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Dept for International Development

Answer

Mr. Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what assurances he sought from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation that they were capable of implementing the project proposals outlined in Emergency Assistance (agriculture and livestock) to vulnerable households in the Greater Darfur region of Sudan before awarding a grant for this work; and what steps he has taken to ensure the aid reaches the intended beneficiaries; [223163] (2) what assessment he has made of whether (a) veterinary equipment, (b) medicine and vaccines and (c) food and fodder detailed in the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation project documentation has been (i) purchased and (ii) applied where it was required. [223161] Hilary Benn: [holding answer 24 March 2005]: The UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) undertakes the implementation of its Emergency Assistance Programme through International Non- Governmental Organisations (INGOs). The FAO has been in Darfur for four years, but has worked previously with its implementing partners in other areas of Sudan. As such they have built up a good professional relationship based on mutual trust and responsibility. From previous reporting by the UN, as well as from my officials following monitoring visits and discussions within Sudan, I have confidence in the FAO's capability to implement their project proposals in this very difficult environment. The UK has already funded the FAO project `Emergency Assistance (Agriculture and Livestock)' with a contribution of £1 million (2004-05). This was agreed on the basis of in-depth dialogue with the FAO in Sudan. DFID has supplemented this with an additional contribution of $4.5million (£2.3 million) to the FAO, as part of DFID's contributions to the UN Workplan. Timely disbursements of funds are of especial importance to the FAO, as it needs to plan ahead so it has inputs available at the key points in the agricultural calendar. This year DFID is piloting in Sudan some of the reforms to the International System that I have proposed on humanitarian reform supported by the Organisation for Co-ordination Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), notably empowering the UN Humanitarian Co-ordinator (UNHC). The aim is for the UNHC to take the lead on responsibility for needs assessments, planning, and resource allocation. DFID funding to UN agencies this year is being channelled through the UNHC who is responsible for allocating funds to UN agencies against priority needs. This most recent FAO contribution from-DFID (of $4.5million) forms part of his prioritised allocations for the first tranche of money (£14 million) we have made available. In the Emergency Assistance project cereal seed is being procured locally (59.5 metric tons), some of which has already been delivered. The FAO is responsible for delivering the seed to the three regional capitals of the Darfur region where it is handed over to the INGOs. INGOs have identified a number of specific vulnerable groups totalling 261,000 families who have access to land at the moment. This equates to over 1,000,000 direct beneficiaries. These INGOs are then responsible for delivering directly to the families. Overall monitoring and evaluation is the responsibility of the FAO who have to ensure appropriate performance of their implementing INGO partners. Co-ordination of these activities is carried out by the Food Security Co- ordination meeting, which is held bi-weekly in each of the Darfur regional capitals. The FAO will be reporting on their performance this year to both DFID and the UNHC. In addition, through DFID's humanitarian and livelihoods advisers in Khartoum and London, we will be undertaking monitoring of this programme during the course of this year. The FAO has stressed that there still remains a considerable shortfall in the amount of seed required (855MT), but there still remains sufficient time to purchase and distribute as the rains will not be expected until a further two months. Veterinary Equipment: This has been purchased in Sudan and distributed to the three Darfur capitals. The equipment is dispatched to the INGOs who then distribute it to selected Community Animal Health Workers (CAHW). This cadre of staff has been selected by the community and trained by the INGOs. They are paid a small stipend by the INGO which is reimbursed by the FAO. Again, all activities are monitored and evaluated by the INGOs. Pertinent issues can and are raised in community dialogue in formal and informal manner. Medicine/Vaccine: These have been purchased in Khartoum and distributed through the same mechanism as above. Food/Fodder: A supplementary feed (concentrate pellets) for feeding is purchased in Sudan. Again, this is distributed by the INGOs direct to the beneficiaries with monitoring carried out by the CAHW. The FAO has a Letter of Agreement (LOA) with each of its INGOs to purchase fodder in the local market. The implementing partner then agrees a sub-contract with a private contractor to deliver the fodder to them, which is then distributed direct to the beneficiaries and again monitored by the CAHW. This component is strongly linked to issues on protection. Women are usually required to go out and gather fodder, but have been subject to rape and violence when moving outside of camps. This intervention will help to minimise the risk.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

432 c1202-3W; 223163;223161

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Disadvantaged Agriculture Development aid Cereals International assistance Food Livestock Monitoring Seeds Veterinary services Sudan Darfur

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk