Dominican Republic Transitional ICSP (January 2018- December 2018)

T-ICSP approved in July 2017 and revised as per Revision 1 (approved at EB June 2018 session).

The Dominican Republic has made considerable progress during the last decade in terms of economic, social and human development. Investments in social protection and economic policies have been the main drivers for these achievements. The National Development Strategy (2012-2030) establishes a framework for the development of policies and plans to tackle issues such as poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition. The country has a Food Security Law in place, as well as a High Level Inter-Institutional Commission for Sustainable Development, both of which evidence a strong level of commitment towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

However, the country faces challenges towards achieving SDGs 2 and 17. Economic growth has been accompanied by increasing inequality, pervasive micronutrient deficiencies, increasing overweight and obesity. This is combined with one of the lowest rates of exclusive breastfeeding of children under six months in the region. Challenges also include limited access to food, employment, land and credit, particularly for people living with HIV, predominantly women in the lowest poverty quintiles of the population. In addition, the country is highly vulnerable to natural disasters and climate change. There are noticeable gender inequalities and limited opportunities for smallholder farmers.

WFP is a strategic partner of the Government for the implementation of food and nutrition security (FNS), as well as for emergency preparedness and response (EPR) strategies. WFP’s current projects are based on priorities established in the National Development Strategy and include the Trust Fund 200657 and the Forecast-Based Emergency Preparedness for Climate Risks project funded through a corporate trust fund.

WFP’s transitional Interim Country Strategic Plan (T-ICSP) promotes national capacity strengthening and improved nutrition within three strategic outcomes based on its 2018 projects:

• Strategic Outcome 1: Nutritionally vulnerable groups targeted by social safety net and public health programmes throughout the country improve their nutritional status by 2025.
• Strategic Outcome 2: People living with HIV in the eastern and southern regions of the Dominican Republic have access to diversified and nutritious food by 2030.
• Strategic Outcome 3: Disaster Risk Management and Social Protection institutions in the Dominican Republic strengthen their capacities in preparedness and response to climate stresses and shocks by 2030.

During this T-ICSP, WFP will continue working to strengthen its strategic partnerships with the Office of the Vice-President, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of the Presidency, the National Emergency Commission, the Emergency Operations Centre, along with academic centers and NGOs. Other stakeholders will be approached to join efforts towards achieving SDGs 2 and 17, such as other government institutions and the private sector. Public information and advocacy, as well as food security analysis, will be strengthened in the transition towards the Country Strategic Plan.