CCoommoorrooss:: Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis (CFSVA) Conducted in January – February 2006 Strengthening Emergency Needs Assessment Capacity (SENAC) 2 Comoros: Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis (CFSVA) Prepared by Tango International March, 2006 © World Food Programme, Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping Branch (ODAV) This study was prepared under the umbrella of the “Strengthening Emergency Needs Assessment Capacity” (SENAC) project. The SENAC project aims to reinforce WFP’s capacity to assess humanitarian needs in the food sector during emergencies and the immediate aftermath through accurate and impartial needs assessments. For any queries on this document or the SENAC project, please contact [email protected] or Krystyna Bednarska, Country Director Madagascar: [email protected] Eric Kenefick Regional VAM Officer Johannesburg: [email protected] For information on the VAM unit, please visit us at http://vam.wfp.org/ United Nations World Food Programme Headquarters: Via C.G. Viola 68, Parco de’ Medici, 00148, Rome, Italy This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union. 3 4 Comoros: Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis (CFSVA) Conducted January-February 2006 5 6 Acknowledgements The authors of this report would like to thank the United Nations-Comoros staff in Moroni for their assistance and support throughout the mission. Particular appreciation is due to Ms. Guiseppina Mazza, the UNDP Resident Representative, who assured our logistic and material support. In addition, we would like to acknowledge the efforts of the UN staff on Anjouan (Houmadi Abdallah) and on Mohéli (Nafion Mohammed). We could not have accomplished our mission without their facilitation and generous contributions. Finally, we appreciate the willingness of respondents from government agencies, NGOs and communities to share documents, data, knowledge and opinions with us. Although our visits were often unannounced or not fully compliant with local protocol, we were always well received and fully accommodated. We wish the people of Comoros good fortune as they struggle with the issues and problems outlined in this report. John Meyer Donald Nelson David Black TANGO International February 2006 7 8 Table of Contents Acknowledgements .............................................................................................. 7 Executive Summary............................................................................................ 11 Background .................................................................................................... 11 Objectives and methods ................................................................................. 11 Livelihood systems ......................................................................................... 11 Livelihood outcomes ....................................................................................... 12 Vulnerability and vulnerable groups ............................................................... 12 Conclusions .................................................................................................... 12 Part I - Introduction and Background................................................................. 15 Part II - Objectives and methodology ................................................................ 17 Section 2.1 - Objectives .................................................................................. 17 Section 2.2 - Methods ..................................................................................... 17 2.2.1 - Secondary data .................................................................................. 17 2.2.2 - Primary data ...................................................................................... 17 2.2.3 - Analytical approach............................................................................. 17 2.2.4 - Sites visited ....................................................................................... 18 2.2.5 - Data limitations/constraints.................................................................. 19 2.2.6 - Field constraints ................................................................................. 19 2.2.7 - Information gaps ................................................................................ 19 Part III - Socio-economic background................................................................ 21 Section 3.1 - Demography .............................................................................. 21 Section 3.2 - Income and poverty ................................................................... 22 3.2 1 - Monetary poverty ............................................................................... 22 3.2.2 - Non-monetary poverty ........................................................................ 23 Section 3.3 - Health ........................................................................................ 23 Section 3.4 - Diaspora .................................................................................... 23 Section 3.5 - Livelihood strategies.................................................................. 24 3.5.1 - Agriculture......................................................................................... 24 3.5.2 - Fishing .............................................................................................. 25 3.5.3 - Remittances....................................................................................... 26 3.5.4 - Self-employment ................................................................................ 26 Section 3.6 - Risk events and past impacts..................................................... 26 3.6.1 - Environmental risks ............................................................................ 26 3.6.2 - Health risks ....................................................................................... 29 3.6.3 - Political risks...................................................................................... 29 3.6.4 - International marketing ....................................................................... 30 Section 3.7 - Food insecurity outcomes .......................................................... 30 3.7.1 - Food Consumption .............................................................................. 30 3.7.2 - Nutritional Status................................................................................ 31 3.7.3 - Health and longevity ........................................................................... 32 Section 3.8 - Food availability......................................................................... 33 3.8.1 - Food production.................................................................................. 33 3.8.2 - Food importation ................................................................................ 33 Section 3.9 - Household access to food........................................................... 33 3.9.1 - Economic opportunities/constraints ....................................................... 34 3.9.2 - Remittances....................................................................................... 34 3.9.3 - Social capital...................................................................................... 34 3.9.4 - Coping strategies................................................................................ 34 Section 3.10 - Food Utilization ........................................................................ 35 3.10.1 - Diet and food quality ......................................................................... 35 3.10.2 - Breastfeeding and weaning practices ................................................... 35 3.10.3 - Water supplies and sanitation ............................................................. 35 3.10.4 - Access and utilization of health care..................................................... 35 Section 3.11 - Vulnerability and Food Insecurity ............................................ 36 9 3.11.1 - Transitory food insecurity................................................................... 36 3.11.2 - Chronic food insecurity ...................................................................... 36 3.11.3 - Location of food insecure and vulnerable populations ............................. 38 Section 3.12 - Response capacity and options ................................................ 39 3.12.1 - Institutional framework for response.................................................... 39 3.12.2 - Emergency preparedness and response ................................................ 40 3.12.3 - Nutrition programming ...................................................................... 40 3.12.4 - Non food responses........................................................................... 41 Part IV - Conclusion ........................................................................................... 43 Annex I: Map of sites visited .................................................................................. 45 Annex II: Map of high vulnerability areas (high poverty) ............................................ 46 Annex III: Map of high food insecure areas (low consumption).................................... 47 Annex IV: Bibliography.........................................................................................