Assistance for Refugees and Vulnerable Food-Insecure Populations

This operation has been modified as per budget revision 3.

After more than a decade of conflict, Burundi faces food security and nutrition challenges. The 2013 Global Hunger Index reports that the country has the highest levels of hunger in sub-Saharan and East Africa. Up to 95 percent of the population lives on less than USD 2 per day, particularly in rural areas.

The August 2013 Integrated Food Security Phase Classification estimated that 1.4 million people were in the crisis and emergency categories – about 16 percent of the total population. Undernutrition is a major concern. Stunting prevalence averages 58 percent, and is even higher in many provinces. Acute malnutrition rates reach and exceed 10 percent in areas with high concentrations of returnees and expelled migrants.

The regional security and political situation is volatile. Burundi hosts about 30,000 Congolese refugees and a further influx is foreseen in 2015 as the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to re-establish state authority, disband armed groups and prepare for 2016 general elections. Repatriation of these refugees is unlikely over the next two years because of continuing insecurity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

This protracted relief and recovery operation seeks to address food insecurity and nutrition challenges among food-insecure, vulnerable groups in Burundi, including Congolese refugees in camps, Burundian migrants expelled from the United Republic of Tanzania, vulnerable people in social institutions, and food-insecure households in communities with high concentrations of returnees and expelled migrants and close to refugee camps. The operation complements other interventions including WFP country programme 200119 and Catholic Relief Service’s nutrition programme.

WFP assistance to refugees and food assistance-for-assets activities will combine in-kind food distributions with voucher/cash transfers, in line with evaluation recommendations and beneficiary preferences.

The operation is aligned with Burundi’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper 2012–2016, the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (2012–2016), the Government’s Vision 2025, the National Agricultural Investment Plan (2012–2017) and other strategic documents.

As a hand-over strategy, in collaboration with other United Nations agencies and donors, WFP plans to: i) scale up capacity development for line ministries at the national and provincial levels; ii) assist the Government in formulating a community-based, integrated early warning system; iii) organize simulation exercises on rapid-onset emergencies; and iv) reinforce the national institutional framework for crisis and disaster prevention and mitigation.