Sao Tome and Principe Transitional ICSP (January 2018 - June 2019)

T-ICSP approved in August 2017. Revision 01 approved by EB in November 2018.

The Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe is a lower middle income and food deficit country, ranked 142nd out of 188 countries on the 2015 Human Development Index (HDI). More than 60 percent of the population (over 197,900 inhabitants) is estimated to be living below the national poverty threshold with significant poverty disparities between men and women.

Persistent political instability, high unemployment rates, and unequal wealth distribution coupled with poor infrastructure and reliance on food imports are the main drivers of food and nutrition insecurity countrywide. Furthermore, this situation is exacerbated by recurring natural disasters such as floods and landslides.

São Tomé and Príncipe’s commitment to implement the Sustainable Development Goals is embedded in the country’s Vision 2030 Transformation Agenda, which is the basis for achieving long-term national development objectives. Relevant sectoral plans include the second nd National Strategy for Poverty Reduction (SNRP - II), the National Food Security and Nutrition Programme, and the National Social Protection Policy and Strategy.

The national school meals programme currently covers 43,000 children in primary schools. In line with government priorities, and based on lessons learned from previous interventions, WFP will pursue the following strategic outcome through the Transitional Interim Country Strategic Plan (T-ICSP):

• The Government of São Tomé and Príncipe has enhanced capacity to implement food security and nutrition focused safety nets nationwide.

In 2015, the handover of the school feeding programme was finalized. During the T-ICSP timeframe (Jan 2018 – Feb 2019), WFP will increasingly engage in technical assistance and capacity development activities to ensure the sustainability of the handover to Government. WFP’s work will focus on strengthening the Government’s capacity, in particular that of the Ministry of Education. WFP will also contribute to link small-scale producers to market opportunities in order to improve their incomes and to sustain Home-Grown School Feeding activities. Finally, WFP will reinforce partnerships and advocate for the national multi-sectorial coordination mechanism to strengthen safety net systems, such as income generation activities as well as health, nutrition and education services. This will be done in close collaboration with United Nations agencies and other relevant partners like key national stakeholders and non-governmental organizations.