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Uganda + 1 more

WFP Uganda Country Brief, September 2017

Attachments

Highlights

  • WFP has issued eight contracts to small-scale farmer groups to supply 340 metric tons of maize grain through its first direct food purchase in Uganda.

  • WFP is running out of funds to provide food and nutrition assistance to 1.2 million refugees.
    Despite the continued support from traditional and new donors, and new contributions received in recent months, the operation requires USD 51.2 million for the next six months (October 2017 - March 2018).

Operational Updates

  • WFP is running out of funds to provide food and nutrition assistance to 1.2 million refugees. Despite the continued support from traditional and new donors, and new contributions received in recent months, the operation requires USD 51.2 million for the next six months (October 2017 - March 2018) to meet the increasing refugee needs. Expected contributions, if made available in time, will enable WFP to purchase food from the local markets during the harvest season.

  • In a recent livelihoods assessment conducted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and World Vision among refugees in the settlements of Imvepi and Rhino Camp, 89 percent of the respondents said their number-one concern was reduction of rations (usually due to insufficient funding or supply chain challenges). This highlights refugees’ dependence on WFP’s food assistance until they have the means to provide for themselves.

  • WFP issued eight contracts to small-scale farmer groups to supply 340 metric tons of maize grain through its first direct food purchase in Uganda. WFP began the direct purchase modality to increase small-scale farmers’ access to the premium grain market, which includes WFP. This is aimed at supporting smallholder farmers’ groups improve their income. WFP’s food vendor short-list has 29 small-scale groups, 17 of which are managing the WFP-established agricultural business centres, which include grain stores. The groups have received training in agricultural marketing, including collective marketing, farming as a business and how to do business with WFP.

  • WFP continues to provide technical support to the Government in setting up the single registry, which is expected to improve delivery of social protection programmes. Registration has been finalized in Moroto, Napak and Ka’abong districts, and is ongoing in Kotido District. It is expected that registration of 1 million people in all the seven districts will be completed by the end of the year. The registration exercise adopts a clustered – census style approach and captures details of all household members as well as taking biometrics and photos of people aged 5 years and above.