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Eswatini

WFP Swaziland Country Brief, June 2017

Attachments

Highlights

  • In May, WFP ended the El Niño-induced drought EMOP. WFP assisted in total over 230,000 beneficiaries with emergency assistance, of which 142,000 received Cash Based Transfers (CBT). In May, 56,973 people received CBT.

  • In June, WFP assisted in total 7,932 beneficiaries through the Food by Prescription programme. Assistance to Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVC) is planned to resume in August 2017.

  • WFP’s Food by Prescription project remains underfunded, as a pipeline break, is expected in September 2017.

**Operational Updates **

Drought and Food Security:

  • WFP conducted the last food distribution under the Emergency Operation (EMOP) in April reaching 71,090 people with a 45-day ration. Cash Based Transfers (CBT) assistance, which was extended through May, reached 142,027 people in April and 56,973 in May.

  • Over the course of the EMOP, WFP provided humanitarian assistance through food rations to 124,000 people and cash transfers to 142,000 people affected by the drought.

  • The Government’s National Disaster Management Agency has coordinated a multi-sectoral assessment to gauge the impact of the drought. Its final report is expected in the coming weeks. Preliminary findings from the agricultural survey point to a 37 percent increase (68,240 ha) of land under cultivation from last year.

  • The 2017 Annual Vulnerability Analysis Assessment has conducted its data collection phase. Results are expected in July with the report finalised August.

HIV and Nutrition:

  • WFP is the implementing partner for a USAID’s PEPFAR project which focuses on nutrition intervention targeting people living with HIV/AIDS and orphans and vulnerable children. Project implementation started in March for selected health facilities in the most food insecure areas.

  • WFP’s Food by Prescription project has been extended to December 2017. However, it remains underfunded, there are risks of pipeline breaks, and the current caseload is resourced only until September 2017.

Social protection for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC):

  • Thanks to recent funding, assistance to OVC through DEV 200422 will be resumed in August 2017. The project has been halted since May 2016 due to lack of resources.

Challenges

  • Negative Economic Forecast: Swaziland faces fiscal and economic challenges, with poor predictions for Southern Africa Customs Union revenue, continued slow economic growth and the devaluation of the South Africa Rand, to which the local currency is pegged.

  • WFP Swaziland Country Strategy development: Swaziland’s economic situation may also hamper advances in WFP’s country strategy approach, which aims towards full national ownership, financial and operational, of food and nutrition security initiatives. An interim Country Strategic Plan has been devised to align with Government priorities. The government is weighing options around the conduct of a Zero Hunger Strategic Review in Swaziland, to develop a roadmap to achieve SDG2: end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.