In response to Senegal's specific challenges, WFP is implementing a Prolonged Relief and Recovery Operation and a Country Programme, as well as separate bilateral rice production and salt iodization projects. All activities support the Government's policies and efforts to implement the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 1 through 8 (except 6) within the framework of its Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper.
The overall objectives of WFP assistance in Senegal are to promote access and quality to basic education through the provision of school meals; to improve the nutrition status of vulnerable groups; and to increase household food security through safety nets such as Cash and Voucher transfers and cereal banks. These activities enhance self-reliance and empower households to better cope with shocks (MDGs 1 to 7). In addition, WFP contributes to the achievement of MDGs 1, 2, 3 and 7 through peace building and post-conflict reconstruction activities in the Casamance region and responds to the critical needs of vulnerable people impacted by high food prices.
With the aim to enhance access to micronutrient-rich, blended food for infants, WFP has introduced a pilot project for the local production of enriched flour in rural areas. This project, which runs until March 2013, is supported by the MDG Fund and the French Trust Fund.
Following the 2007-2008 high food price crisis and the inability of the national Early Warning System (EWS) to provide quality and timely information on the food security and nutrition situation in Senegal, WFP, in collaboration with FAO and UNICEF, has initiated a capacity-building project to strengthen the EWS for food security and nutrition monitoring, with a view to improving disaster risk reduction and emergency preparedness mechanisms.
In general, WFP’s programmes and projects are implemented in conjunction with significant capacity-building activities for beneficiaries and partners. This component encourages sustainability in the operational achievements of projects and facilitates the handover of WFP’s activities to the Government of Senegal when project implementation has been completed.