FSC Meeting Minutes Oct 23, 2012.pdf - Food Security Clusters
FSC Meeting Minutes Oct 23, 2012.pdf - Food Security Clusters
FSC Meeting Minutes Oct 23, 2012.pdf - Food Security Clusters
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Damien Joud (ACF) asked for some clarification on the numbers that had been presented in the <strong>FSC</strong>report, as some discrepancies in the number of affected households/families (and thereforehouseholds/families in need of assistance) were noted. He suggested that these differences may bedue to methodology issues, for example in how “affected farm family” was defined and determined.Dominique Burgeon and Mezbanur Rahman (FAO) concurred that it would be critical to explain thedefinition of “affected family” (i.e. how families are affected in different ways, and whatqualifications are used to identify most seriously affected and in need of most urgent assistance). Thiswould be modified in the final version of the report.Sheikh Ahaduzzaman (FAO) further explained that part of the incongruity in the data is may be dueto the fact that the DAE studies are focused only on agricultural people while the <strong>FSC</strong> assessment andothers likely cover all people.Still, it was decided that a further review of the numbers of affected households would have to bedone.Presentation 2: Rapid <strong>Food</strong> <strong>Security</strong> Assessment Northwest Flooding- Key Findings on <strong>Food</strong><strong>Security</strong> and Livelihoods (Kayenat Kabir, WFP)As background it was explained that the <strong>FSC</strong> carried out a Phase II type rapid assessment in the worstaffected districts (Bogra, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Kurigram and Sirajganj) on 9-13 <strong>Oct</strong>ober. The severelyaffected unions in the 5 districts were identified through purposive sampling. 1The Objectives of the assessment were to: Assess the impact of flooding on food security and livelihoods Determine the immediate priority needs of the affected population in order to inform forappropriate and timely response (if necessary). Estimate the population in need of immediate assistance.Key findings: The flood hit during the lean season at a time when households were expecting to recoverfrom the impact of previous floods through Aman harvest. Agricultural day labourers and small and marginal farmers are most affected. Non-agricultural day labourers and fishermen are reported to be partly affected by the flood. With un recoverable damage to Aman paddy, the current flood has depleted the householdlevel food stock and major income of the year. Most marginal farmers may not be able to afford the alternative farming unless providedwith external assistance.Typical Coping Strategies such as distress selling of assets, migration to other areas in search ofemployment, and reduction in size and frequency of meals were registered. In addition, whilemarkets are functional and accessible, prices of essential food items have increased, decreasing thepurchasing capacity of the HHs.Immediate needs identified by the communities: Provision of essential food items (through cash transfer or food assistance) for at least thenext two months Cash and agricultural inputs support to restore livelihoods Reconstruction of houses/shelters (though not <strong>FSC</strong> area of work)The assessment identified 41 unions in five districts as priority areas. Over 55 percent of the HHs inthese unions are affected by the floods. A total of 35,000 HHs were estimated in need of assistancein the 41 unions (including 16,000 Agricultural day labourers HHs and 19,000 marginal farmer HHs).1 47 unions identified as most severely affected by more than one <strong>FSC</strong> member; out of these 47 unions, 31were sampled for the assessment.
It was further recommended that in order to plan any short to medium term recovery assistances onfood security, nutrition and livelihoods, a follow up in depth assessment should be undertaken inDecember 2012.Discussion:Rosanne Marchesich (FAO) returned on the subject of the HH numbers, stating that another reasonfor the discrepancies may be that the agricultural assessment was carried out at upazila level whilethe food security and livelihoods at union level, thereby producing more or less detail. She alsoexplained that discussions with the government in the last few days had revealed that in theirestimation the government assistance had only managed to reach 30% of affected HHs.Sandie Walton-Ellery (ACAPS) further stated that the more quantitative assessment carried outduring the agricultural study may have produced more detailed numbers than the more qualitativeimpacts noted during the food security and livelihood assessment.Damien Joud (ACF) stressed that the report should be clear and should cover the reality of thesituation on the ground. He stated that the <strong>FSC</strong> report should clearly affirm that the assessment is apreliminary one, undertaken quickly in an effort to respond as soon as possible, and that thenumbers and information would need to be re-examined in time for a more accurate picture.Jimi Richardson (WFP) mentioned that there should be some distinguishing made between ‘types’ ofassistance, as those who would require agricultural support may be different from those requiringgeneral food and livelihood support.Islamic relief and ACF both asked a question related to timing, in particular since the assessmentseemed to have taken a relatively long time to complete since the floods actually hit.FAO and DAE both explained that the three most feasible crops are now wheat, mustard and maize,and that these can be sown between 15-30 November. It is too late for vegetables and too early forBoro rice.FAO assured that procurement preparations have been underway concurrently to the assessment, sothey are ready to move as soon as the official proceedings are in place. FAO is required to wait for anofficial government request for assistance before it commences operations; however, this wasexpected to be delivered soon.It was suggested and agreed that the TWG would meet at 9 am on Thursday, <strong>Oct</strong>ober 25 th to refineand explain the logic behind the data. After this, the <strong>FSC</strong> report on the Northwest floods could go outto all the partners.3. 3W Matrix (Who What Where) in the Northwest flooding zoneMalik Kabir (WFP) explained that the 3W matrix approach would be applied to the Northwest afterits successful usage in the south-east. The template would be circulated to the <strong>FSC</strong> members afterthe meeting, with the purpose of determining all completed, ongoing and planned relief operationsin the area, so as to avoid duplication. A deadline of <strong>Oct</strong>ober 31 st was given for supplying therequested information.4. Situation and response update on Southeast StormThe HCTT Review Group explained that they have been working on institutionalizing a coordinated,multi-sector and multi-stakeholder assessment process for the immediate aftermath of a crisissituation.
This approach was carried out following a storm that hit Noakhali, Bhola, Chittagong and Cox’s Bazardistricts in the southeast of Bangladesh on 11 <strong>Oct</strong>ober. In the three days following the disaster,assessment reports were circulated from IFRC, Oxfam, Muslim Aid, Save the Children and DMIC. Asmall group composed by Muslim Aid, UNDP, IFRC, Oxfam, Islamic Relief, Solidarités International,Concern Worldwide, WFP and FAO with the support of ACAPS met and reviewed the existinginformation, first on <strong>Oct</strong>ober 15 th , then on the 12st.Situation summary:- 25,875 households (124,367 people) affected by the storm in Noakali, Bhola and Chittagongdistricts.-36 deaths, 183 injured and 51 missing.-8,050 shelters fully damaged and 16,330 partially damaged.-Displacement not an ongoing issue.-Monpura Upazilla, Charfassion in Bhola district and Haytia, Subarnachar in Noakali District arethe most affected in term of impact and number of people affected.-No significant impact to rice culture (DAE); main agricultural impact was on vegetable crop.-Next harvest to provide good source of daily labour, as normal.-Fisheries sector affected more than agriculture.-No update on water and sanitation issueNumerous recovery interventions are ongoing, including from the government, which appears to beeffective.Recommendations include:Immediate response:•Ongoing food support responses should target the most vulnerable affected people (ie tocomplement the GoB)•Discussion with the government about the possibility to increase the amount of the shelterrepair cash grant from 500 to 20,000 BDT•NFI support for HH affected in the 4 prioritized Upazilas with direct distribution (blanket andshelter repair kits) or cash transfer approach•Coordination with existing responders to ensure consistency and limited overlapsOngoing monitoring:•Monitoring the livelihood situation in the coming week. The <strong>Food</strong> security Cluster will follow andreport back to the group•Monitoring of the shelter situation in the coming week. IFRC on behalf of the Shelter Cluster willfollow up and report back to group•More detailed information is needed in order to get more concrete figures on the damages toand identify the capacity of the affected people to repair or rebuild their homesThe group agreed to collect available information and to meet again on 5th of November to reviewthe situation and compile an updated report. All interested stakeholders and partners were invited toattend.Discussion:Sandie Walton-Ellery (ACAPS) explained that the overall aim of this initiative is to understand andassess the magnitude of a disaster based on information from government and partners. Thissumming up is meant to avoid exhaustion and over-stretching of resources in situations ofcomparatively smaller emergencies. In a country like Bangladesh, where emergencies are frequent,the need for careful balance along with constant monitoring is crucial.A question related to nutrition was asked, as it seemed to be generally absent from the presentation.The HCTT team explained that they are a coordinating entity and that this kind of assessment isproduced on the basis of information that is readily-available and provided by the clusters. Nutrition
would be greatly welcomed as an item and <strong>FSC</strong> members with relevant expertise were encouraged toprovide this information when possible.5. AOBSave the Children announced that spaces were still available for a training session on the ‘Cost of DietMethod’ and the ‘Household Economy Approach’ in Dhaka on December 4 th . Interested <strong>FSC</strong>members were encouraged to register.The meeting closed with a reminder about the TWG meeting that would be held at 9:00 am onThursday, <strong>Oct</strong>ober 25 th with the aim of refining the <strong>FSC</strong> report on the Northwest flooding. It wasfurther agreed that the next meeting of the <strong>FSC</strong> would be scheduled in about a month’s time.ATTENDANCE LISTMalik Kabir, Program Officer, WFPRosanne Marchesich, Operations Coordinator, FAODominique Burgeon, FAO Representative, FAOJimi Richardson, Head of Programmes, WFPAtal Majumder, Programme coordinator, ESDOSheikh Ahaduzzaman, Assistant FAO Representative, FAOMony Rahman, P.O, VOSDSyed S. Arefeen, Head of Southern Operations, WFPMohammad Manirul Islam, Senior Assistant Secretary, MODMRCharlie Eustace, Project Officer, Save the ChildrenMohiuddin, SPO-CFDRR, SCTSandie Walton-Ellery, Assessment Expert, ACAPS-ECBJessica Staskiewicz, Programme Officer, WFPStefania Battistelli, Programme Officer, FAOMizanur Rahman, Scientific Officer, DLSNazrul Islam, Coordinator-FS, Muslim AidAlbert Prosad Bashu, Project Coordinator, Concern WorldwideDulon Joseph Gomes, Emergency Programme Officer, Christian AidM Rahman, Assistant Chief, Ministry of AgricultureM. Golam Ambia, Deputy Director, DAEAtiqur Rahman, Zonal Manager, TMSSGolam M. Billah, Program Manager, Islamic ReliefShofiul Alam, Humanitarian Programme Coordinator, Muslim AidDominic Gomes, HEA Coordinator-Capacity Building, World VisionFeroz Al Mahmed, Research Director, FPMU FOMMezbanur Rahman, NOO, FAODany Egreteau, Country Director, Solidarities InternationalBenoit Munsch, ACAPSKayenat Kabir, Sr. VAM Officer, WFP
FOOD SECURITY CLUSTER CONTACT:Rosanne Marchesich (FAO)Malik Kabir (WFP)<strong>Food</strong> <strong>Security</strong> Cluster (FAO - WFP)Email: rosanne.marchesich@fao.orgmalik.kabir@wfp.org<strong>FSC</strong> – dedicated to coordination,cooperation and partnershipsCluster Strategy – ensuring food availability, protecting access tofood for the most vulnerable groups and building sustainablesystems for the future