Standard Project Report 2016
Country Resources and Results
Resources for Results
In 2016, WFP ' s board approved an extension to the country programme( CP) until December 2018 with an additional budget of USD 46,412,027( total budget 2011-2018: USD 191,531,887). The CP extension aligned WFP ' s programme portfolio with national priorities and strategic timelines including those associated with the National Strategic Development Plan and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework( UNDAF) cycle, both of which run until the end of 2018.
The extension rationalised the scope and scale of the programme in line with the shifting focus of WFP‘ s contribution to national hunger solutions, from direct implementation to technical assistance and strategy support, and most current resource forecasts. Due to funding constraints, the CP was implemented at 45 percent of its original plan during the period 2011-2016. School meals and scholarships were reduced drastically since November 2014, the maternal and child health and nutrition component ended in June 2014, and food-assistance-for-assets activities continued at reduced scale with in-kind food resources only.
WFP ' s field presence was scaled back in a commensurate manner with the closure of one area office and relocation of staff in accordance with geographic programme coverage in September 2016, as a measure to contain WFP ' s operational overhead costs. Further, the administrative management of school meals programme implementation at the provincial level was transferred to government counterparts, thus refocusing WFP staff capacity on mentoring and oversight functions.
While direct programme implementation was scaled back from the original CP plan, WFP ' s investment in capacity development expanded with support from grants dedicated to the education sector. Multilateral contributions as well as allocations from corporate grants allowed expansion of the development of information management systems and undertaking food security and nutrition analyses aimed at informing national strategic decision-making.
A two-year allocation from the German Government allowed the school meals programme to restore some of its original scale, to safeguard the assets and livelihoods support in the 2016 lean season, and to build critical rainwater harvesting and storage facilities in schools most affected by the 2015-2016 dry season. The renewal of a multi-year donation for school meals and take-home rations by the McGovern-Dole programme of the United States Department for Agriculture, starting from late 2016, offered a three-year horizon around which to organize the transition of the programme to national ownership as outlined in the school feeding roadmap. A reliable contribution from Japan assured that the school meals had an important protein source, canned fish, while consistent support from Australia facilitated the continuation of the transition from food-based to cash-based scholarships. Continued support from private sector partners, including Michael Kors, Feed, YUM!, TenCent and the Latter-Day Saint Charities allowed the school meals programme to expand the introduction of‘ home-grown ' strategies that are better suited to the local context and government management.
Following three years of support to WFP ' s programme in the form of an annual rice donation, the Royal Government of Cambodia reconfirmed its commitment to continue this investment for the period 2016-2018.
Achievements at Country Level
In 2016, WFP continued the delivery of food assistance to the most vulnerable people and households through its school meals programme in 11 provinces, and through support to productive assets and livelihoods in 294 villages in six provinces. This was complemented with efforts to strengthen national counterpart capacities in the form of research and situation analysis, information systems building, policy support, and enhancing programme management capacities.
While national ownership was pursued with central government counterparts, efforts increasingly concentrated around work with decentralised government offices and importantly, directly with the communes and their representation. Home-grown school meals were scaled up through local food procurement relationships among commune councils, school leadership and local suppliers. Productive assets were built in collaboration between WFP, non-governmental organization( NGO) partners and local authorities in support of commune investment and development plans, while enhancing local climate change adaptability.
In early 2016, the productive season was considerably affected by the El Niño phenomenon, with reduced rainfall, lowered ground water levels and extreme heat. Not only did the circumstances raise concern over agricultural yields, they also affected public institutions such as schools, some of which reduced teaching hours and, in the most
Cambodia, Kingdom of( KH) 7 Country Programme- 200202