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