Immediate Response Account - World Food Programme 2013

February 2013 - Established in 1961 the World Food Programme (WFP) is the food assistance arm of the United Nations and is the largest humanitarian organization fighting hunger in the world. WFP provides food assistance to vulnerable populations as a means of addressing hunger and global food insecurity. WFP has demonstrated knowledge and capacity to address the urgent food needs of vulnerable populations and to contribute to fighting global hunger. Given WFP's presence and capacity there are no other agencies that are able to perform the same functions on a similar scale as WFP. DFATD's funding is supporting the Immediate Response Account (IRA) which provides WFP with the flexibility to make funding decisions based on wherever needs are the greatest usually following a rapid onset crisis or natural disaster. Provision of support to the IRA strengthens humanitarian agencies' rapid response capacity.

The expected outputs include: Through this project the World Food Programme (WFP) is able to respond swiftly to rapid-onset emergencies and protracted crises by providing much-needed up-front funding and to enable it to avoid major pipeline breaks in life-saving operations. WFP field operations will include: food assistance is provided through designated distribution sites (e.g. refugee camps therapeutic feeding centres); assessments and responses are more efficient more effective and better targeted by using innovative technology; local and regional markets are supported and food aid is more efficient by local and regional purchase of food where advisable; supplementary feeding and nutritious supplementary foods are provided to vulnerable groups including children pregnant and lactating women and female-headed households; and logistical and telecommunications support is provided to transport food to crisis zones through use of ships planes helicopters and trucks. The expected intermediate outcomes include: the reduced vulnerability of crisis-affected people especially women and children.