WFP Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific - 2016 SPRs RBB 2016 SPRs by project type | Page 563

Standard Project Report 2016
Country Resources and Results
Resources for Results
The extensive increase in global humanitarian needs caused by outbreaks of various humanitarian crises in many
parts of the world impacted the funding level of operations in 2016, which remained at unexpectedly low levels
compared with the trends from previous years. This was especially true for the PRRO, which received less than half
of the approved budget requirements for the year.
The launch of the EMOP, which had relatively better funding, had a somewhat adverse effect on the funding
situation of the PRRO. Despite a substantial increase in the number of people requiring WFP assistance, the total
funding available for Afghanistan remained limited. As a result, WFP prioritised nutrition activities, reduced ration
sizes and further targeted the most vulnerable beneficiaries (this included up to 50 percent reduction in natural
disaster and conflict-affected beneficiaries for two months, and a suspension in non-lifesaving activities, such as
vocational skills training). These mitigation measures were for a limited period of time so as to better manage
available resources, but such sporadic interruptions in WFP's interventions threaten to reduce the overall positive
effect in Afghanistan.
Given the poor resourcing situation, WFP Afghanistan undertook a series of cost reduction actions: merging the
country and Kabul area offices into a single compound, relocating the Kandahar and Mazar area offices in the
warehouse compounds; and reducing fuel usage. As a result, the fixed costs for offices, warehouses and staff
accommodations were reduced while fuel usage for vehicl