Ref. Ares(2018)4147635 - 07/08/2018
(ECHO)
From:
(ECHO)
Sent:
venerdì 2 giugno 2017 10:08
To:
(ECHO)
Cc:
(EEAS);
(ECHO);
(ECHO);
(ECHO);
(ECHO);
(ECHO);
(ECHO)
Subject:
Re: Update on the Milk Scheme - inside Syria - developments - readout meeting
WFP 01/06
Best solution indeed.OK for me.
Le 2 juin 2017 à 09:50,
(ECHO) <
@ec.europa.eu> a écrit :
Dear all
We had a meeting yesterday afternoon with WFP
,
).
,
and I attended.
WFP confirmed the situation that was reported by our field.
SITUATION:
The exact quantity of milk that will be procured will depend on price fluctuations in the next
months, but will be most likely around 24.000 metric tonnes (versus 17 500 planned).
At the current pace, WFP would manage to distribute around 13 000 mt.
PROPOSED OPERATIONAL OPTION However, WFP is no more asking for a NCE as they realize the challenge to go again to the HAC
committee and having MS on board.
was involved in the previous HAC committee negotiations, and he acknowledges that
it is too risky to try and have MS on board again.
Therefore, here is the proposed solution
-
Modify the quantity of milk distributed
per child : "
up to 400 ml", instead of "200
ml". This is likely to have an impact on the number of beneficiaries (tbc).
-
WFP to look at the logistics/administrative possibilities to expand the school
network in the short term and come back to us should this possibility ever realizes.
o please note that this is just an attempt to ensure that all options were taken
into account, since adding new schools to the programme would imply
administrative/bureaucratic issues in relations with GoS, that has to agree.
-
Increase the flexibility to use GFA (General food distribution), "whenever needed".
o Since the first aim of the project has to remain to feed school children, WFP
will provide indicative projections on which share this could represent. WFP
will perform accurate market and nutrition analysis when using milk in GFA.
PROCEDURE:
-
field to field discussions,
-
MR will be submitted along the proposed line
o ECHO will ensure the requested flexibility
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-
When approved, WFP will proceed with procurement according to the new
workplan.
COMMENTS The proposed solution seems the only operational one viable and acceptable to avoid NCE and
money recovery.
If you greenlight, we will proceed this way. Happy to talk whenever needed.
From:
(ECHO)
Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2017 4:13 PM
To:
(ECHO);
(ECHO);
(ECHO);
(ECHO)
Cc:
(ECHO);
(ECHO);
(ECHO);
(ECHO)
Subject: RE: Update on the Milk Scheme - inside Syria - developments
Dear all
Today WFP Damascus contacted
to propose an alternative option to
distribute the 24 000 mt of milk. WFP proposes to:
• double the quantity of milk distributed
per child (400 ml instead of 200 ml).
• be allowed to include milk in the GFA not only as a last resort (as it is the
case now) but whenever needed.
Î However, please note that the NoCostExtension remains for WFP the first
recommended solution.
Tomorrow with
(WFP BXL) we'll discuss feasibility and risks under the
new operational option, while on the NCE we will keep an holding line.
A decision will have to be taken soon. In fact, if NCE is not considered, the new
option implies the change in WFP procurement plans.
We will report on the meeting tomorrow and we suggest to add the point to the
next management meeting agenda.
Kindly,
From:
(ECHO)
Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2017 7:07 PM
To:
(ECHO)
Cc:
(ECHO);
(ECHO);
(ECHO);
(ECHO);
(ECHO);
(ECHO);
(ECHO)
Subject: Re: Update on the Milk Scheme - inside Syria
Very clear and helpful.Thanks to
for this.
A time extension seems indeed to be the only option,also because it would
better protect us against reputational risks.
2
The good bargain achieved by WFP, increasing the quantity within the initial
budget, would provide us with a convincing argument if MS have problems.
On 30 May 2017, at 15:34,
(ECHO)
<
@ec.europa.eu> wrote:
Dear
,
Please also find attached the briefing that we have
produced for
, with thanks to
,
,
and the field colleagues.
Regards,
From:
(ECHO)
Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2017 2:43 PM
To:
(ECHO);
(ECHO)
Cc:
(ECHO);
(ECHO);
(ECHO);
(ECHO);
(ECHO)
Subject: Update on the Milk Scheme - inside Syria
Dear
, dear
As requested, please find below the update of the state of
play of the milk scheme inside Syria.
General background:
? The project aims at distributing
17
500 metric tonnes of UHT liquid
milk of European Origin to 500 000
school children inside Syria. The
milk is complementing an existing
school feeding programme carried
out by UNICEF and WFP and covers
400 schools in GoS controlled area
in Homs, Damascus, Rural
Damascus, Tartous, Quneitra and
Lattakia governorates.
? The project is at its half way now, it
started in June 2016 and will end in
June 2018, encompassing 2 school
years.
? The project is encoded under a
special HIP, and has been approved
by MSs with a written procedure.
State of play:
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? WFP approached
in
Damascus to request a 1 year No-
cost extension.
? ECHO proactively checked with the
legal unit if under a legal
perspective an extension was
deemed possible and asked WFP
for more information. A meeting
took place this morning (30/05) in
Damascus on this topic.
? During the enquiry, the following
information has been disclosed:
o WFP, at procurement stage,
negotiated a lower than
expected price per litre.
This will allow WFP to buy
24 000 metric tons of milk
(instead of 17 500, as per
initial proposal), equal
to
an increase of 37% of
quantity to distribute.
o As of today, WFP
distributed
5 000 metric
tonnes of milk to 250 000
children (1/3 of the total
quantity in ½ of the time).
In addition, 4000 metric
tonnes are already
procured and will be
shipped to Syria in
September/October.
o On timing, there is one
school-year left to perform
distributions. Distributions
are not ongoing during
summer, because with high
temperatures the risks of
bad storage and
conservation for such a
delicate product are too
high.
o Æ If it was already
challenging to distribute
the 17 500 metric tonnes
foreseen, it will be not
feasible to distribute 24 000
metric tonnes instead, in
the same timeframe.
Options looked at:
1. Increase the caseload within the
present conditions (i.e. in the area
controlled by GoS). Challenges:
a. Administrative/clearances/
authorisation will be
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difficult to have from GoS,
who has approved the
scheme, considering that 6
ministries are involved.
b. Storage of such high
quantity in such short
timeframe is impossible
inside Syria at the moment.
Storage has to be adequate
(cool chain etc.)
c. Logistics capacity
2. Include milk in the GFA (General
food assistance): Challenges:
a. Limited storage capacity /
cold chain for such a huge
quantity
b. Distortion of existing
targeting among
beneficiaries
c. Impact in breastfeeding /
no harm principles
d. Milk is a product that
beneficiaries could be re-
sold into markets, with
impact in humanitarian aid
e. Market distortions
f. Access constraints
3. XB TK option: Challenges:
a. TK does not allow huge
quantity through the 2
crossing points
b. No existing school network
c. The operation would
present serious challenges
in terms of remote
management of such a
delicate product.
d. In Northern Syria small
schools with small caseload
and logistics impediments
4. If no time extension is deemed
possible, a
fund recovery for the
quantity not procured and
distributed could be envisageable.
5. A
time extension could be justified
in terms of cost-effectiveness of the
operation (same amount, 37%
more milk to distribute, but in 3
years instead of 2 for the objective
operational constraints).
Under our request, a meeting with WFP BXL
is scheduled for this on Thursday 01/06 at
15:30 with
.
will
attend.
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Happy to discuss at any time.
Kindly,
Syria Team
<image001.png>
European Commission
DG ECHO
B4 - Middle East – Humanitarian Operations
L-86 0
-1049 Brussels
T. +32 (0)2 29
@ec.europa.eu
<MP Meeting with DG AGRI Plewa on milk schemes
31 May 2017.docx>
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