ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳

This operation has been modified as per budget revision 4 (see below).

The combined effects of the 2011/2012 Sahel Crisis and heavy flooding in July/October 2012 have eroded vulnerable households¡¯ coping mechanisms and resulted in protracted food insecurity in pockets of the country and persisting acute malnutrition.

Despite a recovery in cereal production from the 2012/2013 harvest, access to food continues to be constrained by high food prices and the lingering effects of last year¡¯s food crisis. Two thirds of households face food insecurity, particularly during the annual rainy season, of which 5.5 percent suffer from ¡®moderate¡¯ or ¡®severe¡¯ food insecurity. Global acute malnutrition at the national level is 9.9 percent and stunting prevalence reaches over 30 percent in one region.

This protracted relief and recovery operation aims to: (i) support the treatment and prevention of acute malnutrition among children under 5 and pregnant and lactating women in targeted regions (Strategic Objective 3); (ii) restore and rebuild the livelihoods of the most vulnerable population and support their transition to recovery (Strategic Objective 3); and, (iii) support the national disaster risk reduction agenda and enhance government and community capacity in emergency preparedness and response (Strategic Objective 2). Food assistance for all asset-creation and training activities will be through cash transfers based on beneficiary preference, functionality of markets and the low cost of cash transfers 2 relative to in-kind food distribution.

The PRRO is fully aligned with the Government¡¯s national priorities as defined in national and sectoral plans and the latest national nutrition protocol, as well as with ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳Strategic Objectives 2 and 3. It contributes to Millennium Development Goals 1, 4, and 5 and supports the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (2012¨C2016).

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This budget revision extends PRRO 200557 by 15 months (January 2017 - March 2018) with an increase of the overall number of beneficiaries from 144,570 to 216,640.