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Senegal

WFP Senegal Country Brief, October 2017

Attachments

Highlights

• WFP contributed to the emergency response plan (PUSA) approved by the Government of Senegal for the 2017 lean season by continuing the provision of targeted food assistance to vulnerable populations in the Matam region, northern Senegal.

• WFP strategically opened a new sub-office in the Kolda region to ensure a greater coverage of the entire southern region. The inauguration was attended by various authorities and key partners.

Operational Updates

Opening of a new field office: WFP’s new sub-office in the Kolda region, in southern Senegal, was inaugurated on 13 October. The event was presided by Mr. Abdoulaye Bibi Baldé, Mayor of Kolda and Minister of Communication, Telecommunications, Posts and Digital Economy. The inauguration was attended by several high-level participants including the Prime Minister's Special Adviser, d irectors of key governmental partners, Kolda’s Governor, WFP’s Regional and Country Director s , UN partners (UNICEF, FAO, IOM ) and local authorities.
The ceremony was organized in collaboration with UNI CEF which also relocated its local representation from Ziguincho r to Kolda. WFP and UNICEF are joining IOM in this southern region of Senegal where they intend to carry out complementary interventions and assist common targets in Kolda, Zig uinchor, Sedhiou, Tambacounda and Kedougou.
Targeted Food Assistance (TFA): In support of the Government’s emergency response plan (PUSA) for the 2017 lean season, WFP Senegal carried out food vouchers distributions in four localities of the Matam d epartment (Bokidiawé, Nabadj i Civol, Ourossogui and Ogo). About 37,000 vulnerable p eople received WFP assistance for a value of USD 335,000 ( XOF 185,880,000).
Resilience and Rural Development (R4 initiative): Through a grant awarded by the French Governm ent, two distributions of food vouchers were carried out in Kolda and Tambacounda regions for a total of 6,000 participants and 54,000 people . The value of distributed food vouchers is about USD 218,000 (XOF 121,000,000).
A toll-free number (800800802) was set up to enable recipients to provide feedback – including complaints – on the assistance provided by WFP. The number is distinctly indicated on the vouchers distributed. Given the context of country offices’ cross-fertilization and collaboration, a R4 team member participated to a pre-feasibility study mission in Niger. The mission’s objective was to enable WFP Niger to learn from WFP Senegal ’s experience on innovations in integrated climate risk management and to assess the feasibility of implementing a similar approach in the Niger context.
A diagnostic study on cereal banks was launched to enable a collaboration between WFP, World Vision and the Agriculture Directorate in order to integrate WFP’s cereal bank s approach into the government’s policies and programmes.

School meals: After three months of vacations (July, August, September), the a cademic year resumed in October, in accordance with the Senegal ese school calendar.
However, schools reopening are uneven acr oss regions and accordingly, WFP will resume its school meals activities gradually. WFP has developed as chool meals operational plan for the 2017 /academic year. About 160,000 beneficiaries will be assisted through 818 primary schools.
Cash - based transfers (CBT): As part of the development of the CBT modality, WFP (Regional Bureau of Dakar and Senegal Country Office), intends to enhance beneficiaries’ financial inclusion through digital transfers (electronic cash or voucher transfers) with the support of UNCDF . The tender process is ongoing for the selection of service providers for electronic transfers.

Challenges

WFP urgently needs USD 3.5 million for the next six months, from November 2017 to April 2018, under PRRO 200681. The lack of funding affects WFP planned activities such as school meals, rural development, capacity development and augmentation.