Bangladesh Country Investment Plan - Feed the Future

6 Priorities
from
Consultation
Process
(Brief
description of
activities)
8 Main national
implementation
institutions
9 Main
international
DPs
10 Main
implementation
challenges
B. Priority Interventions
In view of the global food market context, the Government of Bangladesh needs to
maintain a higher food stock in the future in order to achieve food security during
crisis. Also Public food stock need to increase to support an expanding safety net
programmes. Sudden sharp increase in food prices along with normal seasonal
upward movement of prices will also require larger public intervention to have an
effect on the expanding market. Further, increased frequency of natural disasters
with greater damage to the economy requires higher emergency food operation.
The size of the stock will depend on the size of the PFDS and other factors
including anticipated food grain situation in the domestic and international markets
and trade polices of exporting countries. Proper management mechanisms that
ensure quality and effective distribution are key to taking full advantage of these
stocks and reducing the vulnerability of Bangladesh to external shocks.
Management of a larger food stock also represents a challenge in terms of
determining the size of stock (which involves an opportunity cost of resources),
quality storage, release of stock and monitoring.
The prioritized interventions are as follows:
Enhance efficiency and effectiveness of Public Food Management Systems and
improve its impact on price stabilization
The key activities proposed were digitization of the food stock/storage monitoring
system in the field level to improve its efficiency and management and reduce
losses in food stocks. Further, enhanced quality control, through the establishment
of labs in the district level, will further strengthen the systems.
Build capacities of Ministry of Food and Disaster Management and Directorate
of Food to better manage the food system
Interventions are needed to expand capacity building to handle public food
distribution systems. This includes staff training in public food management or
effective response to emergencies and improving supervisory and monitoring
activities through logistics support. Additional capacity strengthening in training
and operational research is also emphasized.
Increase and modernize public storage and handling facilities, including in
disaster prone areas
Interventions were proposed for repair of unused warehouses and building of
modern storage facilities that are better equipped to resist external shocks.
The prioritized activities are: Enhance efficiency of Public Management Systems
(improve operational procedure (T). Adopt ICT and computerization and develop
operation research) (H). Build capacities of MoFDM and Direct orate of food to
manage the food system (M). Increase and modernize public storage and handling
facilities. Strengthen capacity of quality control of food and food stuffs (H).
C. Implementation Features
The national implementation institutes are Directorate of Food, FPMU, BARC,
Universities and CSOs and private sector.
Most of the investments in Programme 8 are funded by WB and the JDCF. The
sector requires an expansion of the storage capacities of food grain reserves
as well as capacity development to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of food
management system.
A major challenge relies in the need to ensure adequate coordination among
the multiple government institutions involved in implementation and
monitoring of NFP and CIP actions.
Note: The activities prioritized as Top (T), high (H) medium (M) and low (L).
Updated Bangladesh Country Investment Plan: A Road Map Towards investing in Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition
2 June 2011
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