Project Country, Number/Title: Ecuador EMOP 10558.0 Integrated Approach for the Protection of Vulnerable Populations Affected by the Colombian Conflict on Ecuador’s Northern Border

Duration: 2 years Number of beneficiaries: 5,078 WFP food tonnage: 173 metric tons WFP food cost: US$266,390 Total cost to WFP: US$558,584

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Ecuador’s northern border zone hosts a large number of Colombians displaced from their country of origin due to the on-going conflict in Colombia. Local Ecuadorians and Colombian refugees in the area suffer from prevailing violence and crime, lack of social services, education, and weak governance. This project is expected to improve the living conditions of up to 5,000 vulnerable people in the Northern Border region of Ecuador, through food assistance over a period of two years. The total costs of WFP’s contribution to this joint project amount to about half a million US dollars. The specific objectives of the WFP-assisted emergency operation are:

� Reduce malnutrition amongst vulnerable children under 5 years of age, pregnant women and lactating mothers in the affected communities (Strategic Objective 3)

� Save lives of the displaced population with a focus on children and adolescents, through the provision of emergency food rations in case of unexpected population movements across the border into Ecuador (Strategic Objective 1)

� Contribute to improving primary education in targeted schools of the Northern Border region through the supply of kitchen and service equipment and an integrated de-worming programme.

This EMOP is part of an interagency project - UNICEF, UNHCR and WFP - to address the serious human security threats on the northern border as well as to respond to the UN Secretary General’s call for an effective interagency effort to protect the human rights of the most vulnerable population in the area. The project will be funded through the UN Trust Fund for Human Security with a contribution from the Government of Japan. Considering that the situation on the northern border has been deteriorating in the past two years without any immediate solution in sight, the emergency operation is designed for two years, from 1 September 2006 until 31 August 2008.

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BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE FOR PROVIDING ASSISTANCE

1. Located in the northwest region of South America, Ecuador’s population is approximately 12 million, of whom more than five million1 are children and adolescents. According to the Human Development Report 2005, Ecuador ranks as the 82nd country (HDI: 0.759) and is considered a “Medium Human Development” nation. While it is rich in natural resources, oil reserves and tourist attractions, high levels of inequality and poverty prevail: 58.6 percent of the children and adolescents live in poverty2.

2. Ecuador’s Northern Border region covers three neighboring provinces, which have common borders with Colombia, namely Esmeraldas, Sucumbíos and El Carchi. The provinces are facing a critical human crisis situation due to the on-going conflict in Colombia, prevailing violence in the area, physical isolation of the region, limited state presence and social inequity. Underdevelopment and poverty characterize the region, and a large part of the population is excluded from productive processes. They even often have to resort to illegal activities3 such as drug crops cultivation for their survival. Not surprisingly, the Northern Border records the country’s most dynamic cocaine trafficking. Faced with a weak and nontransparent justice system, the use of force is often a means of resolving problems4.

3. Under such a critical humanitarian situation without social protection and basic services, the most vulnerable segments of the population, refugees, poor families, children and women, are the ones who suffer the most.

4. In addition, the Northern Border region and the Imbabura province have seen constant

influx of Colombians as a result of forced displacement. As of June 2006, over 32,000 persons sought asylum, of which over 10,000 were granted refugee status5. There is also an unknown number of Colombians6, who have crossed into Ecuador, without seeking either refugee status or any kind of protection.

5. The prevailing violence and lack of adequate assistance on one side and the refugee

caseload on the other, are generating a number of problems including confrontations, stigmatization and discrimination against Colombians. Their rights are consistently undermined, as they suffer labour exploitation, discrimination and exclusion from Government basic social services, which in turn undermine children’s development and well-being. There is a rising concern regarding unaccompanied children arriving from Colombia, an issue that requires interagency efforts to ensure their protection.

1 According to the Sistema Integrado de Indicadores Sociales del Ecuador (Integrated System of Social Indicators of Ecuador), based on the 2001 INEC Population Census, the country´s population from 0 to 19 years old is 5 280 551. 2 INEC Encuesta de Hogares (Household Study) November 2004. Note that this study does not consider Colombian refugees and immigrants living in Ecuador. 3 See Ecuador’s Northern Border: Assessment and Recommendations of the Interagency Mission of the United Nations System in Ecuador,UN System in Ecuador, July 2004, p.27-28. 4 “External Causes” and “Assaults and Homicide” are the top 2 reasons of death among the male population in Sucumbíos and Esmeraldas Provinces (SIISE 2003) 5 Statistics UNHCR-MFA (2006) 6 UNHCR is currently elaborating a figure to determine the number of its population of concern. The calculation basis contains information from the Migration Police and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under direct advice from the demographer who conducted the last national census in 2001.

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6. The presence of growing numbers of Colombian citizens in receiving host communities, along the northern border, overburdens the already limited capacity of the public services. As long as the Colombian civil conflict continues, the refugee influx is unlikely to stop, despite increasing border control measures. Therefore, the pressure on social services will continue and even increase instability and tension between the Colombian refugees and the host communities.

7. In such a complex situation, especially children and women suffer severe consequences.

The female functional illiteracy rate exceeds 50 percent. Most women work in the informal sector without any effective social protection. In the provinces of Esmeraldas and Sucumbíos, girls and women, including Colombian refugees and immigrants, are trapped in networks of prostitution and sexual exploitation. According to a report by UNIFEM (2003-2004), among the interviewed prostitutes in the province of Sucumbios, about 50 percent were under age and close to 70 percent were Colombians.

8. Malnutrition is one of the most serious public health problems of Ecuador. Despite the

government’s efforts to reduce malnutrition, extreme malnutrition and hunger continue to exist, particularly in rural areas, and with even higher malnutrition rates in rural indigenous communities and the northern border zone. The chart below shows malnutrition data, further information on social indicators is provided in Annex 7.

Province Stunting7 Underweight Esmeraldas 15.9 % 9.8 % Carchi 28.7 % 5.7 % Imbabura 33.7 % 8.3 % Sucumbios* 22.7 % 10.3 % Indigenous population (country) 46.7 % 15.3 % Rural population (country) 20.1 % 9.2 % Source: ENDEMAIN 2004 (Demographic and Mother and Child Health Survey) * Data refers to the Amazon region.

9. During an official visit to Ecuador in November 2003, United Nations Secretary

General, drew attention to the urgent need to intensify humanitarian aid and interagency cooperation in the area. Responding to the Secretary General’s request, a UN interagency assessment mission recommended interventions on seven thematic issues:

� Development of a special plan for the Northern Border region, � Poverty reduction, improvement of food security and production, � Improvement of access to basic social services, � Protection of the environment, � Human rights and the administration of justice, � Increase of humanitarian aid and attention to refugees, and � Control of criminal activities.

10. On 19 April 2006, the Government of Japan and the UN approved an assistance of

approximately 1.9 million US dollars, through the Trust Fund for Human Security (UNTFHS). The already approved fund will be directed towards an interagency project,

7 % score z < 2 standard deviations (NCHS/CD/OMS)

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titled “Integrated Approach for the Protection of Vulnerable Populations Affected by the Colombian Conflict on Ecuador’s Northern Border”. The project will be implemented by the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), of which this EMOP represents WFP share of roughly 560,000 US dollars.

POLICIES, CAPACITIES AND ACTIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT AND OTHERS

11. The Contingency Plan (CP) for the Northern Border involving the government, international organizations, churches and local municipalities, was elaborated in 2004 and is updated every six months. It includes possible scenarios with procedures, resources, actions to be taken, and actors in case of an emergency in the Northern Border. It is seriously under-funded.

12. According to the National Disasters Report issued by the National Risk Management Committee in July 2004, Ecuador has no defined policies or national strategies to deal with the emergency situation arising from the continuous influx of Colombian refugees. Ecuadorian institutions responsible for addressing emergency situations are generally weak and have problems of coordination mainly due to lack of clarity with respect to their respective roles and responsibilities.

13. The government of Ecuador manages the following feeding programmes in the areas covered by this operation:

� PANN 2000, (National Nutrition Programme) assisting children under 3 years of age and pregnant and lactating women, through micronutrient fortified food;

� Aliméntate Ecuador, offering fortified food to children between 3 and 5 years of age, elderly and disabled;

� School Feeding Programme: assisting public schools and public/church schools.

14. The arrival of refugees and asylum seekers in the northern border areas has increased

the demand on social services and on the labour market. Government programmes cannot respond to all the demands, and host populations feel disadvantaged as they perceive that refugees are taking jobs and services from them. Xenophobia has become increasingly common.

15. WFP has already been assisting approximately 6,300 refugees and asylum seekers from Colombia with family food rations and has promoted economic self-sufficiency in refugee populations through EMOP 10381.0, which has been implemented in close collaboration with UNHCR. Both the existing EMOP and this new EMOP (10558.0) will be closely coordinated.

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OBJECTIVES OF WFP ASSISTANCE

16. The overarching objective of this interagency project is to: “Promote the protection of human rights of vulnerable populations of children and adolescents and their families (Ecuadorian and Colombian) living in Ecuador’s Northern Border area through the effective implementation of the existing legal framework and the provision of both special protection measures and support to affected communities.”

17. WFP’s specific objectives within the interagency project are as follows:

� Reduce malnutrition amongst vulnerable children under 5 years of age, pregnant women and lactating mothers in the affected communities (SO 3)

� Save lives of the displaced population with a focus on children and adolescents, through the provision of emergency food rations in case of unexpected population movements across the border into Ecuador (SO 1)

� Contribute to improving primary education in targeted schools of the Northern Border area through the supply of kitchen and service equipment and through an integrated de-worming programme (SO4)

18. Additional education and human rights activities will be carried out with the other UN

agencies.

BENEFICIARIES AND TARGETING

19. Two types of beneficiaries will be assisted:

� Vulnerable groups: children under 5, pregnant women and lactating mothers in 17 parishes8 through the provision of micronutrient fortified food. Micro-nutrient fortified food will be provided to 908 pregnant women and 2,170 children under 5, where public health care units are non-existent or very limited.

� Refugees and asylum seekers, through 2,000 individual food rations.

The below table specifies beneficiary details.

Category of beneficiaries Number Vulnerable Groups Pregnant women and lactating mothers 908Girls under 5 1,107Boys under 5 1,063Refugees and asylum seekers Female Refugees 1,000Male Refugees 1,000Total 5,078

8 According to Ecuador’s political and administrative division, the country is organized in provinces, counties, and parishes.

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20. Additional activities include the provision of kitchen and service equipment to 66 schools and the provision of four doses of de-worming pills to 34,000 families, whose children attend schools under the School Feeding Programme in nine selected counties.

21. A vulnerability assessment will help to identify parishes with high levels of poverty and malnutrition rates in border areas; the refugee caseload will be another selection criteria.

NUTRITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS AND RATIONS

22. The lack of health services in the concerned parishes especially affects the nutritional status of pregnant women, lactating mothers and children, which in turn influences the human development of this population. Fortified products (nutrinnfa and nutricampeones for children between 3 and 5 years of age, mi papilla for children under 3 years of age and mi bebida for pregnant women and lactating mothers) can be a significant source of micronutrients for this population.

23. The nutritional characteristics of the products are as follows:

Nutritional Contribution (100gr ration) Product Target

population Energy Proteins Micronutrients Mi Papilla 6 – 36

months 260-290 Kcal. 15% of total Kcal. (10 gr.) 60 – 100 % of primary

micronutrient requirements Mi Bebida Pregnant

and lactating

260-290 Kcal. 11% of total Kcal. (7 and 8 g.) 30 – 80 % of primary micronutrient requirements

Nutrinnfa / Nutrecampeones

3 – 5 years 429 Kcal. 12,9 gr. 40 – 80 % of primary micronutrient requirements

24. Every beneficiary will receive 2 kg per month, which is to be consumed in portions of 65 g twice a day during the implementation of the project. The distribution of these products to poor mothers will be linked to complementary activities, such as training and participation in women’s organizations for child development.

25. Emergency Food Rations will be composed as follows:

Food Ration Composition

Product Daily Ration (g) Monthly Ration (g)

Rice 200 6,000 Maize meal 100 3,000 Total CEREALS 300 9,000 Grains (lentils) 66 2,000 Sugar 20 600 Canned Fish 23 680 Vegetable oil 15.3 460

Total 424.3 12,740

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26. The main activities to be carried out will be:

� Complementary food assistance enriched with micronutrients: Beneficiary registration will be carried out in the parishes to prepare a list of people entitled to receive food assistance. Some 104 metric tons of fortified products for children under 5 years of age and 44 metric tons of fortified products for pregnant women and lactating mothers will be purchased locally to cover food assistance requirements.

� WFP/UNCHR/UNICEF will regularly update the Northern Border

contingency plan, which includes the procedures of individual emergency food ration distribution in coordination with local Emergency Operations Committees, in case of an unexpected massive refugee influx from Colombia. Some 25 metric tons of various food commodities will be purchased locally for this beneficiary group. Every ration covers the need of one person for two weeks. In case of food shortages female-headed households will be given priority.

IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS

27. This emergency operation will be part of a two-year interagency project, funded by the Government of Japan through UNTFHS. The Trust Fund will be managed by the Interagency Project Team, comprised of UNICEF, UNHCR and WFP. The project team will coordinate the strategic planning, project implementation, progress monitoring and reporting. In order to simplify the administrative and logistic process, as well as to ensure efficient and effective project implementation, the three agencies agreed to assign a “Lead Agency” for each activity.

28. Besides UNHCR and UNICEF, the major partners of this operation will be the Ministry

of Health that implements the PANN 2000 programme and national NGOs. At the local level, local branches of the Ministry of Health, local organizations, and parish committees will be the key implementing partners. Schools, communities and individual beneficiaries will be directly involved in activity implementation, for example in weighing assisted children, and organizing distributions.

29. Considering the deteriorating situation along the border with no immediate solution of

the conflict in sight, the operation is planned for two years, from 1 September 2006 until 31 August 2008.

30. WFP Ecuador will sign Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with the Ministries of

Health, Education and Social Welfare for the implementation of the project further defining the respective institutional roles.

31. As part of the overall strategy, it is considered very important to combine fortified food

distribution with supporting health and nutrition training/education. Therefore, mothers of small children and pregnant women and their families will receive family nutrition

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education; this activity will be carried out jointly with UNICEF according to the interagency project approved by UNTFHS.

32. The majority of schools are poorly equipped. They lack necessary utensils and

equipment for food preparation, even those schools already participating in the school feeding programme. Hence, 66 elementary schools in 19 selected counties will receive complete kitchen and service equipment to be used in the school feeding programme. The equipment includes plastic jars, plates, hotplates, pots, pans and gas cylinders. Targeted schools are attended by refugee and asylum seeker children of Colombian origin, as well as Ecuadorian children.

33. In the Northern Border region, high levels of intestinal parasitic infections are being

reported, with more than 80 percent of the population affected. With support of WFP and UNDP, the Ministry of Education distributes breakfast and lunch to public school children also in this area. Even though school children may have consumed sufficient nutrients in their daily diet, up to 25 percent of the food is absorbed by parasites, limiting the effectiveness of increased food consumption. To improve the effectiveness of school meals and to limit the re-infection rate of school children, family members will receive four dosages of de-worming tablets. De-worming campaigns will be carried out in nine selected counties twice a year, together with activities of transmission control, including hygiene and nutrition. Over 677,000 albendazole tablets will be purchased for that purpose.

PERFORMANCE MONITORING

34. The UN project team will be in permanent contact and will coordinate all activities, including project monitoring. Lead agencies will be responsible for directing the monitoring of their respective activities following the reporting guidelines. The project team, having a decision-making role, will meet monthly to discuss the situation in the region, as well as the implementation status.

35. The output indicators will be measured during field visits by means of interviews with

key informants, analysis of focus groups, and self evaluations. A detailed monitoring and evaluation plan and strategy for WFP activities has been elaborated.

Indicators will be:

� Actual beneficiaries receiving emergency food assistance, by gender and age

group � Actual beneficiaries receiving micronutrient fortified food, by gender and age

group � Anthropometric measures of weight/height and height/age � Actual distributed food tonnage/commodity by activity, as a percentage of the

planned distribution � Number of families receiving appropriate family nutrition education � Number of workshops on family nutrition education � Percentage of planned micronutrient fortified food delivered

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� Actual beneficiary numbers receiving de-worming tablets, as a percentage of planned figures, by beneficiary category and gender

� Number of schools having received complete kitchen and service equipment � Percentage of stunting and underweight among children under 5 years.

EXIT STRATEGY

36. The MOU signed with the government’s social feeding programmes states that they will be responsible to continue the assistance after the end of the project.

SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS

37. At the moment, the province of El Carchi, Sucumbíos and San Lorenzo canton in the province of Esmeraldas are in UN Security Phase 1. The security in the area is under constant surveillance by the UN system.

38. UNHCR field offices operate in the towns of Lago Agrio and Ibarra and service the

areas of the operation. They provide support and advice on security to UN staff working or travelling to the area and guarantee minimum security conditions.

RECOMMENDATION The Senior Deputy Executive Director is requested to approve the proposed Emergency Operation for Ecuador, EMOP 10558.0, under the delegated authority of the Executive Director.

______________________________ ____________ Jean-Jacques Graisse Date Senior Deputy Executive Director

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ANNEX I Project Cost Breakdown

ANNEX II Log Frame

ANNEX III MAP

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ANNEX IA PROJECT COST BREAKDOWN

WFP PROJECT COST BREAKDOWN

Quantity

(mt)

Average

cost (US$) per mt

Value

(US$)

COSTS

A. Direct operational costs

Rice 9 12 900 10,800

Maize meal 6 950 5,700

Lentils 4 900 3,600

Fish 1 4,600 6,256

Sugar 1 1,311 1,574

Oil 1 2,250 2,070

Wheat-Soya Blend 71 1,600 113,587

Beverages 77 1,600 122,803

Total commodities 173 266,390

External transport

Landside transport

ITSH 24,010

Total LTSH 24,010

Other direct operational costs 149,421

Total direct operational costs 439,821

B. Direct support costs (see Annex IB table below for details) 82,220

C. Indirect support costs (7 percent of total direct costs) 36,543

TOTAL WFP COSTS 558,584

9 This is a notional food basket used for budgeting and approval purposes. The precise mix and actual quantities of commodities to be supplied to the project, as in all WFP-assisted projects, may vary over time depending on the availability of commodities to WFP and domestically within the recipient country.

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ANNEX IB PROJECT COST BREAKDOWN

DIRECT SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS (US$)

Staff

International professional staff

National professional officers 25,440

National general service staff 17,280

Temporary assistance

Overtime

Staff duty travel 38,000

Staff training and development

Subtotal 80,720

Office expenses and other recurrent costs

Rental of facility

Utilities (general)

Office supplies

Communication and IT services

Insurance

Equipment repair and maintenance

Vehicle maintenance and running cost

Other office expenses

United Nations Organizations Services

Subtotal

Equipment and other fixed costs

Furniture tools and equipment

Vehicles

TC/IT equipment 1,500

Subtotal 1,500

TOTAL DIRECT SUPPORT COSTS 82,220

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ANNEX II

Log Frame Summary of Ecuador EMOP 10558.0

Results-Chain (Logic Model) Performance Indicators Risks, AssumptionsOutcomes:

1. Reduce malnutrition amongst vulnerable childrenunder 5 years of age, pregnant women and lactatingmothers in the affected communities (SO 3)

2. Save lives of the displaced population with a focuson children and adolescents, through the provision ofemergency food rations in case of unexpectedpopulation movements across the border intoEcuador (SO1)

3. Contribute to improving primary education intargeted schools of the Northern Border regionthrough the supply of kitchen and service equipmentand an integrated de-worming programme. (SO 4)

1.1 Percentage of stunting and underweightamong children under 5 years

1.2 Anthropometric measures ofweight/height and height/age

2.1 # of Refugees and asylum seekersreceiving emergency food assistance, bygender and age group

3.1 % of schools that have increased theattendance of pupils

• Political and social instability in the country.• Inadequate coordination with NGOs and

government institutions at local and provinciallevel.

• Intensification of the Colombian conflict in theborder with Ecuador.

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Outputs:

1.1 908 pregnant women and 2170 children under 5years of age in 17 selected parishes where publichealth care units are inexistent or very limitedreceive micronutrients fortified food

1.2 Mothers of small children and pregnant womenand their families receive adequate NutritionalEducation and Family Education

2.1 Food assistance, basic commodities, emergencypackages/kits reviewed and updated.

3.1 Sixty six elementary schools in 19 selected countieswith complete kitchen and services equipments

3.2 33,856 families of children attending schools innine selected counties where Breakfast and LunchPrograms are operating receive four dosages ofdeworming pills (Abendazole 400)

1.1.1 MT of micronutrient fortified foodpurchased and delivered

1.1.2 # of beneficiaries receivingmicronutrient fortified food, by genderand age group

1.2.1 # of families receiving an adequateNutritional Education

1.2.2 # of workshop on Nutritional Educationand Family Education held

2.1.1 Actual distributed foodtonnage/commodity by activity, as apercentage of the planned distribution

2.1.2 # of Refugees and asylum seekersreceiving emergency food assistance, bygender and age group

3.1.1 # of stoves purchased and delivered3.1.2 # of schools with complete kitchen and

services equipments

3.2.1 Actual beneficiary numbers receivingde-worming tablets, as a percentage ofplanned figures, by beneficiary categoryand gender

Lack of collaboration and disagreement with theplanning activities during the implementation of theproject by local executors like school teachers, parents,NGOs that work with refugees and asylum seekers,personnel of the Health Centers and government localfeeding programmes, local stakeholders and otherpartners.

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The boundaries and names shown and designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement of acceptance by the World Food Programme. WFP assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy, correctness or

completeness of any information available on this map.