WFP Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific - 2016 SPRs RBB 2016 SPRs by country | Page 734

Standard Project Report 2016
In addition, the disaster preparedness and response programme also supported the formation and training of the
first all-woman emergency response team in the Philippines, in Cotabato City. The All-Ladies Emergency Response
Team (ALERT) were trained in first aid, water search and rescue and rescue boat management. The ALERT team
was then formed to ensure sensitivity to the local context and the full inclusion of the community’s needs.
Protection and Accountability to Affected Populations
The country office strived to mainstream protection across operations to ensure that the PRRO activities respected
the dignity, rights, and safety of assisted populations and vulnerable groups. The operation guaranteed that the
assisted population and vulnerable groups had the right to participate in decisions that affected their lives; that they
received information they needed to make informed decisions; that their concerns were considered; and that they
were given timely feedback regarding the support they received.
Food security and nutrition programmes were designed to have the food assistance distribution in the nearest
possible locations ,which on average took a 30-minute motorised vehicle-ride. Neighboring barangays were also
clustered into an area that was accessible to ensure that participants were protected from possible safety and
security issues. Results for the safety indicators showed that both men and women experienced no safety and/or
security concerns getting to and from the programme sites thanks to both WFP and local partners finishing the
distributions early enough to ensure it was still daylight when beneficiaries returned home.
WFP and local-government-unit partners selected the most central distribution sites, and more importantly, areas
where there was drinking water, latrines and shade. Local government units facilitated the delivery of food
items from the rural health units to the barangay health stations so that parents and caregivers from remote areas
could easily collect their entitlements.
To ensure that beneficiaries were fully informed of WFP activities, adequate sensitisations and orientations were
conducted. Communication materials were disseminated for different WFP programme activities and areas, thereby
allowing for a national coverage of stakeholders to provide feedback. Community fora such as programme
orientations and local government units were also used to reinforce the complaints and feedback mechanism.
Post distribution monitoring for the information indicators showed impressive results, exceeding the adjusted targets
WFP set in March 2016. The results mean that men and women were adequately informed about the programme
and knew where to go if they had a complaint or feedback on their entitlement.
The complaints and feedback mechanism allowed for two-way communication between WFP and stakeholders. The
mechanism was continuously improved to ensure that the issues raised by the beneficiaries remained confidential
and that feedback was provided within the agreed timeline of no more than 10 working days. A quarterly report was
generated to provide an overview of the most common complaints and feedback received and how these issues
were mitigated and minimised.
Trends in feedback received were analysed, and recommended actions were taken to consider beneficiary
concerns and improve programme implementation. For example, ongoing distribution challenges experienced
by food-for-assets beneficiaries in receiving food items were addressed immediately. Another example is
that concerns by community stakeholders on targeting and selection were clarified directly to ensure transparency
and accountability.
Improvements in WFP’s complaints and feedback mechanism also paved the way for a tighter and more secure
process. A database was developed to record and track the progress of the complaints and feedback from
beneficiaries. Visibility materials included hotline numbers, and programme orientations stressed that information
provided through these hotlines is treated with utmost confidentiality. In case there will be additional funding in
2017, the country office is looking into the possibility of providing hotline that will provide beneficiaries more access
to the complaints and feedback mechanism at no additional cost.
The new design of the complaints and feedback mechanism team and improvemen