IR-PREP - Emergency food security assessment in Haiti

This Operation expired in February 2016

Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas and its economy over the last two decades has been repeatedly affected by political crises and a series of devastating natural disasters. Geographic conditions make Haiti particularly prone to recurring natural hazards and disasters of a hydro-meteorological nature.

As Haiti endures its third year of drought, it is estimated that over half a million Haitians are currently facing crisis levels of food insecurity and need immediate assistance. The 2015 main spring harvest, which accounts for over 50 percent of national annual production, fell below average with losses of up to 70 percent in some areas. The latest forecasts (CPC/IRI) indicates a 100 percent probability that the current El Niño event will continue through December, and that it will likely persist into the 2016 first Autumn harvesting season in Haiti which accounts for 20% of the annual production.

The Country Office in Haiti is requesting funds for an EFSA because the Haiti faces a lack of accurate and nationwide data and the CO is limited in its capability to conduct an EFSA without additional financial resources. WFP is proposing to conduct an emergency food security assessment together with the government and partners to: (1) Assess the impact of the drought on households’ food security and livelihoods; (2) Estimate the number of moderately and severely food insecure households; (3) Evaluate the evolution of the situation in the next 3-6 months; (4) Assess the functioning of markets and their response capacity; and (5) Formulate recommendations for action, in the immediate, short and medium term.

WFP will contract with the CNSA, who will perform the majority of the work, but who will need assistance from WFP in data analysis and drafting of the final report. Once assessment findings are available, WFP will discuss the response strategy with the government and partners and will better articulate and substantiate the costs and scope of the recommended response activities, which will be key in transforming donors’ interest into contributions. The duration of this project will be for 3 months (10 November 2015 to 09 February 2016).