1

Developmental Food Aid: Alternative Approaches

Presented by Paul Macek, Sr. Directorpmacek@worldvision.org

Integrated Food and Nutrition

Presented at the International Food Aid and Development Conference

June 29, 2011

2

The tool box—current and expanded• What works in Monetization • Recent events and certain donor trends

have resulted in opportunities to pilot new approaches to food assistance.

• Examples include:– Local and Regional Purchase– Cash-based transfer mechanisms– Development of new food products– Renewed focus on food quality and safety– Greater food processing capacity in the

developing world– What works in Monetization does have a

beneficial impact

3

What works in Monetization?

• The following are based on a 2010 review by Michigan State University, of the WV monetization program in Mozambique:

– Monetization can improve quality standards, increased competition in these markets, and price stability.

– With appropriate analysis can be done in a way that there is no disincentives to local production (oil seed or wheat).

– When there is enough competition and the timing is right, prices approached import parity prices for the hard wheat varieties.

– The development of bidding system and relatively easy payment schedules can aid small, new processors especially for wheat, and the decision to distribute to a range of buyers may have assisted in establishing more competitive markets. (Mozambique went from 2 buyers to 6 in the course of 10 years)

4

• WV has initiated local and regional purchase program under the USDA Pilot Program in Zambia, Uganda, and Kenya

– LRP can be an appropriate mechanisms for responding to acute needs in an emergency context

• Focus is saving lives• Ensure access to food

– LRP can have important impacts on developmental food aid programs, especially when combined with social safety net programs and work with on-going producer groups

• Zambia STEP OVC Program• Kenya Drought response in Moyale District

Local and Regional Purchase (LRP)

5

Cash based transfer mechanisms

• Cash transfers are recognized as an acceptable mechanisms to provide access to life saving food in emergency and development programs:

•WFP supported cash voucher program in Zambia•WFP supported cash transfer mechanism in Haiti•USDA supported cash voucher programs in Northern Uganda

•The proliferation of cell phone-based technology has allowed for increased efficiencies and automation of transactions

6

Development of new food products

• Innovation in food products is occurring all over the world

• Focus on Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTFs) and Ready-to-Use Supplemental Foods (RUSFs) as part of recuperative and preventative approaches to food security

• The food products are increasingly customized to address specific micronutrient deficiencies of certain populations, such as PLWHAs and school aged children

7

Renewed focus on food quality and safety

• A greater recognition that good nutrition is important to food security.

• Nutrition is key to good health.• Beginning to look at

micronutrient quality of food– WV with PATH is piloting the use

of UltraRice in WFP Burundi

• Growing concern about food safety, example mycotoxins, including aflatoxin.

8

Development of greater food processing capacity in the developing world

• Local food processing capacity throughout the world is increasing

-linking farmers, especially smallholder and women farmers to markets-New technologies/packaging for improved food processing are developing and -a diversification of food products

•Some examples include locally made RUTFs•Locally made RUTFs for food by prescription•In Zambia, Land O’Lakes and WV are purchasing High Energy Protein Supplement, a product similar to CSB.