program which will cover the themes of drought, floods, epidemics, epizooties, grasshoppers invasions and sandstorms. Broadcasting the program as well as holding mass sensitization in accessible areas started in October 2018.

C. Programming performance

Analysis of the data collected during distribution monitoring shows that out of the 1,192 households surveyed during PDM 1, only two could not receive their assistance for reasons related to their unavailability at the time of distribution. In addition, these households did not appoint any representative to receive the assistance. However, these households were planned to be served at the next distribution. In general, beneficiaries appreciated the support provided in terms of targeting, organization, location of sites, etc. as shown in the figure below:

Graph 2: Beneficiary's assessment of the intervention

Très satisfaits Satisfaits Peu satisfaits

Transparence

Organisation des distributions

Emplacement des sites

Ciblage

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

The analysis of household food consumption shows that between the first and the second distribution, (compared data from the Goundam, Diré and Gourma Rharous circles), the average 12

score remained stable, but the proportion of households with a score acceptable has evolved from 54% to 65% while that with a poor score has moved from 27% to 12%. This development indicates a significant improvement in the food security of the targeted beneficiaries.

Graph 3: Food consumption score evolution

PDM 2 PDM 1 Pauvre

Limite

Acceptable

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

The reduced index of adaptation strategies is 7 on average, down 5 points from the baseline, which reinforces the improvement in food security described above.

D. Market analysis

Project teams continued to monitor prices for the months of February to September 2018 in the project areas. Overall, prices have remained stable even though they are slightly higher than in 2017. Indeed, households have suffered from the consequences of the poor 2017-2018 crop year in the northern part of the country because of the low rainfall and the decrease in the flood on which irrigation agriculture depends. In addition, the lean season between July and September 2018 was particularly difficult as food stocks were completely depleted. In Diré, the stocks of rice and millet ran out because of the bad rainfall which caused an increase of the prices. In Rharous, the dry season led to the reduction of water in the river, which resulted in higher transport costs and higher prices between April and June.

E. Cross-cutting elements

Gender: ARC’s strategy is established based on equal and fair opportunities for all women and men to access resources. Constraints (cultural practices, traditions, law expertise) were mitigated by sensitization elaborated by a project team member who is specialized in gender issues. Furthermore, disaggregated data were collected. The program took into account in the selection of vulnerable beneficiary populations, including vulnerable women and elders. The issue of vulnerability of women, disabled persons and elderly was addressed through an inclusive approach, including an inclusive training conducted by HI. During the period from July to September 2018, in addition to six sessions organized during the months of May and June 2018, another inclusive sensitization was organized in September in Timbuktu. The total number of people trained on inclusion is now 130, including 21 women. ARC partners were trained (SI, HI, IRC, DRC, NRC, ACTED) as well as the state services in charge of social development and solidarity (8 people).

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In the villagel support committees and commune distribution committees, a woman is systematically represented. During targeting of distribution beneficiaries, vulnerable households, those headed by women and lactating pregnant women, are favored.

Environment: Under result 3, ARC identified and mitigated vulnerabilities linked to climate changes and natural resources management in order to enhance climate change resilience. Community projects were designed to be respectful of the environment and to prioritize the use of local resources. Dedicated components were developed to ensure risks associated with land and resources use are mitigated through collaborative dispute resolution mechanisms.

Protection: All partners have a Code of Conduct that regulates the behavior of their members and protect the beneficiaries. Most partners have signed protocols with traders to adhere to the policy put in place by partners for the protection of beneficiaries. To avoid beneficiaries’ exposure to security risks, distribution sites are brought closer to the markets they are used to attend; beneficiaries can come with a relative who receives a per diem to cover the travel costs.At the time of distribution, the furthest and most vulnerable resident beneficiaries are first served. In addition, during distribution beneficiaries are informed of the existence of a complaint mechanism. The person in charge of vulnerable people of the Ministry of Solidarity and Humanitarian Action participates in all distribution/targeting activities to better meet the needs of vulnerable people. Finally, the agriculture department, in charge of product quality, certifies products distributed by traders to ensure no harmful products are being distributed to beneficiaries.

II. Challenges, successes, and lessons learned

Challenges:

Security: - ACTED rescheduled its activities and movements in Ménaka following security incidents during the month of June On June 18 all ACTED activities were suspended for a week in Menaka. - Restriction of movement in the area for security problems (increased crime and banditry, intercommunity violence and military operations); - HI has reduced the time of presence of its teams in the field; which had no impact on activities; - DRC has reduced some of its activities during the election period following numerous security incidents in its sub base in Gossi. Distribution sessions were delayed and postponed from August 30 to September 02, 2018 in the Ouinerden commune.

Distributions: - IRC and ACTED have encountered difficulties in identifying a partner who agrees to implement cash transfers due to the lack of a secure way of transferring funds; - In Diré and Goundam, 98% of the beneficiaries are not happy with the functioning of the complaints mechanism since they haven’t received any feedback; - Long distance between beneficiaries' homes and distribution sites in Diré, Goundam and Rharous were noted

Food security

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- Increasing food insecurity due to bad 2017-2018 crop season (low rainfall and low flood) - The number of households in need is greater than that of the project beneficiaries: many poor households remain and could not be selected for lack of resources.

Climate change - In Diré and Goundam, floods and collapses of houses have caused considerable damage, leaving nearly a thousand homeless households in a precarious situation of concern over food needs. Access to the project areas was limited due to heavy rains in the region of Timbuktu. - Drought and floods resulted in low crop yields and consequently reduced household food stocks, which increased the prices of staple foods, which doubled compared to the same period of last year.

Successes:

All partners highlighted improvements in the service provided by the service providers: the agriculture department noted that the traders were well prepared for the distribution operation and that food products were of good quality. There was less stock-out, less absence of traders at the fairs, price negotiations went smooth and some prices were lower.

Sensitization and training on inclusion conducted by HI enabled all partners to include in their interventions an inclusive dimension while taking into account vulnerable populations. These training courses were useful and appreciated. Note that this was the first training and awareness- raising session on inclusion as part of the ARC project. Beneficiaries, traders and technical services of the municipality will be benefiting from inclusion training in October.

The complaint mechanism is effective for each partner. These mechanisms are known and used by all beneficiaries. Complaint committees are present during distributions to collect and report complaints. This mechanism is particularly used for cash transfers.

In all the intervention areas, partners collaborated with traders, authorities and technical services. Distributions and vouchers exchanges were organized in a participatory manner and with the aim of involving local partners. This involvement made it possible to ensure the transparency of the operation and above all to ensure everyone's support for the continuity of the project. It has also helped prevent security risks that may stem from rumors or misunderstandings.

Lessons learned

Following the difficulties encountered during distributions, measures were taken. Some elements of the voucher have been modified for each distribution in order to anticipate potential fraud by imitation of vouchers, namely in Rharous. In addition, sensitization sessions have been organized with local authorities and communal leaders on the importance of the actual presence of beneficiaries on the sites, the obligation to present their ID card, to meet the dates and time set to them and to respect safety instructions.

Inclusion training courses have clearly shown that there was a real need in this area. It was found that inclusion was lacking in many activities, whereas it should be a prerequisite in all activities, especially in distribution and cash transfer operations.

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