Immediate Response Account (IRA) - World Food Programme 2012

February 2012 - The United Nations World Food Programme's (WFP) Immediate Response Account (IRA) is a special account that is set up to purchase and transport food in order to meet the most pressing needs usually in the event of a natural disaster or other unexpected situations. Given that WFP is entirely voluntarily funded it depends on donors in order to respond to the immediate food assistance needs of affected populations during humanitarian crises or natural disasters. The IRA therefore plays a critical role in filling in funding gaps to ensure that the basic food needs of the most vulnerable populations are met in a timely manner. Historically Canada has provided considerable support to the IRA which is consistent with our desire to strengthen humanitarian agencies' rapid response capacities. This CIDA contribution allows WFP to make timely funding decisions based on wherever needs are the greatest.

Expected outputs include: Through this project WFP is able to respond swiftly to rapid-onset emergencies and protracted crises by providing much-needed upfront funding and enable it to avoid major pipeline breaks in life-saving operations. WFP field operations will include: the provision of food assistance through designated distribution sites (e.g. refugee camps therapeutic feeding centres); undertaking local and regional purchase; and providing logistical and telecommunications support to transport food to crisis zones. Expected intermediate outcomes include: This project will contribute to: saving lives and protecting livelihoods in emergencies with a focus on internally displaced people refugees and other vulnerable populations; preventing acute hunger and investing in disaster preparedness and mitigation measures; restoring and rebuilding lives and livelihoods in post-conflict post-disaster or transition situations; and strengthening the capacities of countries to reduce hunger through handover strategies and local purchase.