IR-PREP - Special Preparedness Activities in Papua New Guinea

This Operation expired in February 2016

Papua New Guinea (PNG) is experiencing drought conditions caused by the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon, which is seriously disrupting food production and livelihoods in PNG.

There is no WFP Country Office in PNG. Lessons learned during the WFP Vanuatu cyclone response in 2015 and Solomon Island floods in 2014 indicate proactive engagement is required in order to develop productive in-country relationships, to facilitate coordination and technical support to the ongoing response, and to undertake core preparedness actions in view of the possibility that international food assistance is requested.

Recent reports from IOM and other organisations on the ground have indicated that reduced local food supply and incomes along with escalating food prices have exacerbated food insecurity. Poor populations living in rural areas have experienced significant changes to their diet.

In this context RBB fielded a scoping mission to PNG in October-November 2015. The mission recommended that a WFP presence should be established in Papua New Guinea.

The objective of this IR-PREP project is to support a WFP presence in early 2016, for 1.5 months, with a focus on preparedness activities, delivered through sectorial coordination mechanisms such as the Food Security and Logistics Clusters.

The duration of this project will be for 2 months (1 January 2016 to 29 February 2016).