Procedures and rights in Evaluation of food distribution programs in Uganda

As a basic need, food and its distribution represent a development program that should be Monitored and Evaluated.

Rights are to address human life at a balance between life and death (12 hrs).

Relief programs have a mission to save life

but have to observe procedures; as the necessary, time taking crucial details done in the name of M & E to ensure effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, impact & sustainability.

Reality

At a food security research training, we listened to what takes place on a food distribution mission. We heard about this zealous food aid distribution manager.

He worked around the clock to get all food loaded onto tracks and to set off as scheduled from the food stores in Nairobi heading to Karamoja (Northern Uganda). He arrived just a few hours after the planned time and was very sure he had hit the record.

After all the food had been distributed, he cried.

Again, some households had missed!

4/10/2011 2by Asiimwe Joy Turyamwijuka - UCU

Method of study

The paper is based on document review of Reports from humanitarian organisations and government; It observes procedures to assess how procedures of M&E have influenced provision of relief food to the hungry & utilisation of Monitoring and Evaluation findings.

WFP, International Red Cross & Red Crescent World Vision UNDP Government of Uganda Reports and Policy documents Oxfam, etc

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Context & Actors

Food relief programs are a common feature in the northern Uganda district of Karamoja and more recently ended the IDP camps in Acholi land. Food distribution has stayed too long since 1962(WFP –www.sphereproject.org)

The climatic conditions in Karamoja are semi arid with extreme weather conditions of too much sunshine and too much rain often running off into seasonal streams

The pastoral community is known to be conservative often resistant to government development plans; for instance in 1993 when UPE started, the least number of children turning up for free education was in Karamoja

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Relief Evaluation Procedures

The WFP uses the Emergency food needs assessment (EFNA) for baseline survey

Oxfam uses a community based approach since 1980s; relief committees register HHs, assess their level of vulnerability, then distribution is based on the committee’s decision.

The Committee does monitoring of stock levels and sets targets for the consequent distribution needs

All studied programs have reported discrepancies regarding adequacy of food in both quantity and nutrition standards

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Procedures

Monitoring – Whichever household is registered is offered a ration card to be used for future distributions and sport checking.

This has to take care of new arrivals & departures of the nomadic population between Uganda and Kenya. This causes deficits when there is a food distribution event.

E.g when WFP used the Census 1999 to target 77% in need of food in 2000, Oxfam estimated 84% and sent food for 98% food, 83% Cereal, 99% cooking oil and Oxfam had no deficits (www.sphere.org)

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Principals of food distibution (fex.ennonline.net/11/principles.aspx) According to Humanitarian Policy group, a

baseline or a situational analysis for food includes much more than registration of households

They recommend that an assessment of Calorie and nutrition needs be made according to days spent without food, age(Chn and aged at risk) and sex (females status in a home) – as level of risk to lives and livelihoods

A human being begins to starve after 12 hours of no food. This standard guides food aid

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The needs, outputs & outcomes

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Principals of food distribution Assessment of risks of food loss such as in

thefts, displacement at a war situation, fights, fire, any other disorderliness

Willingness of local agencies to serve the public has to be secured. Working with local institutions ensures reliability & sustainability

However there are reports of exclusion of minorities of clans, age groups and less powerful. Sometimes cards are stolen so food may be given to the wrong persons.

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Data collection & analysis in reality

Distribution Registers are kept but may include some falsifications on the number of members per hh. One woman was heard asking an extra ration from a volunteer worker because her co-wife was absent for registration. That the co wife had children and they too live with her in her household.

Reports of deficits/inadequate food at the distribution

event question the adequacy of the baseline data? Does it include new arrivals into the IDP camp? Delays in trpt?

The adequacy of security at a rural makeshift store in relation to the M&E role is not a given. However, the source of fd insecurity indicates a sustainability question

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Reporting and lessons learnt Innovations - Fieldworker mobile

Technology used to do records of eligible recipients, its time saving, reduces thefts in overnight storage

(www. World-Vision-cs-web.pdf, www.intermec.com) Oxfam, WFP and World Vision lessons

learnt have redirected them to plan for adequacy of food into supporting Agriculture. Govt supports security

Because adequacy is often unachievable as per the standards of food needs assessment in terms of Nutrition and food security and sustainability

Its politically improper to report food losses and thefts and for some it is business (diversions) but they can’t rectify what is not reported.

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Impact and Sustainability Oxfam recommends the Local food

security information system in monitoring

For Nutrition and food security, Oxfam diversified into other intermediate projects such as Agro pastoral development

WFP has chosen to give supply food to Children only (a question of seperating children from other hh)

World Vision approach is on Nutrition for Children4/10/2011 by Asiimwe Joy Turyamwijuka - UCU 12

Conclusion

Humanitarian AID agencies and government are worn out in food relief distribution in Karamoja but they cannot stop due to the mess and innefficiency because people will die. They still invest in relief.

Evaluation has to guide Policy and innovations to avoid continued investment into food relief but for sustainable food security programs. 4/10/2011 by Asiimwe Joy Turyamwijuka - UCU 13

www.slinkingtowardretirement.com

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