WFP Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific - 2016 SPRs RBB 2016 SPRs by country | Page 56

Standard Project Report 2016 Performance Monitoring WFP's ‘no monitoring – no implementation’ principle in Afghanistan was also applied to this project. The operational context of Afghanistan is heavily linked to access, and food assistance is monitored by WFP field staff only in areas where access is possible. In areas with restricted access, WFP utilises third party monitors, or Programme Assistance Teams (PATs). PAT monitors conduct traditional monitoring activities (i.e. post-distribution monitoring, process monitoring, shop monitoring, gender and protection surveys), as well as operational tasks in the capacity of representing WFP in the field. In accordance with the LoA between IOM and WFP, IOM supported WFP in monitoring. IOM staff at the transit centre conducted food distribution monitoring when the road mission for WFP and PAT staff was suspended in October due to insecurity. In order to assist people in hard-to-reach areas, especially women, WFP Afghanistan also piloted the use of the mobile vulnerability assessment and mapping tool (mVAM) for rapid food security and market assessments. Results/Outcomes Beginning in September 2016, the flow of undocumented returnees from Pakistan slowed significantly, and only 52.5 percent of the planned number of people to be assisted, entered Afghanistan. Thus the IR-EMOP provided support to fewer people than originally anticipated. WFP provided life-saving food assistance to 30,240 vulnerable undocumented returnees, which represents 40.3 percent of the plan. Based on its standard vulnerability criteria and capacity, IOM identified and registered most vulnerable undocumented returnees and provided them with WFP food assistance. According to IOM estimates, 40 percent of returnees at Torkham border were vulnerable and in need of assistance. Food assistance provided under the IR-EMOP was borrowed from available stocks from the protracted relief and recovery operation (PRRO) 200447, which enabled WFP to respond immediately to urgent food needs of the beneficiaries who were identified by and registered by IOM. Out of the planned 1,231 mt, 626 mt of assorted food was borrowed from the PRRO. WFP dispatched 533 mt out of this 626 mt and the rest of the food commodities was transferred to the subsequent emergency operation. Progress Towards Gender Equality Given the difficult circumstances of their return, many returnees were forced to hastily sell their assets at reduced rates and had to undertake the trip without any proper planning. According to the initial rapid needs assessment report, the returnee children and women, especially pregnant and lactating women, were particularly vulnerable. In coordination with the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation and IOM, WFP prioritised the needs of women and young children during registrations and general food distributions. WFP adopted some innovative approaches to ensure that women's concerns were properly understood, such as the provision of mobile phones to enable women not allowed to leave home to speak to monitors. In addition, a respected woman in the community was identified for information collection and subsequent sharing with WFP. During the food distribution, priority was given to households headed by women. Registrations for these households were held in separate rooms at the IOM transit centre. Separate waiting rooms were also provided for women and children. This accommodation was an important measure, as women and girls face enormous challenges when it comes to equal participation and being seen in public places, because of the patriarchal structure the society. Afghanistan, Islamic Republic of (AF) 17 Single Country IR-EMOP - 201023