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Synthesis Report Of The Evaluation Series On The Impact Of Food For Assets (2002–2011) And Lessons for Building Livelihood Resilience
Abstract:
The report synthesizes the main findings from mixed-method evaluations in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Nepal, Senegal and Uganda that assessed the impact of WFP’s food-for-assets activities and identified lessons on how to improve the orientation of food for assets towards achieving livelihoods resilience objectives. The evaluations covered a period of organizational change. In 2011, WFP introduced new policies and guidance documents related to food for assets, including a new disaster risk reduction and management policy and the Food For Assets Guidance Manual. The evaluations assessed activities carried out in 2002–2011, which were designed and implemented under different guidance and objectives. While focusing on assessing the medium and longer term effects and sustainability of these past efforts, evaluations also provided lessons on how food-for-assets activities could be better aligned with new policy and guidance. The evaluations found that in the short term, WFP was effective in providing food and employment to people in underserved communities during periods of civil unrest and natural disaster, and built useful assets in the process. The overall impacts seen in many areas included those related to resilience: livelihoods, income-generating opportunities, land productivity, social cohesion and gender dynamics. However, improvements in food security were limited. Results were achieved in the face of contextual constraints, including disruption of social fabric by conflict and recurrent disasters, and often with incomplete funding and resources, including technical assistance. Asset interventions reached people in need, most of whom were in isolated communities that received little assistance. Women benefited significantly from food-for-assets activities through employment and access to resources and the creation of assets targeted to women and subsequently falling under their control. Improvements were seen in women’s position in the community and households, including in budget management, with the increased social connectivity and freedom of movement that resulted from food-for-assets activities affecting women’s roles more broadly in the household and society. These findings confirm that food for assets is an appropriate mechanism for contributing to the delivery of WFP’s 2011 corporate policy on disaster risk reduction and management and the Strategic Plan (2014–2017) with its focus on resilience.
Publisher: WFP Type / Script:
Annual Report  in  English
Keywords:
 IMPACT EVALUATION SYNTHESIS, SANITATION FACILITIES, FOOD BASKET, GENDER SENSITIVITY, DIVERSITY, ROAD CONSTRUCTION, WOMEN EMPOWERMENT, PARTICIPATION AND INVOLCEMENT OF WOMEN, CHILDREN IN BENEFICIARY, FOOD INSECURITY, AGROFORESTRY, SOIL STABILIZATION, SANITATION, FUEL, COMMUNITY RESOURCES, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, VULNERABILITY, DISASTER RISK REDUCTION, SOCIAL EMPOWERMENT, LIVELIHOOD RESILIENCE, FLOOD PROTECTION, LAND PRODUCTIVITY, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, FOOD FOR ASSETS, DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
Thematic Group:
WFP, (2014)
Thesaurus:
10.01.00 - Food And Nutrition
PDF | File Size: 671 KB   Download
Feeder: DEEPIKA DHAKAL, Editor: ALISHATHAPALIYA, Auditor:
...
Synthesis Report Of The Evaluation Series On The Impact Of Food For Assets (2002–2011) And Lessons for Building Livelihood Resilience
Abstract:
The report synthesizes the main findings from mixed-method evaluations in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Nepal, Senegal and Uganda that assessed the impact of WFP’s food-for-assets activities and identified lessons on how to improve the orientation of food for assets towards achieving livelihoods resilience objectives. The evaluations covered a period of organizational change. In 2011, WFP introduced new policies and guidance documents related to food for assets, including a new disaster risk reduction and management policy and the Food For Assets Guidance Manual. The evaluations assessed activities carried out in 2002–2011, which were designed and implemented under different guidance and objectives. While focusing on assessing the medium and longer term effects and sustainability of these past efforts, evaluations also provided lessons on how food-for-assets activities could be better aligned with new policy and guidance. The evaluations found that in the short term, WFP was effective in providing food and employment to people in underserved communities during periods of civil unrest and natural disaster, and built useful assets in the process. The overall impacts seen in many areas included those related to resilience: livelihoods, income-generating opportunities, land productivity, social cohesion and gender dynamics. However, improvements in food security were limited. Results were achieved in the face of contextual constraints, including disruption of social fabric by conflict and recurrent disasters, and often with incomplete funding and resources, including technical assistance. Asset interventions reached people in need, most of whom were in isolated communities that received little assistance. Women benefited significantly from food-for-assets activities through employment and access to resources and the creation of assets targeted to women and subsequently falling under their control. Improvements were seen in women’s position in the community and households, including in budget management, with the increased social connectivity and freedom of movement that resulted from food-for-assets activities affecting women’s roles more broadly in the household and society. These findings confirm that food for assets is an appropriate mechanism for contributing to the delivery of WFP’s 2011 corporate policy on disaster risk reduction and management and the Strategic Plan (2014–2017) with its focus on resilience. The directions set in the 2011 Food for Assets Guidance Manual, updated in January 2014, are in line with evaluations’ findings concerning factors important for the achievement of impacts, but more needs to be done to ensure that this guidance is consistently applied.
Publisher: WFP Type / Script:
Annual Report  in  English
Keywords:
 IMPACT EVALUATION SYNTHESIS, SANITATION FACILITIES, FOOD BASKET, GENDER SENSITIVITY, DIVERSITY, ROAD CONSTRUCTION, WOMEN EMPOWERMENT, PARTICIPATION AND INVOLCEMENT OF WOMEN, CHILDREN IN BENEFICIARY, FOOD INSECURITY, AGROFORESTRY, SOIL STABILIZATION, SANITATION, FUEL, COMMUNITY RESOURCES, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, VULNERABILITY, DISASTER RISK REDUCTION, SOCIAL EMPOWERMENT, LIVELIHOOD RESILIENCE, FLOOD PROTECTION, LAND PRODUCTIVITY, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, FOOD FOR ASSETS, DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
Thematic Group:
WFP, (2014)
Thesaurus:
10.01.00 - Food And Nutrition
PDF | File Size: 671 KB   Download
Feeder: DEEPIKA DHAKAL, Editor: , Auditor:
...
Synthesis Report Of The Evaluation Series On The Impact Of Food For Assets (2002–2011) And Lessons for Building Livelihood Resilience
Abstract:
The report synthesizes the main findings from evaluations in Bangladesh, Ethiopia,Guatemala, Nepal, Senegal and Uganda that assessed the impact of WFP’s food for assets(FFA) activities and identified lessons on how to improve the orientation of food for assets towards achieving livelihoods resilience objectives. The evaluations covered a period of organizational change. In 2011, WFP introduced new policies and guidance documents related to FFA, including a new disaster risk reduction and management policy and the Food for Assets Guidance Manual. The evaluations assessed activities carried out in 2002–2011, which were designed and implemented under different guidance and objectives. While focusing on assessing medium and longer term effects and sustainability of these past efforts, the evaluations also provided lessons on how FFA activities could be better aligned with new policy and guidance. Overall impacts from FFA are expected to occur over different timeframes. Short term benefits could include increased cash/food availability and food access, and the immediate effects of the asset such as flood protection which could result in an immediate reduction in vulnerability. Medium term benefits may include increased land productivity and agricultural production, greater income-generating opportunities, better physical access to markets and social services, etc.; Long term benefits could include reduced vulnerability, improved livelihoods, and increased resilience, although ongoing operations and maintenance are needed to ensure that the asset remains functional and useful. The evaluations found that in the short term, WFP was effective in providing food and employment to people in underserved communities during periods of civil unrest and natural disaster, and built useful assets in the process. Different types of crises were reported by communities including slow and rapid onset, human and natural caused, cyclical and non-cyclical. Household surveys confirmed that participants in all countries faced multiple shocks during the reference period. WFP was often one of the few organizations to have operated at scale in remote or dangerous areas. Some respondents reported that food was not always delivered in a timely manner relative to shortages, or that the amount of food provided was inadequate to address the needs. FFA activities were often underfunded by up to 65% and funding was variable and unpredictable. Asset survival is a precondition for medium-term impact. The evaluations found that for all but one asset type, more than 50% of assets were fully functional. Strong evidence from household survey reported increased land productivity, agricultural production and income generating opportunities. The evaluations confirmed modest changes in incomes, assets and employment. There was plausible quantitative and qualitative evidence of positive income effects associated with asset creation in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Nepal and Senegal. In Uganda, positive but small effects were reported over time on savings, income and standard of living as a result of asset creation. In Guatemala the differences in land asset and associated incomes between participants and comparison households were not statistically significant.
Publisher: WFP Type / Script:
Annual Report  in  English
Keywords:
 IMPACT EVALUATION SYNTHESIS, SANITATION FACILITIES, FOOD BASKET, GENDER SENSITIVITY, DIVERSITY, ROAD CONSTRUCTION, WOMEN EMPOWERMENT, PARTICIPATION AND INVOLCEMENT OF WOMEN, CHILDREN IN BENEFICIARY, FOOD INSECURITY, AGROFORESTRY, SOIL STABILIZATION, SANITATION, FUEL, COMMUNITY RESOURCES, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, VULNERABILITY, DISASTER RISK REDUCTION, SOCIAL EMPOWERMENT, LIVELIHOOD RESILIENCE, FLOOD PROTECTION, LAND PRODUCTIVITY, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, FOOD FOR ASSETS, DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
Thematic Group:
WFP, (2014)
Thesaurus:
10.01.00 - Food And Nutrition
PDF | File Size: 671 KB   Download
Feeder: DEEPIKA DHAKAL, Editor: , Auditor:
...