FSS 2016 3rd Quarter Highlights
In brief
SEFSec survey
In preparation to the HPC 2017, The FSS conducted two workshops in both West Bank and Gaza Strip aiming at identifying major issues related to the analysis of the needs and the response approach. FSS partners discussed the role of the humanitarian plan to address the needs of the most vulnerable people, and how humanitarians can add value vis-a-vis development opportunities and the political framework. These workshops informed the boundaries and objectives of the humanitarian plan, as well as to define the main needs, drivers, vulnerabilities that will inform the Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) 2017.
During the workshops, FSS partners were invited to revise of the HRP objectives and planning assumptions for 2017, a deep discussion took place on the scope and size of the plan and funding of the HRP.
In the same regard, The FSS team participated in the HRP 2017 Technical Workshop organized by OCHA. The main purpose of the workshop was to capitalize on practical lessons learned in previous years' planning cycles, highlighting challenges and solutions, and agreeing on 2017 cluster activities for strategic response planning.
HRC 2016 progress at Q3 2016
Unfortunately, the third quarter of the year didn't add much to the funding status of FSS projects within the HRP 2016. Overall, FSS projects have received $97m as of 03-2016. This represents 30% of the total request under the FSS.
It is confirmed the funding gap between the three sector of the FSS. The graph below shows how received funds are distributed among food assistance, cash-based interventions and livelihood support activities.
Graph 1: FSS projects funding status as of Q3-2016
Livelihood support and cash-based programmes are the most unfunded components, with approximately 84% funding gap. The two sector has received $9m and $14m respectively. Food insecure and low resilient households continue to be exposed to high risk of negative copying mechanisms, some of which are irreversible.
Direct funding to NGOs remains critical. Only 9 NGOs, all international but one, received part or the whole amount of the planned budget.
Forecasts for achieving expected results by the end of 2016 are not encouraging.
Humanitarian Pooled Fund (HPF) and Strategic Response Plan (SRP) gap filler
The four Gaza FSS partners starting their project in this quarter with activities of rehabilitation of greenhouses, agricultural roads, water carrier lines and ponds through CfW, in addition to providing female headed households with support to start/improve their income generating units. Livestock is also targeted by rehabilitating animal sheds and assisting vulnerable herders with veterinarian services and fodders. In West Bank one project is targeting farmers whose their livelihoods was disrupted due to demolitions and confiscations. Most of these projects are planned to be completed by the end of the year.
Resilience Marker (RM)
The pilot exercise continued in this quarter with the support of a mission from FAO HQs. By end of September, involved FSS partners carried out another test of the tool that facilitated a better understanding and definition of the selected variables for the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
FSS partners have largely contributed to the making of this tool, which represents the first worldwide attempt of this kind. Next step will be the deployment of the tool to the projects selected under the FSS within the HRP 2017.
Information Management (IM)
Recognizing the need for Food Security Sector to take a holistic approach to data collection and sharing, FSS in the third quarter continued the efforts to update and upgrade the Agricultural Projects Information System (APIS) to be a web-based IM tool for sector system and partners to collect, analyse and report on food security responses (food, cash, and agricultural projects). Improvements in all areas of APIS are in progress, despite the fact that the previously announced consultancy was not finalised.
The integration with existing IM systems within the MoA, and with the OCHA 4Ws remain integral part of the work aiming at upgrading APIS.
In the meantime, gathering of data through standard 4Ws format will continue.
Technical Working Groups (TWGs) update
In order to facilitate the making of the HNO and determine main issues related to the Food Security Sector, the Livestock and Crop Production working groups met in the third quarter in both West bank and Gaza. The Cash Programming working group only in Gaza. The main points were addressed in the meeting are the ToR for the working groups, and the focus on the HPC 2017. Participants highlighted the main needs and priorities in each specific group. There was large consensus on building upon the needs analysis elaborated in 2015, with some updated recommendations. Involved FSS partners confirmed the need of focusing on enhancing the resilience of people affected by the occupation, natural hazards and economic shock, especially vulnerable farmers, herders and fishers, whose livelihood remain fragile.
Response to damages of livelihood assets
In this quarter, the FSS team focused on strengthening the coordination and the cooperation with the MoA. The MoA is actively engaged in following up demolition cases in Area C. This work was undertaken in strict cooperation with active NGOs who are using the OCHA system. The efforts being done by FSS aim at unifying the system of reference for tracking the support to the victims of demolition cases at the household level.
The FSS team explored whether the system managed by the MoA is fully suitable for being used by FSS partners in the field. Further discussions will be held in the months to come.
Furthermore, the system in place among FSS partners intends to cover all FSS-related cases, by mobilising resources for any available FSS partners. This builds on the triggering and responses mechanisms in place.
Gaza Inter Agency Contingency Plan (IACP)
The focus of the contingency plan remains on the Gaza Strip, in particular on the arrangements related to the adaptation of the DES for hosting potential IDPs. In this regard, it was agreed between the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Ministry of Social Development (MoSD) that the science labs in the allocated schools as PA DES can be used as kitchenettes for daily use but not for cooking, all these arrangements were agreed upon with OCHA. For this purpose the FSS conducted 2 joint field visits with MoE and MoSD to verify the possibility of using these labs as kitchenettes. Needs and recommendations were delivered to OCHA and related clusters and to agencies who have secured fund to support eight PA DES.
Gaza wastewater lagoon collapse
Following up the damages assessment, Oxfam secured a fund to overcome the direct impact of the Gaza lagoon collapse happened last May. With a fund of £47,000, Oxfam in partnership with PARC started (by mid of July) working on removing sludge and residuals of the collapse from the affected lands through CfW scheme and some machinery works, works included: land wash, soil testing, disinfection and soil mud cover in some areas, land reclamation and distribution of protection kits, along with conducting hygiene awareness sessions. Activities are planned to be completed by mid of November. FSS is in close coordination with the implementing partners, and follow up on this activity. A field visit will be conducted with Oxfam/PARC after works are finished.
Inter cluster training on gender in HPC 2017
In preparation for the 2017 Humanitarian Programming Cycle and in support of clusters'/sectors' efforts to strengthen gender focus in the needs analysis, response planning and monitoring, UN Women in collaboration with OCHA organized a one-day training (in both Gaza Strip and West Bank) on engendering the 2017 humanitarian programme cycle. The training. The objective of the one-day training was to provide the clusters partners with tools for mainstreaming gender in the 2017 humanitarian programming cycle (needs analysis, sex and age disaggregated data, cluster activities and indicators, design of gender sensitive humanitarian projects and application of the IASC gender marker coding). The FSS team with three partners participated in this training.
Agriculture: National Srategy: 2017-2022
MoA started the preparation for developing the agricultural strategy for years of 2017-2022. The strategy relies largely on the outcomes and recommendations of the 2014-2016 revision of the Agriculture Sector Strategy. These outputs reference the lessons learned and policy recommendations of the report. The new strategy will be part of the basis for the NDP 2017-2022, as well as one of the NDP's components.
Updates from FSS partners
WFP
In July, August and September, thanks to contributing partners, WFP assisted more than 480,000 food insecure non-refugees in Gaza and the West Bank through both cash-based transfers, using an electronic voucher redeemable in local shops, and direct food assistance. Women and children accounted for 70 percent of those reached.
This included 76,000 vulnerable Palestinians living in Area C of the West Bank. More than 30,000 of them are vulnerable Bedouins and herders facing imminent forced transfer, and receiving joint WFP/UNRWA food assistance. In light of the prevailing deterioration of their humanitarian situation as a result of continuous obstruction of assistance, home demolitions and asset confiscations, WFP together with UNRWA will conduct an additional food security assessment by the end of year.
Lack of sufficient resources compelled WFP to significantly reduce the food entitlements of 89,000 people in Gaza in July, August and September. Additional donor support is urgently sought from October onwards. WFP needs 7.5 million to carry forth its food assistance activities in Gaza and the West Bank.
For more information on WFP's activities, needs and challenges, visit:
FSS meetings/events in this quarter
n 2 FSS general meeting
n 1 FSAU meeting
n 1 inter-cluster training on gender in HPC 2017
n 1 cash programing WG
n 4 Livestock and Crop production W.G
n 1 workshop to develop the agriculture sector strategy.
n 1 HRP 2017 Technical Workshop organized by OCHA
n 2 HCT meetings
n 2 meetings with line ministries (Gaza)
n 2 meetings with gender and advocacy focal points
n 4 Inter-cluster meetings and 1 field visit on demolition cases in the WB
n 3 FSAU meeting, RM sessions
n 2 Palm Dates Committee meetings
n 6 coordination meetings for PA DES upgrade with OCHA, clusters and other organizations
n 1 inter-cluster training on gender in HPC 2017
n 2 HPC-HNO workshops
n 5 WG meetings; 1 Cash Program WG, 2 Livestock and 2 Crop production WG meetings
n 1 Emergency Preparedness WG meeting
n 1 Jerusalem ICCG meeting
n 2 Gaza ICCG meetings
n 1 IDPs WG meeting
n 1 workshop to develop the agriculture sector strategy
n 1 ARA workshop by FSS Advocacy focal point; PUI
n 1 workshop for the GBV in Gaza.
n 1 field visit with OCHA and diplomats; an ICRC project in ARA Beit Hanoun
n 1 HRP 2017 Technical Workshop organized by OCHA
Lead agencies FAO and WFP
Ciro Fiorillo – ciro.fiorillo@fao.org
Daniela Owen – daniela.owen@wfp.org
FSS focal points
Marco Ferloni – marco.ferloni@fscluster.org +972 (0) 546773171
Hosne Barakat – hosne.barakat@fscluster.org + 972 (0) 546773161
Anas Musallam – anas.musallam@fscluster.org +972 (0) 592030026
Download Document Files: https://unispal.un.org/pdfs/FSS_3rdQuarter16.pdf
Document Type: Report
Document Sources: Food Security Sector, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP)
Subject: Agriculture, Assistance, Food, Gaza Strip, Humanitarian relief, Living conditions, Poverty
Publication Date: 30/01/2017