World Food Programme Fighting Hunger Worldwide

SCHOOL MEALS PROGRAMME (DEV 200199)

This programme aims to increase enrolment, stabilise attendance and reduce dropout rates of primary school children, whilst improving the Governments capacity to manage the School Meals Programme. The meals are also an opportunity to alleviate micronutrient deficiencies.

From January 1, 2013 until December 31, 2014 a total of 150,000 children (75,000 in the second quarter of 2013) will receive morning porridge and a lunchtime meal to improve their stamina and learning capacity. In 2014 more schools will be enrolled under this programme, and WFP expects to reach 150,000 children in 750 schools. WFP met 99% of its quarterly target in providing school children with a mid-morning snack and a lunch meal. The food basket consists of fortified maize meal, pulses, fish, fortified vegetable oil, sugar and salt.

WFP is creating a Trust Fund which will enable school kitchens to be built in WFP supported schools located in mountainous and hard to reach areas. The country office has recruited a Civil Engineer to oversee construction work.

June was the last month in which WFP targeted 75,000 children in 445 schools for the School Meals programme. Beginning in July the donation received by the Republic of South Africa will enable WFP to reach 125,000 children in 623 schools. The gender ratio indicates that there are more girls than boys; WFP is currently in discussions on how to address this issue.

EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE IN RESPONSE TO CROP FAILURE IN LESOTHO (EMOP 200499)

Emergency Operations will assist 289,195 people through several programmes. WFP aims to improve the food consumption of 113,295 drought-affected vulnerable people through Targeted Vulnerable Group Feeding and 5,900 beneficiaries will receive support through the Prevention of Acute Malnutrition. Furthermore, WFP aims to protect the livelihoods of 170,000 people and reduce the hazard risk at the community level through Cash for Assets and Food for Work projects. WFP has reached 53% of its targets due to the late arrival of pledged funds. WFP is reaching 106,339 beneficiaries under Targeted Group Feeding, 24,510 beneficiaries under Cash for Assets, and 21,061 beneficiaries within Food for Work.

Component One: Targeted Vulnerable Group Feeding The number of women receiving house- hold food rations at distribution points has increased, ensuring that vulnerable women had direct ac- cess to, and control over food assistance which was provided. This feeding group consisted of children aged 6-23 months as well as pregnant and lactating women. Improved nutritional status was ad- dressed through the provision of fortified and nutritious food commodities. June marks the last month of this project given the improved Lesotho Vulnerability Assessment Committee (LVAC) results.

Component Two: Prevention of Acute Malnutrition:  WFP will expand the Supplementary Feeding programme to three new districts: Quthing, Mohale’s Hoek and Mafeteng. Sensitization meetings were held with district Health Management teams on programme implementation.

Component Three: Cash for Assets: Resource constraints delayed the start of the project, how- ever, WFP was able to assist 21,061 beneficiaries through its Food for Work scheme, and 24,510 beneficiaries through Cash for Assets. WFP partnered with The Disaster Management Authority (DMA), who facilitated the community-based selection, registration and validation processes to identify eligible households with a high dependency ratio.

COUNTRY PROGRAMME (CP 200369)

The Country Programme: has been designed to assist 447,600 beneficiaries over a 5 year period with 124,500 beneficiaries targeted in 2013. The programme is made up of three components, through which WFP aims to i) improve the food security of 10,000 beneficiaries through Disaster Risk Reduction (pending available funding) ii) support human development and increase enrolment of 50,000 pre- school children iii) improve socio-economic capacities by investing in peoples physical well being and improving the nutritional status of 64,500 people.

Component One – Enhancing Resilience and Responsiveness through Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR): Pending funding, WFP will support livelihood strategies that enhance farmers income, including diversification of farm-based enterprises and promotion of non- farm employment opportunities.

Component Two - Support to Education (Pre-Schools): WFP is targeting pre-school children in the country attending ECCD centres recognised by the Ministry of Education and Training. WFP met 95% of its quarterly target in providing pre-primary school children with a mid-morning breakfast of maize meal porridge, as well as a lunch meal.

Component Three - Support to Nutrition and HIV: Supplementary Feeding targets undernourished children age 6 to 59 months, pregnant and lactating women and clients on TB and ART treatment.  TB and ART clients are provided with household rations to improve household food security. Children between the ages of 6 to 23 months, and pregnant and lactating women will be targeted for Complementary Feeding.  Families with children between the ages of 6 and 23 months will receive a 6kg monthly ration of Super Cereal while pregnant and lactating women will receive a 7.5kg monthly ration of Super Cereal. Due to delayed funds, Complementary Feeding will begin in July 2013.