WFP Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific - 2016 SPRs RBB 2016 SPRs by country | Page 385

Standard Project Report 2016
Agricultural Development (IFAD).
Through the implementation of school meals, WFP capitalised on the expertise of partners to
ensure complementary activities. The development of a package of assistance in communities, built around the
schools, and the common objectives that each partner brought to the relationship made for strong, unified
implementation.
WFP provided a package of assistance to schools through partnership with UNICEF and Deutsche Gesellschaft für
Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH); the United Nations Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Ministry of Education and Sports in integrating nutrition and school
gardening in primary schools; Plan International and Big Brother Mouse for literacy activities; and with the
Association for Aid and Relief Japan for fish ponds. Lao Women’s Union carried out village-level training in nutrition
and cooking, ensuring the involvement in and ownership of programme implementation by village members. The
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry also played an important role in school garden training for communities.
Livelihood initiatives for nutrition (LIN) were implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and
Forestry at the central level and with the Department of Labour and Social Welfare and Department of Rural
Development and Poverty Eradication at the provincial level. Over 2,900 people participated in the asset creation
programme and received food assistance for their work in building or repairing small-scale community infrastructure.
Collaboration with IFAD was expanded through the SoumSonSeumJai project. All asset creation activities, such as
roads, cereal banks and water schemes improved long-term food security at the community level. Provincial
partners also provided supervision and technical expertise to the projects.
Performance Monitoring
The WFP monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and vulnerability and analysis mapping (VAM) unit was responsible for
managing the M&E system through a comprehensive strategy, which was updated regularly to enhance the quality
of data and reporting. Operational performance was monitored to assess progress towards results, and findings
were used to inform programme management and decision-making.
Regular data were collected by WFP staff from the local villages and project sites. The outcome data collected
included the coping strategy index for food assistance for assets, minimum acceptable diet for children under 5
years, food distribution and management, record-keeping of village volunteers, community participation, student
attendance and attentiveness, health and sanitation issues, frequency of cooking, kitchen cleanliness, and food
consumption. The information was electronically captured in a database and compiled in real time. Output and
outcome indicators were reported monthly and biannually, respectively, and findings were compared with the set
targets.
At the end of 2016, 21 monitoring assistants were deployed in the field close to the project sites to ensure daily
monitoring. Due to the remoteness of project locations, WFP faced challenges in recruiting female monitoring
assistants (currently only four are female), and efforts will continue to encourage them to apply. A beneficiary
feedback mechanism was established in May and rolled out in all villages. Staff in the country and field offices
received gender and protection and accountability to affected populations training.
One of the main challenges faced during monitoring was the geographical terrain and the necessity to reach remote
areas and highland villages where WFP operates. Monitoring assistants visit each operational site two to
three times per year, where they collect monitoring data, mobilise the community to work and contribute, and
strengthen their capacity through training. Outcome indicators were collected either through the periodical
post-distribution monitoring or specific surveys.
Results/Outcomes
Throughout 2016, WFP worked with the Government to reduce stunting and micronutrient deficiencies, enhance
access to education, and improve resilience and government capacity to respond to emergencies. Activities were
implemented in seven provinces with high levels of malnutrition and persistent challenges in meeting food security
needs.
Strategic Objective: Prevent acute hunger and invest in disaster preparedness and mitigation measures (SO2)
Outcome: 2.1 Adequate food consumption reached or maintained over assistance period for targeted households
and 2.4 Capacity developed to address national food insecurity needs
Activity: Emergency preparedness and response (EPR)
Lao People's Democratic Republic (LA)
15
Country Programme - 200242