Philippines Transitional ICSP (January - June 2018)

T-ICSP approved in August 2017.

The Philippines have made considerable progress in economic, social and human development in the past decade, but persistent challenges are yet to be overcome to achieve Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2 in particular. These challenges include a high prevalence of chronic malnutrition, vulnerability to natural disasters and climate change, and limited opportunities for smallholder farmers.

The Philippine Development Plan 2017 – 2022 (PDP) sets the path for the development of government policies and programs. A number of objectives include policies and guidelines directly related to food security and nutrition and SDG 2, such as to eliminate child malnutrition and to improve access to economic opportunities of smallholder farmers. The United Nations System in coordination with the Government of the Philippines, under the leadership of the National Economic Development Authority is currently developing the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF, 2019-2023) to align to the priorities of the nation.

In 2016, WFP commissioned a "Strategic Review of Food and Nutrition Security in the Philippines (CRF)" which identified gaps and opportunities to achieve SDG 2. The report forms the basis for dialogue with ministries and national institutions, but require further dialogue with government partners to agree on opportunities for WFP support and to define a Country Strategic Plan for the Philippines.

In the meantime, WFP’s Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation 200743 is converging into a six-months Transitory interim Country Strategic Plan (T-ICSP) designed to build the resilience of vulnerable population groups and to work with the government to improve response structures and policy frameworks through the following Strategic Outcomes (SO):

• SO1: Vulnerable boys, girls men and women in the Philippines have adequate and equal access to food in line with government targets, all year round. (ACCESS TO FOOD: Resilience – SR1)
• SO2: Boys, girls, men and women in areas affected by disaster or conflict, have adequate access to food in line with government targets, all year round. (ACCESS TO FOOD - Crisis Response – SR1)
• SO3: Women, boys and girls have adequate nutritional status in line with government targets by 2022. (END MALNUTRITION: Root Cause – SR2)
• SO4: National and regional government have enhanced capacities to reduce vulnerabilities to shocks by 2018. (CAPACITY STRENGTHENING: Resilience - SR5)

The T-ICSP consolidates WFP’s activities in partnership with the main government counterparts at national and regional level which facilitate the transfer of knowledge on Zero Hunger solutions, while maintaining capacity to augment the government’s emergency response as needed.