Full Report - WFP Remote Access Secure Services

Full Report of the Evaluation of the Kosovo EMOP 6040
One great advantage to work with WFP was that the staff was permanent and did not change,
like in other organisations, which changed staff every three to four weeks. Also the network of
WFP was good. However, WFP’s mandate is very clear and simple: to provide food.
UNHCR’s task is much more complex, so they have more difficulties.
One case was difficult with WFP. It was the questions about providing food parcels to Albanian
families hosting refugees and the involvement of the Red Cross. Finally we agreed on this
matter. The bakeries were OK. There was always fresh bread for the refugees. Quarrels we
had about the composition of the food basket; but we could not provide a different standard.
Why was the EMG so successful? Our function was to co-ordinate, suggest, provide
guidelines, we did not command, that was not our mandate. We had the support of the Albania
Government, the main donors, the international agencies and the military, which played a big
role in co-ordination.”
5.5 Co-ordination of Food Aid
As in previous emergency operations, WFP participated in a variety of inter-agency co-ordination
mechanisms, at all levels. In the Kosovo operation, a Task Force was appointed by the Secretary
-General in New York to effect overall co-ordination. In the field, UNHCR served as lead agency,
while WFP generally chaired the meetings and fora which co-ordinated food matters. How well did
this work? In this context the evaluation will also assess to what extent the general Memorandum
of Understanding between UNHCR and WFP has enhanced or hindered the effectiveness of the
operation.
5.5.1 Food Co-ordination and Strategies
In Albania, WFP assumed the formal role of food-co-ordination within the EMG and chaired
successfully the food desk. InFYRoM, WFP quickly moved into the role of food co-ordinator,
receiving and distribution also non-WFP food. It co-operated with NATO and hosted weekly food
co-ordination meetings.
Assuming the role of food co-ordination is not easy when there is no own food to distribute,
particular in the first days of an emergency. The lead role of WFP as the main food co-ordinator in
emergency situations can only be maintained when WFP has of sufficient stocks, mobilised in the
initial phase.
Split food pipelines and donor conditions complicated to a certain degree food co-ordination and
the establishment of a common food policy.
International NGOs, ICRC and IFRC brought their own food into the crisis area. The policies, food
baskets and rations often differed from WFP's concept. This led in some cases to problems with
the target groups.
Despite the efforts of the WFP Management to convince the US Government, as the main food
donator, to provide all food aid through WFP, the USA provided almost 75 % of its commodities
through two US based NGOs and the remaining part through WFP.
Other donors conditioned their food contributions, such as the limitation of US commodities to be
used in Serbia, and the German and French contributions only to be used in areas of Kosovo
(during phase three) which were controlled by their respective troops.
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