This year the World Food Day was commemorated on 16th of October. This day was set aside to promote worldwide awareness of hunger and promote action for the future of food, people and the planet. Locally, the World Food Programme (WFP) is implementing several initiatives aimed at strengthening food systems as well as building resilience of people in the face of climatic shocks. Our reporter JACOB NANKHONYA caught up with WFP country representative PAUL TURNBULL and had this conversation. Excerpts;
How has WFP responded to El Niño which has affected food security in the country?
This year has significantly impacted food security in Malawi. The prolonged dry spell during a critical crop-growing phase due to El Niño devastated food production, with 44 percent of crops damaged leading to 5.7 million Malawians facing severe hunger. I have visited communities and engaged with families impacted by the El Niño-induced drought in several districts and have listened to touching stories of affected families, including that of Waison and his wife Maness in Chikwawa District, who have already endured severe hardships. This family did all that was required to be able to harvest a bumper yield, but the shocks have led to his not harvesting. This is the situation with many other families who are in dire straits. However, thanks to initial contributions from development partners, WFP has responded decisively by increasing food assistance and shifting to in-kind food distributions to meet the urgent needs. While WFP usually uses cash transfers, the scarcity of domestic cereal supplies and risks of food price inflation required a change in approach. WFP is also supporting malnutrition treatment for young children and has ramped up school meals to ensure that children stay in school. In addition, we are also providing logistics support to food distributions of the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) and procurement and transport services to import maize for the Government.
How is WFP collaborating with the Malawi Government, and other stakeholders to address the El Niño-related food security challenges?
WFP’s response to El Niño’s impact relies profoundly on partnerships. At the outset, partnership with the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (Mvac) was fundamental to quantify the requirements and the number of people requiring food assistance. WFP is responding within the framework of the “National El Niño’s Induced Prolonged Dry Spells and Floods Appeal” and the “United Nations Drought Flash Appeal”. WFP collaborates with the Government of Malawi (especially Dodma, ministries of Health and Education), other UN agencies, national and international non-governmental organisations, to plan, coordinate and execute the El Niño response. This collaboration includes WFP’s co-leadership in the Food security and Logistics clusters. Donor partners play the critical role in funding the emergency response—they have responded quickly and generously to the appeals, demonstrating their solidarity with the people of Malawi.
What are some of WFP’s key interventions in and how does this align with this year’s World Food Day theme?
WFP has prioritised food assistance for vulnerable households, malnutrition treatment for children, enhanced school meal provision and supply chain support. We are focusing on areas classified in “crisis” or “emergency” food security phases, mostly located in Southern Malawi. This year’s World Food Day theme “Right to foods for a better life and a better future” calls for building a resilient future. Our interventions address immediate food needs and help to protect livelihoods for recovery. WFP’s other interventions include those enabling communities to better withstand future climate shocks, emergency preparedness training, and preparation for the potential effects of La Niña, which could bring heavy rains and flooding in the 2024-2025 season.
Beyond emergency food aid, how is WFP working with communities to build resilience against future climate shocks?
WFP is committed to enhancing resilience to climate shocks by working with communities on programmes that build food security for the long-term. We support the integrated resilience approach with initiatives such as soil and water conservation, crop diversification, small-scale irrigation, climate-smart agricultural practices and reduction of post-harvest losses. WFP is also supporting interventions to improve food systems from a supply chain perspective.
How are communities involved in WFP’s El Niño response efforts?
WFP and its cooperating partners collaborate with community leaders to ensure that our interventions are culturally relevant and effectively meet the needs of those affected by food insecurity. Local communities are involved in the targeting and registration of households for relief food and cash distributions. Where possible, “Cash Plus” activities are linked to distributions, whereby communities are involved in the planning and implementation of cash-for-work projects, with participants rehabilitating infrastructure such as irrigation canals, reforesting degraded land and other interventions.
How has the response from donors been?
It has been very encouraging. Every contribution helps us to save lives and prevent malnutrition, and donor support is indispensable to our success. So far, we have secured funding to procure and distribute 35 000 metric tonnes (MT) of maize and over 400MT of nutrition supplements. While the funding received so far has allowed WFP to begin relief food distributions for two months, a significant funding gap remains. We urgently need an additional $67 million to sustain our efforts through to the end of the El Nino emergency season.
Your message as we mark World Food Day?
I want to assure the people of Malawi, that WFP stands with you in this challenging time. We are committed to helping the most vulnerable households overcome the immediate impacts of El Niño and build a more resilient future.
How is WFP intervening to on the plight of 5.7 million Malawians severely food-insecure between now and March?
WFP aims to reach over two million people with food assistance, along with targeted nutrition support for 90 000 malnourished children and increased provision of school meals for 700 000 learners. We are also providing supply chain services to support government’s relief response. Our food distributions already started last month.
