School Feeding Programme, in Middle and Upper Guinea: the government aims to give a basic education to all Guineans by 2013. Its main priority is increasing primary school attendance, especially among girls. To this end, WFP has implemented a school feeding programme in Middle and Upper Guinea which feeds nearly 122,000 students in the 2005-06 school year.
In participating schools, each student receives a hot lunch every school day, giving them the sustenance they need to learn. Girls in fourth to sixth grades also receive a take-home ration, giving parents an added incentive to keep them at school. The programme aims to boost school enrolment and attendance rates as well as sensitise communities to key concepts in food security and hygiene. Although the programme was only launched in March 2002, attendance and performance have already risen in targeted schools.
Community-based Rural Development in Middle and Upper Guinea: WFP food assistance supports the Government's efforts to improve the living conditions and food security of poor rural people in Middle and Upper Guinea, by focusing on women's income generating activities, natural resource management and rural infrastructure through food-for-work and food for training. In 2006, these activities will benefit to an estimated 35,000 people in Upper and Middle Guinea.
Emergency Food Aid Programme in Forest Guinea: the current project started in January 2005 and assists people going hungry in emergencies resulting from armed conflicts in neighbouring countries. The programme is currently focusing on assistance to Liberian and Ivorian refugees living in seven refugee camps. WFP provides food to 45,000 Liberian and Ivorian refugees whose economic self-sufficiency is limited. WFP also supports Supplementary and Therapeutic Feeding Centres for both the refugees and host population surrounding the camps. In early 2003, WFP started an emergency school feeding programme in Forest Guinea to support host communities. Currently 65,000 primary school children are benefiting from this activity.
Nationwide air operations with links to neighbouring countries : an 18-seater WFP aircraft transports humanitarian passengers five days a week to locations throughout Guinea (Conakry, Kissidougou and N'Zerekore), Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The flights are free of charge for all employees of humanitarian agencies. The plane is also used for diplomatic missions and medical evacuations. The air operation plays a key role in responding to emergency situations by transporting goods and people, particularly in areas of instability and where ground transport is difficult.