WFP Capacity Strengthening for DRR and resilience

During the period, support focused on providing technical and financial assistance to strengthen the capacity of both national and county governments and communities to develop climate-resilient assets, improve access to finance and risk management tools, and establish and manage institutions charged with preparing and responding to emergencies. The targeted institutions are the Ministry of Devolution and ASALS (MoDA), State Department for Devolution (SDD), State Department of ASALS (SDDA), National Drought Management Authority NDMA and nine counties where WFP continued to invest in the capacity of technical officers and extension systems. Disaster Risk Management (DRM) committees were established within counties to provide for institutional structure and financing for government-led programmes for preparing and responding to emergencies. In 2020, the project progressed well towards strengthening food and nutrition security programmes in nine arid counties. WFP continued investing in technical and analytical capacity that broadened the pool of county officers who undertook food and nutrition security assessments, disseminated the findings and enhanced use of the evidence for planning and resource allocation. The DRM sector was also strengthened through training that enabled them to mainstream Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and DRM in planning and budgeting. DRM committees were also established to enhance coordination and effective preparedness for disaster response at county, sub county and ward level. For sustainability of the initiatives Tana River County established a DRM Fund (2% of the County budget). Policy development at national level was however negatively impacted due to COVID-19 where the Government directed efforts towards an Interagency Committee for Emergency Relief Response where WFPs team contributed to the development of operational plan, Standard Operating Procedures and guidelines for relief assistance that were used during COVID-19 response.Priority areas for 2021 will include piloting disaster risk financing model in two counties and use the findings to further advocate for government investments in disaster risk financing. The development of the National Relief Assistance Policy will be accelerated with the aim of getting approval. County and national level emergency contingency planning and simulation will also be prioritised in view of the projected poor season.The containment measures to the risk of the spread of the COVID-19 virus resulted in a temporary suspension of activities in adherence to Government regulations. WFP utilized a blended approach of online and face-to-face engagement where feasible to ensure programme implementation coupled with continuous communication and engagement with relevant stakeholders, partners and beneficiaries. Addressing the needs of the most vulnerable was essential, and WFP ensured that vulnerable groups, including women, children, people living with disabilities and the elderly were aware of the adjustments  made to the programme and how they could share their feedback. As a co-lead of the United Nations Gender Working Group, WFP supported the development of policy proposals to address the gendered impacts of COVID-19. Continuous monitoring and evaluation was crucial to ensuring robust programming. As such, WFP ensured continuous monitoring of its programmes throughout the year. Remote monitoring was carried out for areas that were inaccessible due to the COVID-19 measures. Partnership with the Overseas Development Institute, World Bank and outsourced annual outcome monitoring enhanced the quality and independence of evidence generation.

The programme is expected to strengthen capacity of National and county institutions in Kenya to assist food-insecure and nutritionally vulnerable populations. The expected programme outputs are as follows: 1. National and county government institutions develop a well-functioning institutional arrangement that is effective in inter-sectorial coordination and has enhanced sustainable financing and leadership for resilient livelihoods programming and emergency preparedness and response, anchored in relevant policy and legislation. 2. National and county government institutions develop technical capacities, know-how and experience for evidence based design and planning of resilient livelihoods and Emergency Preparedness and Response programmes. 3. National and county government institutions develop systems that improve delivery efficiency, foster greater accountability and responsiveness in implementation of resilient livelihoods and emergency preparedness and response programmes. 4. Communities vulnerable to and affected by climatic shocks have strengthened productive capacities to withstand and recover their livelihoods.