This Operation has been modified and extended in time until 31 March 2011, as per Budget revision 6 (see below).

WFP has been present in Cote d’Ivoire since 1989; initial phase out plans scheduled for the end of 1990s were interrupted because of the civil strife. WFP’s future exit strategy will be influenced by progress in the peace process, the pace of economic recovery and the government’s capacity to re-establish and develop basic services in support of vulnerable groups.

In 2007-2008, WFP will support the recovery process, while mitigating the residual effects of the protracted crisis. At the same time, preparations will be made for a phasing down of relief and recovery activities and a shift to development and joint United Nations programming beyond 2008.

The WFP strategy is consistent with the Common Humanitarian Action Plan, whose objectives include i) reestablishment of basic services, ii) protection and re-integration of displaced populations, and ii) reinforcement of foodsecurity and promotion of livelihoods.

Recovery-type interventions will constitute the bulk of activities under this PRRO and include education, Food-for- Work, Food-for-Training and targeted nutrition programmes. The education component will be the largest, some 55 percent of the PRRO resources, providing cooked school meals to 580,000 students and take-home rations for 60,00.

Following more than four years of civil conflict, massive population displacement and a division of the country, there have been recent signs of improvement in Cote d’Ivoire. The next steps, all crucial for the continuation of the peace process and for the achievement of economic recovery, include the rapid implementation of the Disarmament,Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) and voter identification/registration processes, the return of the administration to the North and finally the organization of elections in early 2008. Despite the recent improvement in the political situation, the long-term effects of the crisis, including widespread food insecurity are expected to persist. Humanitarian assistance is still needed to address the needs of the most vulnerable strata of the population. The protection and return of previously displaced populations is underway, albeit currently limited, in the West of the country.0 girls and their family members, with a focus on food insecure regions with low enrolment rates; this activity supports WFP Strategic Objective 4 (supporting access to education and reduce gender disparity) and MDG 2 (to achieve universal primary education) and MDG 3 (promote gender equality and empower women).

Food-for-Work and Food-for-Training for 90,000 beneficiaries will comprise 22 percent of the PRRO resources, aiming to sustain the return and self-reliance of displaced populations, including demobilised and war-affected children, with a focus on agriculture, infrastructure rehabilitation and training; these activities support WFP Strategic Objective 2 (protecting livelihoods in crisis situations) and MDG 1 (to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger) and MDG 7 (ensure environmental sustainability). Targeted nutrition programmes for 47,000 vulnerable mothers and children under-5 and HIV-affected people in food insecure areas will comprise 18 percent of the PRRO resources; this activity supports WFP Strategic Objective 3 (support the nutrition and health status of children, mothers, and other vulnerable people) and MDG 4 (reduce child mortality), MDG 5 (improve maternal health) and MDG 6 (combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases).

In contrast to the previous PRRO, the relief component of this PRRO is significantly reduced from 30 percent to 5 percent of resources. The relief component under this PRRO will provide assistance to 17,000 IDPs in support of WFP Strategic Objective 1 (savings lives in crisis situations) and Millennium Development Goal - MDG 1 (eradicate extreme poverty and hunger) and MDG 4 (reduce child mortality).

Geographic and socio-economic beneficiary targeting is based on a range of secondary data analysis and primary data collection, including the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey by UNICEF, the 2006 crop assessment from FAO, WFP Food Security Monitoring System and the in-depth emergency food security assessment conducted in September/October 2006. The latter concluded that 9 percent of the population of the affected regions is food insecure, whereas an additional 20 percent is at risk.

Countries

Côte D'Ivoire

During the 1990’s, Côte d'Ivoire was one of west Africa’s most stable and prosperous nations. However, since the 2002 attempted coup-turned-rebellion, the country has been divided in two. This has caused massive population displacement -- both internally and to neighbouring countries....