World Food Programme Fighting Hunger Worldwide

 This evaluation of WFP’s partnerships is one of four strategic evaluations undertaken in the 2010–2011 biennium that relate to the shift from food aid to food assistance as called for in WFP’s 2008–2013 Strategic Plan.

 This evaluation of WFP’s partnerships is one of four strategic evaluations undertaken in the 2010–2011 biennium that relate to the shift from food aid to food assistance as called for in WFP’s 2008–2013 Strategic Plan.

This evaluation of WFP’s partnerships is one of four strategic evaluations undertaken in the 2010–2011 biennium that relate to the shift from food aid to food assistance as called for in WFP’s 2008–2013 Strategic Plan.

The evaluation analysed how WFP’s partnerships and its role within them are affected by this strategic shift. Recognizing that the shift is an ongoing process and that the evaluation took place at the mid-point of the strategic planning cycle, the evaluation aimed to support organizational learning.   Partnership is a key element in WFP's Strategic Plan and is essential for effective international humanitarian and development assistance.  

The evaluation found that WFP is seen as a valued and respected partner and that working in partnership contributes to increased impact.  However the evaluation found areas of weakness that need to be addressed in order for WFP to be an even more effective partner, for example to develop a comprehensive partnership strategy, clarify its roles in relations to the shift to a food-assistance model and refine its internal systems and capacities.

This is the first in a series of four strategic evaluations related to the transition from food aid to food assistance.  The evaluation analyzed WFP’s role in social protection and safety nets, which are increasingly seen as important mechanisms for promoting development.  The evaluation found that WFP is already contributing to social protection and safety nets, especially for some activities.  However, institutionalizing these approaches more broadly within WFP will require changes in WFP’s operations and efforts to build organizational and staff capacity.

 The Annual Evaluation Report for 2010 focuses on operational issues arising from evaluations of country portfolios and operations, and impact evaluations of selected school feeding programmes.

The findings reaffirm WFP’s corporate areas of strength in responding to emergencies under the most difficult circumstances and in providing school feeding, as one of the Programme’s flagship programmes. However, impact evaluations of these programmes also showed the importance of implementing school feeding in cooperation with partners who invest in education sector improvements. Areas where largest improvements can be made relate to food-for-work, where funding often is curtailed and thus strategic objectives moved beyond reach, and nutrition where the ambiguous objectives and small size of programmes make it difficult to demonstrate results.

This is the first in a series of four strategic evaluations related to the transition from food aid to food assistance.  The evaluation analyzed WFP’s role in social protection and safety nets, which are increasingly seen as important mechanisms for promoting development.  The evaluation found that WFP is already contributing to social protection and safety nets, especially for some activities.  However, institutionalizing these approaches more broadly within WFP will require changes in WFP’s operations and efforts to build organizational and staff capacity.