Standard Project Report 2016
With WFP ' s technical guidance, the Government has also finalised a purchase deal of 100,000 mt of wheat grain from Uzbekistan, in addition to the ongoing bilateral agreement with the Government of India for a donation of 130,000 mt of wheat grain out of the initial pledge of 170,000 mt. The difference in tonnage( between pledged and delivered quantities) will be translated into transport payment value from India to Chabahar port in Iran for onward transport to Herat( western part of Afghanistan), therefore opening a new corridor identified by WFP for this purpose. It is anticipated that the SGR will kick off with this initial stock capital of wheat grain from India and Uzbekistan, in line with the Government ' s aim to build a stock of up to 250,000 mt.
A number of government-owned silo facilities and flat stores are operational in the country with a combined capacity of approximately 235,000 mt, but none of the stores is currently operating to its full capacity. Silo facilities require a supporting capital injection to undertake necessary maintenance and refurbishment to achieve adequate levels of operational capability. These newly constructed assets can be utilised to their full potential once the Government has identified a viable strategy, including a funding option, to comprehensively sustain a strategic stock position. In support of the Government ' s efforts, WFP has been facilitating a strategic partnership with FAO and the World Bank.
Operational Partnerships
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations( FAO), the World Bank and WFP are working together to support the Government’ s SGR initiative in Afghanistan. WFP is tasked with the planning and designing of the bagged storage facilities and technical operational training. In addition, the World Bank and WFP are exploring the possibility of a formal agreement to extend the scope of the SGR to include scaled-up fortification and social safety nets for the food- and nutrition-insecure populations in Afghanistan. Such an agreement would pave the way for a strong WFP-World Bank partnership which could be expanded further in the region.
Results / Outcomes
In line with the aim of increasing marketing opportunities for producers and traders of food and other agricultural products at the national and local levels, according to the budget revision, WFP Afghanistan increased the amount of food purchased from national and local markets and smallholder farmers compared with previous years. The aim was to boost the SGR initiative, focusing on the project component: " stimulate production and productivity by providing both technical and marketing support to farmers ". During this period, the food purchased from national and local suppliers amounted to 65,082 mt compared to the target of 60,000 mt, and the food sourced from smallholder Afghan farmers amounted to 26,033 mt over a target of 24,000 mt, and respectively accounted for 69 percent( against a target of 70 percent) and 35 percent( against a target of 40 percent) of the total food distributed by WFP in Afghanistan.
WFP also provided training to government counterparts, with a view to building national capacity in preparing for, assessing and responding to emergencies.
While good progress has been made in terms of immediate project objectives, the effect on the overall national emergency response capacity and domestic market price stabilisation of wheat grain and wheat flour will be evident only after the SGR is fully operational.
Afghanistan, Islamic Republic of( AF) 15 Single Country Special Operation- 200635