COVID-19 Multi Country Emergency Response - World Food Programme 2020

November 2020 – The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is a multiplier of vulnerability compounding threats to food insecurity and exacerbating the ability of affected communities to cope. The World Food Programme (WFP) is the United Nations’ frontline agency in the fight against hunger. It responds to emergencies saves lives by getting food to the hungry quickly and works to help prevent hunger in the future. In humanitarian emergencies WFP focuses on providing targeted food assistance to reduce acute malnutrition and food insecurity and to protect livelihoods. In the context of COVID-19 WFP is addressing the significant rise in immediate food insecurity caused by the pandemic in countries where unmet food-assistance needs are the most pronounced and where there has been the greatest deterioration in the food security situation. Project activities include: (1) distributing food; (2) supplementary feeding for children under the age of five as well as pregnant and lactating women; (3) emergency school feeding programs; (4) vouchers and cash transfers for food; and (5) food for work.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased access to food assistance for crisis-affected populations; (2) increased access to supplementary feeding for vulnerable groups including children and pregnant and lactating women; (3) increased enrolment and school attendance; and (4) increased resilience of severely food-insecure communities against further shocks. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises.