Ref. Ares(2018)4147635 - 07/08/2018
MR insertions are highlighted in yellow.
Section 1.3 – Narrative summary
Insert after the following paragraph
Under this action, ECHO's contribution would allow WFP procure 17,500 mt of milk produced in the
EU, to be delivered to schools across the country in support of 500,000 pre-primary and primary
school children during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 academic years, along with the fortified date bars,
as part of the existing Fortified School Snacks Programme [MR} or as part of the emergency food
assistance when operational conditions require reallocation.
Section 2.2 Synergies with other actions
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Under this action, the ECHO contribution of EUR 30 million will enable WFP to procure 17,500 mt
of milk to be distributed, along with fortified snacks, to school children as part of the Fortified
School Snacks Programme (FSSP). The FSSP was launched by WFP in August 2014 in an effort to
contribute to the overall objective of the No Lost Generation Initiative, an inter-agency response
strategy led by UNICEF to ensure the education and protection rights of children and youth are not
compromised by the conflict. The strategy recommends a range of interventions to maintain and
improve access to learning and protection, and provide children with learning and development
opportunities necessary for life after the crisis ends. The FSSP is identified as an integral
component of the education package, in its role to support a return to learning and encourage
regular classroom attendance.
[MR] As outlined in Annex VII, the milk may also be used as part of the emergency food assistance
when operational conditions require reallocation.
Section 3.1.4 – Response Analysis
Insert after the following paragraph
Under this action, ECHO's donation will enable WFP to boost the nutritional content of the school
snacks provided to children by including fortified milk, enriched with essential minerals and
vitamins. The contribution would allow WFP procure 17,500 mt of milk produced in the EU (at a
commodity cost of USD 1,500 per mt) , to be delivered to schools across the country in support of
500,000 pre-primary and primary school children during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 academic years,
as part of the existing FSSP programme. Each academic year starts in mid-September and ends in
early May, with a total of 140 school days. In addition to the fortified date bars currently provided
to school children in assisted schools, each child will receive a 200 ml of UHT milk, which will
provides a caloric transfer of 120 kcal.
[MR] As outlined in Annex VII, the milk may also be used as part of the emergency food assistance
when operational conditions require reallocation.
Section 3.2.4 Beneficiaries: Selection criteria
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The Fortified School Snack Programme (FSSP) aims to provide fortified school snacks to all boys
and girls of the pre-primary and primary school children(aged 4-12 years). Targeted schools are
selected in sub-districts with high food security indicators, as identified by the FSA, as well as poor
education indicators and high concentration of IDPs.
Moreover, in order to maximize the impact of the support to education and ensure a comprehensive
sector approach, WFP selects schools that are assisted by UNICEF. Schools are selected in clusters
to minimise pulling children from neighbouring schools to benefit from the programme whereas
clustering of schools is also expected to create impact in concentrated geographic zones. Targeted
governorates include Aleppo, Homs, Rural Damascus, Damascus, Tartous, Al-Hasakeh, Hama,
Lattakia, and Ar Raqqa and Deir Ezzor when access becomes feasible. (See a tentative preliminary
list of targeted schools attached).
WFP works in close co-ordination with UNICEF and other education sector partners to support the
delivery of a comprehensive package in targeted schools, which include psycho-social support,
school supplies, teacher trainings and risk management trainings. Bearing in mind growing
concerns over the safety of children in light of volatile security conditions in the country, UNICEF
and other education sector partners are supporting protection related initiatives, including a
sensitization campaign for children and teachers on the threats and mitigation measures that can
be adopted. Other initiatives include the establishment of safe havens in schools, and the
development of emergency response plans and general safety protocols.
Included in Annex I: [MR]: As outlined in Annex VII, the milk may on an exceptional basis also be
reallocated to the emergency food assistance programme, when required by operational conditions.
The targeted beneficiaries will be children aged 5-12 years in families that are currently assisted
under the emergency food assistance programme. Awareness raising labels will be placed on the
packed milk cartons to avoid any misuse of the commodity.
Section 3.2.4 Beneficiaries: Selection criteria
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The FSSP in Syria aims at improving regular access to education, while increasing micronutrient
intake of children through the regular provision of fortified school snacks. The program also
directly contributes to the local economy through the local purchase of datebars. At present, WFP
locally buys 10 percent of its annual requirements for the programme.
[MR] With reference to Annex VII, the milk may on an exceptional basis also be reallocated to
children aged 5-12 years in families that are currently assisted under the emergency food
assistance programme, contributing to stabilize or improve food consumption among assisted
beneficiaries. Awareness raising labels will be placed on the packed milk cartons to avoid any
misuse of the commodity.
4.2.3 Indicators (Objective indicators)
To be added to the existing Objective indicators
• [MR] % of the target population (GFA) with poor Food Consumption Score (FCS)
o baseline 12
o target value <12
o source and method of data collection: Post Distribution Monitoring
• [MR] Average Coping Strategies Index (CSI) score for the target population (GFA) (baseline
15, target value <15)
o baseline 15
o target value <15
o source and method of data collection: Post Distribution Monitoring
Section 4.3 Results
To be added to the existing Result
RESULT 2: [MR] Stabilized or improved food consumption over assistance period for targeted
households and/or individuals
SECTOR/AMOUNT
[please remove 10% from Result 1 and include here]
BENEFICIARIES
600,000 individuals
Comment on Beneficiaries
[MR] The milk reallocated to GFA will be distributed in areas with high concentration of
IDPs and may also be used for inter-agency convoys to hard-to-reach and besieged areas.
WFP GFA targets the most vulnerable people in Syria. Geographical targeting forms the
initial level of targeting, prioritizing sub-districts with a high prevalence of food insecurity
as identified by the FSS based on the result of the food security assessment, and hard-to-
reach areas and besieged locations. This is followed by a household targeting exercise
jointly conducted with partners according to vulnerability criteria through a beneficiary
selection tool, which enables WFP to ensure that resources are directed where they are
most needed. The tool is based on a series of vulnerability indicators identified using
evidence from the food security assessment, which enable a further ranking system to
identify those showing the highest level of vulnerability to food insecurity. WFP anticipates
that up to 1,750 mt of milk may be reallocated to GFA over the course of this action, which
would be sufficient to reach approximately 600,000 children aged 5-12 years old once, and
not on a regular monthly basis. Each milk batch reallocated to the GFA programme will be
distributed in one round and as a one-off transfer in order to allow for consumption before
the expiry date. Hence, these quantities would reach a greater number of children when
compared to milk distributions as part of the school meals programme, where the same
children receive milk over multiple monthly cycles. As of early March 2017, 483 mt have
already been reallocated and distributed along with GFA rations, reaching 167,000 children
aged 5-12 years.
TRANSFER MODALITY
• In kind
• Estimated total product cost:
• Estimated number of individual: 600,000
• Source: International
INDICATORS:
• [MR] Quantity of milk distributed as percentage of planned (target 100 %)
Indicator Comment:
[MR] As a contingency measure, part of the milk procured under this action might be
reallocated to General Food Assistance if operational conditions require reallocation (see
Annex VII for details). It is anticipated that a total of 1,750 mt, or 5 percent per each
academic year of the total milk tonnage to be distributed under this action (17,500 mt), may
be reallocated to GFA. The reallocated milk will be distributed along with monthly family
food rations to beneficiary families with children aged 5-12 years.
ACTIVITIES:
• [MR] Procurement, delivery and distribution of milk along with GFA monthly food rations to
the most vulnerable conflict-affected Syrian families
• [MR] Monitoring and Post Distribution Monitoring
Activities Comments:
[MR] As a contingency measure, part of the milk procured under this action might be
reallocated to General Food Assistance if operational conditions require reallocation. The
reallocation will not exceed a total 1,750 mt, or 5 percent per each academic year of the total
milk tonnage to be distributed under this action (17,500 mt). As of February 2017, distributions
of milk under GFA have already taken place (see Annexes VII and VIII for details). The
reallocated milk will be distributed along with monthly family food rations to beneficiary
families with children aged 5-12 years. The commodities included in the monthly food rations
are not funded under this action.
Section 4.5 Assumptions and risks
3. Delays in procurement, delivery and import procedures. Delays in tendering, contracting
suppliers and delivery to Syrian ports by the EU milk producer may result in delays in the
implementation of the milk distirbutions. Additionally, delays in customs clearance procedures may
result in the commodity to be held at the port, reducing the permissible shelf life of the commodity
for import into Syria [MR] and deliveries to schools.
Section 4.6 Contingency measures
3. Delays in procurement, delivery and import procedures. The programme team will coordinate
closely with the Procurement and Logistics unit to ensure that tendering and contracting timelines
are strictly adhered to and port based WFP staff maintain close coordination with port customs
authorities. [MR] Should delays in shipments arrival and customs clearance procedures hamper
WFP ability to use the milk for its school meals programme within the shelf life, quantities close to
the expiry date will be reallocated to WFP’s emergency food assistance programme and distributed
along with family food rations, in order to avoid any destruction of the commodity. Any reallocation
will be discussed with ECHO.
13.1 [RQ] Possible comments / [MR] List of the modifications and their justifications
• The original objective for the project was to distribute the milk in the WFP supported
schools together with the fortified date bars across two academic years (2016-2017 and
2017-2018). However, late arrival of some shipments in the fall of 2016, and lengthier
than expected customs clearance procedures meant that by the time some commodities
were ready for dispatch, WFP had a very short window of opportunity to distribute them
ahead of their expiry date. These quantities could not be absorbed by the school meals
programme within such a short time as public schools were closed for several weeks for
the winter break between December and January. Therefore, to avoid having to dispose
of the concerned quantities, WFP made a decision to include them into its general food
assistance (GFA), and distribute the milk along with the monthly food rations. The
decision was made in consultation with the Nutrition Sector, and the milk was
distributed to families with children between the ages of 5 and 12 years of age and in
areas with a high percentage of IDPs. As of early March 2017, the amount of milk
reallocated to GFA amounts to 483 mt and reached approximately 167,000 vulnerable
children aged 5-12 years. Please see Annexes VII and VIII for additional details.