WFP needs sh40b for Karamoja project
THE World Food Programme (WFP) still needs $20m (about sh40b) to fund Karamoja’s productive assets programme. The project is aimed at breaking the region’s reliance on food aid.
By Anne Mugisa
THE World Food Programme (WFP) still needs $20m (about sh40b) to fund Karamoja’s productive assets programme. The project is aimed at breaking the region’s reliance on food aid.
The money will sustain the programme until December, according to a statement issued by the WFP.
“Karamoja has been relying on food relief for too long,†World Food country director Stanlake Samkange said.
“We can help change this. The new programme enables us to seize development opportunities, while finding lasting solutions to food and nutrition insecurity.â€
According to the statement, acute malnutrition rates have remained above the emergency alert threshold.
Initially $25m (about sh50b) was needed for the programme. But WFP has so far received $2.5m from Japan and $1.5m from Spain. Italy has donated $837,000, while Norway gave $418,000.
Alongside the new emergency operation, the WFP launched a development programme, which emphasises the creation of community assets to strengthen livelihoods and reduce dependency on food aid.â€
The new programme, to be spearheaded by the Government, targets food insecure households.
The beneficiaries, estimated at 400,000, will engage in building productive community assets and acquiring skills through food or cash for works schemes, the statement added.
The project will include cultivation of cassava, production of cash crops, like gum Arabica and onions, as well as creating water harvesting assets, including low technology dams.
The project will also support fuel and soil conservation, energy saving technology, including cooking stoves in schools and tree planting.
The UN body said it will work with its sister organisations like the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the International Organisation for Migration and the UNICEF.
The WFP also said it is scaling down on emergency food distribution.
Last year’s emergency food relief reached more than a million people, but this year’s is targeting only the most vulnerable peaople, estimated at 300,000.
THE World Food Programme (WFP) still needs $20m (about sh40b) to fund Karamoja’s productive assets programme. The project is aimed at breaking the region’s reliance on food aid.
The money will sustain the programme until December, according to a statement issued by the WFP.
“Karamoja has been relying on food relief for too long,†World Food country director Stanlake Samkange said.
“We can help change this. The new programme enables us to seize development opportunities, while finding lasting solutions to food and nutrition insecurity.â€
According to the statement, acute malnutrition rates have remained above the emergency alert threshold.
Initially $25m (about sh50b) was needed for the programme. But WFP has so far received $2.5m from Japan and $1.5m from Spain. Italy has donated $837,000, while Norway gave $418,000.
Alongside the new emergency operation, the WFP launched a development programme, which emphasises the creation of community assets to strengthen livelihoods and reduce dependency on food aid.â€
The new programme, to be spearheaded by the Government, targets food insecure households.
The beneficiaries, estimated at 400,000, will engage in building productive community assets and acquiring skills through food or cash for works schemes, the statement added.
The project will include cultivation of cassava, production of cash crops, like gum Arabica and onions, as well as creating water harvesting assets, including low technology dams.
The project will also support fuel and soil conservation, energy saving technology, including cooking stoves in schools and tree planting.
The UN body said it will work with its sister organisations like the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the International Organisation for Migration and the UNICEF.
The WFP also said it is scaling down on emergency food distribution.
Last year’s emergency food relief reached more than a million people, but this year’s is targeting only the most vulnerable peaople, estimated at 300,000.