E30m WFP cash injection for 53 000 people

MBABANE – Over E30 million was disbursed to around 53 000 people by the World Food Programme (WFP) through cash based transfers (CBT) in 2023.

This is contained in the WFP Eswatini Country Report for the year 2023, which was published on Tuesday. The report is part of the international organisation’s 2020-2025 Country Strategic Plan.

In 2023, WFP continued with its efforts to assist the most vulnerable populations, with an emphasis on two regions, Lubombo and Shiselweni, classified under Integrated Food Classification (IPC) phases three or four, for two consecutive years. The report indicated that food insecurity in early 2023 was significant. The Eswatini June 2022-March 2023 IPC estimated that the number of people who would need food assistance would increase from 183 000 to 259 000.

In response, WFP provided unconditional food assistance to food-insecure households during the lean season, extending beyond its usual end in March as needs persisted. WFP’s assistance was mostly cash-based - mobile money - and lasted until July. Beneficiaries were selected in ten constituencies identified as priority one in the nationally coordinated response. The most vulnerable were targeted using a hybrid approach of geographic targeting, following the annual national vulnerability assessments, country location classifications and participatory community-based targeting at community level, actively led by the target populations.

It is stated in the report that WFP prioritised the most vulnerable, including child-headed households, the chronically ill, elderly-headed households, widows, as well as people with disabilities.

Selected in partnership with the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) and local partners, targeted areas included Lubombo Region - Lugongolweni, Gilgal, Dvokodvweni, Mpolonjeni, Lomahasha, Siphofaneni; Manzini Region - Mafutseni, Mtfongwaneni, Lobamba Lomdzala; Hhohho Region Lobamba. The organisation reached out to 54 812 people. Of the total of 54 812 people reached, 1 090 were pregnant and breastfeeding women and 2 338 were people with disabilities; 55 per cent were women and 45 per cent were men; 2 000 were supported through in-kind food distributions, with the rest receiving cash. According to the report and the strategic plan, E63.92 million (US$3.4 million) was meant to be disbursed. However, US$1.7 million, which is equivalent to E31.9 million, was disbursed.

“Due to limited funding, WFP was only able to distribute E31.9 million (US$ 1.7 million) instead of the planned E63.92 million (US$ 3.4 million.)”

Disbursement

The WFP report also mentioned that results from monthly post-distribution monitoring (PDM), after each cash disbursement to beneficiaries, confirmed improvements in household food security, based on two indicators: Food Consumption Score (FCS) and Coping Strategy Index (CSI).

“Households improved their acceptable FCS with no significant difference between female or male-headed households. Households reduced their reliance on negative coping strategies, again showing a similar improvement among households headed by women or men,” read the report.

It was also stated in the report that the gender and age marker score of three, indicates a successful integration of gender and age into WFP’s activities for assistance provided to vulnerable populations.

Further, around 78 986 school-going children were fed by WFP in 2023. The report shows that the organisation provided 1 877 metric tonnes (MT) of food through school-based programmes. “WFP reached a total of 78 986 beneficiaries through the neighbourhood care point programme (54 662) and the home-grown school feeding (HGSF) programme (24 324).”