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WFP Syria Country Office
Quarterly Monitoring Report
Produced by the WFP Syria M&E Unit.
This report is based on the 2016 second quarter Post-Distribution Monitoring (PDM) analysis and process monitoring findings.
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: WFP
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dEXTERNAL BULLETIN APR-JUN 16
Highlights
2
Iran PDM, 2015
Syria WFP Q2 M&E Report
1 Food distributions were conducted by 11 international NGOs, Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) and 23 local NGOs.2 Mobile Vulnerability Analysis Mapping provides real-time food security data and analysis on the population level.
WFP and its partners distributed 130,262 mt of food assistance to a maximum of 4.31 million
beneficiaries, of which five percent were assisted through cross-border deliveries from Turkey and
Jordan (225,345 beneficiaries). The number of beneficiaries increased by 10 percent from first quarter
(3,873,055 beneficiaries), due to increased access to various areas and airdrops to Deir ez Zor
governorate1.
WFP participated in 28 inter-agency convoys in Q2; however, WFP monitors were unable to conduct
on-site and process distribution monitoring at cross-line locations, as the food deliveries and
distributions took place after sunset. Nevertheless, more than 1,000 monitoring on-site and household
visits were conducted by WFP staff and Third Party Monitoring (TPM) companies, an 11 percent
increase from the prior quarter. In addition, beneficiary data was captured through mobile VAM2.
Despite the heavy fighting in Aleppo and Idleb, WFP and TPM were able to maintain the same level of
outcome monitoring interviews, when compared to first quarter.
Overall, food consumption (FCS) levels of female headed households have sharply deteriorated
compared to the previous quarter, with 55 percent recorded as having poor or borderline FCS,
compared with 33 percent in the prior quarter.
Coverage of food assistance monitoring activities
During the reporting period, WFP monitors and project facilitators from TPM companies conducted
1,010 visits to locations that received food assistance through General Food Assistance (GFA), Nutrition
Support to Pregnant and Lactating Women (PLW), Supplementary Feeding Programme (SFP), School
Feeding (SF), and Food For Asset (FFA). Monitoring visits to locations covered through cross-border
deliveries remianed the same during the second quarter. Overall, the number of monitoring visits
increased by 11 percent compared to Q1. There was a slight decrease in the monitoring done by the Al-
Hasakeh field office, which was mainly due to fighting in Qamishli, Al-Hasakeh.
Monitoring Challenges
• Lack of mission approvals from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to allow the Damascus field office to
conduct monitoring in the Southern governorates.
• Lack of armored vehicles for Damascus Sub-Office, given the high demand for priority missions.
• Security situations in Aleppo and Al-Hasakeh governorates prevented WFP staff from conducting
monitoring visits; however, TPM project facilitators were able to cover the monitoring gaps.
GFA Post Distribution Monitoring (PDM)
3
Iran PDM, 2015
Syria WFP Q2 M&E Report
Food Consumption Score (FCS) 3
Whole of Syria
Overall, between April and June 2016, there was a decline in the acceptable FCS (by 11 percentage points),
as shown in the below graph.
3FCS for Syria is reported based on an adjusted threshold due to high consumption of sugar and oil in the country.
Methodology
The in-country General Food Assistance (GFA) Post-Distribution Monitoring (PDM) interviews
are conducted face-to-face at the distribution level, given the imposed security restrictions.
However, in areas covered by the cross-border operations from Jordan and Turkey, the interviews
are carried out at the household level by TPM companies. In addition, a beneficiary sample is
collected via mobile VAM.
During the second quarter, 2,090 PDMs were conducted across Syria, through WFP monitoring,
TPM and mobile VAM.
A total of 13 percent of all interviews were conducted with households headed by females, but in
total 25 percent of all interviews were conducted with female interviewees. The PDM was not able
to cover all governorates given the security situation, yet the total sampled population is large
enough to provide representative results at the beneficiary household level. It is important to note
that gender disaggregation is indicative rather than representative, as the number of interviews with
female headed households was insufficient.
6% 8% 12%
17%20%
27%
77% 72%61%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
2015_Q4 2016_Q1 2016_Q2
Poor (≤28) Borderline (28-42) Acceptable (>42)
Figure 1: FCS comparisons for the whole of Syria
6Syria WFP Q2 M&E Report
This deterioration is due to multiple reasons including the increase in the national average cost of the
WFP food basket to SYP 34,634 in April, representing a 14 percent increase compared to the previous
month. Furthermore, in June, the official price of diesel increased (from SYP 135/L to SYP 180/L)
and that of a gas cylinder (from SYP 1,800 to SYP 2,500).
GFA Post Distribution Monitoring (PDM)
Aleppo and Idleb Governorates
There was a decline in the acceptable and borderline FCS compared to the previous quarter, which is due
to the increased fighting in Aleppo, and Idleb governorates. In spite of the hostility, the number of
outcome monitoring interviews remained the same as the previous quarter, which provided representative
results.
In Aleppo governorate in April, the escalation in fighting affected market functionality and caused a rapid
increase in the price of a standard food basket by 14.2 percent compared to the previous month and 36
percent compared to six prior. In May, the supply of basic food commodities was severely disrupted and
the prices of most food commodities were rapidly increasing. The aforementioned issues there likely had a
strong impact as beneficiaries in major conflict areas (currently Aleppo and Idleb) continue to have much
lower food consumption.
Figure 2: Comparisons between major and relatively moderate conflict areas
27%
6%
35%
24%
38%
70%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Aleppo & Idleb Other Governorates
Poor Borderline Acceptable
6Syria WFP Q2 M&E Report
GFA Post Distribution Monitoring (PDM)
The acceptable FCS of female headed households dropped by a quarter compared to the prior quarter.
Both female and male headed households’ food consumption decreased; however, female headed
households with acceptable food consumption decreased by three times more than male headed
households (female: 67 to 45 percent and male: 71 to 64 percent). This may be due to the inability to
generate income, while male headed households are more likely able to find alternatives.
27%34%
1%14%
36%
40%
11%
24%
37%26%
88%
62%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2016_Q1 2016_Q2 2016_Q1 2016_Q2
Aleppo Idleb
Poor Borderline Acceptable
Figure 3: Comparisons between FCS for Q1 and Q2 2016 in Aleppo and Idleb Governorates
10% 16%7% 12%
23%
40%
21%24%
67%
45%71% 64%15
18
1313
0
4
8
12
16
20
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Female Female Male Male
2016_Q1 2016_Q2 2016_Q1 2016_Q2
Poor Borderline Acceptable rCSI
Figure 4: Comparisons between Sex of HH in Aleppo and Idleb Governorates
6Syria WFP Q2 M&E Report
GFA Post Distribution Monitoring (PDM)
Cross-Border from Jordan and In-country
Overall, 70 percent of interviewed households had acceptable FCS, while 24 percent had borderline and 6
percent had poor FCS. When compared to Q1, the acceptable FCS decreased by 7 percentage points. This
may be due to the declining purchasing power against the USD rate and volatile events in cross-border
Jordan operational area.
Similar to the situation in Aleppo and Idelb, a significant decline in the acceptable FCS of female headed
households was observed. The poor and borderline FCS increased from 24 in Q1 to 51 in Q2. This
deterioration is reflected in the consumption-based coping strategies (CSI 20 from 16). However, the
situation among male headed households remained stable. This puts an emphasis on the high vulnerability
of female headed households to food insecurity, as they seem to consume poorer diet and also utilize
consumption-based coping strategies more frequently. WFP and partners have included the sex of
household head in the beneficiary selection criteria, based on evidence from WFP monitoring findings.
However, WFP will further investigate these results.
4%12%
3% 5%
24%
39%
18% 20%
72%
49%
79% 75%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Female Female Male Male
2016_Q1 2016_Q2 2016_Q1 2016_Q2
Poor Borderline Acceptable
Figure 5: Comparisons between male and female headed HHs for Cross-Border from Jordan and In-country
Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) 4
Whole of Syria
The dietary diversity score, which is the average number of food groups households consume in a week,
was six which is considered as medium dietary diversity. Households headed by females had a DDS of 5.5
and those headed by males had a DDS of 6.1. The DDS of female heads of household slightly declined in
Q2, when compared to Q1 (to 5.5 from 5.8). Nonetheless, the results remained the same for male heads of
household.
4International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) thresholds for Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) are used to analyze the findings in this report: 6+ = good dietary diversity, 4.5–6 =
medium dietary diversity, <4.5 = low dietary diversity.
6Syria WFP Q2 M&E Report
GFA Post Distribution Monitoring (PDM)
Aleppo and Idleb Governorates
The DDS of both female and male headed households remained the same compared to Q1.
Cross-Border from Jordan and In-country
The overall DDS for both government controlled and areas covered by cross-border from Jordan was six.
Households headed by females had a DDS of 6.3 and those headed by males had a DDS of 6.0. The
results remained the same for both female and male heads of household when compared to Q1.
Coping Strategies – Consumption-based 5
Whole of Syria
The consumption-based Coping Strategies Index (CSI) measures the frequency and severity of coping
mechanisms adopted to meet basic food needs. During Q2, the overall consumption-based CSI remained
the same (~CSI 13.8 in Q2 from 13.2 in Q1).
Yet, comparisons between Q2 and Q1 showed an increase in applying one of the five strategies included in
the CSI: ‘restrict consumption by adults in order for small children to eat’. This strategy was used twice per
week by 12 percent of beneficiary households (compared to 8 percent in Q1). The results of the remaining
strategies remained the same when compared to the previous quarter. However, the mentioned way of
coping with the lack of basic food above is considered to be the most severe consumption-based strategy.
Female heads of household were more likely to adopt consumption-based coping strategies (~CSI 18.2 in
Q2 from 14.7 in Q1). The CSI of the male heads of household remained the same (~CSI 13.0 in Q2 from
12.9 in Q1). The food security assessment (FSA) conducted in 2015 indicated that about 60 percent more
female headed households are food insecure and vulnerable than male headed households.
Aleppo and Idleb Governorates
The CSI for Idleb and Aleppo remained the same when compared to Q1 (~CSI 11). However, between
Q2 and Q1, there was a noticeable increase in the number of households who had to restrict consumption
of adult members to allow young children to eat, which is the most severe consumption-based coping
strategy (figure 6).
5The minimum possible CSI value is zero, while the maximum is 56.
6Syria WFP Q2 M&E Report
GFA Post Distribution Monitoring (PDM)
98%93%
41% 41%
58%53%
64%
55%
47%51%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2016_Q1 2016_Q2
Rely on less preferred andless expensive food
Borrow food or relied onhelp from relatives or friends
Reduce number of mealseaten in a day
Limit portion size at meals
Restrict consumption byadults in order for smallchildren to eat
Figure 6: Comparisons of consumption-based coping strategies between Q1 and Q2
Cross-Border from Jordan and In-country
During Q2, the consumption-based CSI of beneficiary households in the operational area changed slightly
to CSI 15.1 in Q2 from 14.9 in Q1. The most commonly applied strategy were ‘relying on less preferred
and less expensive food’ (93 percent), which improved by 5 percent when compared to the previous
quarters. However, comparisons between Q2 and Q1 showed a noticeable increase in applying two of the
five strategies (figure 7). Restricting consumption and reducing the number of meals eaten in a day are the
most severe consumption-based strategies.
93%
41%
37%
46%
25%
73%
42%
52%
42%
34%
Rely on less preferred and less expensive food
Borrow food or relied on help from relatives orfriends
Reduce number of meals eaten in a day
Limit portion size at meals
Restrict consumption by adults in order for smallchildren to eat
2016_Q2 2016_Q1
Figure 7: Comparisons consumption-based coping strategies between Q1 and Q2
6Syria WFP Q2 M&E Report
GFA Post Distribution Monitoring (PDM)
A difference was observed in CSI by the sex of the head of household. Female heads of household were
more likely to adopt consumption-based coping strategies (~CSI 17.4 in Q2 from 16.1 in Q1). Meanwhile,
the CSI of the male heads of household improved (~CSI 12.6 in Q2 from 14.4 in Q1).
Livelihood Coping Strategies
Whole of Syria
The livelihood coping strategies determine the long-term coping capacity of households.
Overall, the change in applying livelihood coping strategies was minor, when compared to the previous
quarter. This may be due to households no longer being able to apply these strategies.
Aleppo and Idleb Governorates
Results showed that beneficiary households in Aleppo and Idleb were more likely to adopt two of four
coping strategies, as shown below. Households are no longer able to reduce their necessary expenditures or
borrow money/buy food on credit, as they have done it in the past.
47%
50%
33%
9%
43%
36%
36%
15%
Bought food on credit or borrowed money topurchase food
Reduced essential non food expenditures such ashealth
Sold household assets
Had members of HH out migrate in search ofwork/food
2016_Q2 2016_Q1
Figure 8: Quarterly comparisons of livelihood strategies in Aleppo and Idleb governorates
Cross-Border from Jordan and In-country
The major increase observed with regards to asset depletion strategies was ‘sending household members to
beg and/or under aged children (<16 years) to work’ (23 percent in Q2, compared with 10 percent in Q1),
a worrying trend as this reflects diminishing options for sources of income.
GFA Process Monitoring
10
Iran PDM, 2015
Syria WFP Q2 M&E Report
• In April, WFP was able to start assisting an estimated 110,000 beneficiaries in the besieged
city of Deir ez Zor in Deir ez Zor governorate, but Ar-Raqqa governorate continues to be
inaccessible due to insecurity, which prevented delivery of WFP food rations to an estimated
100,000 food insecure people 6. Due to the logistics set-up, which necessitate that
commodities are dropped at different intervals, beneficiary households have different
distribution cycles based on their residential areas. However, the partner ensures that a full
food ration is provided to each household.
• In rural areas, most beneficiaries continued to request an increase in the quantities of sugar,
oil and canned items while reducing that of white beans. In addition, the quality of rice
continues to be an issue for beneficiaries as it requires relatively long cooking time, hence
more fuel.
• In besieged locations, beneficiaries are requesting for an increase in the quantity of salt to
allow them to preserve some food items. Most families living in besieged locations, cook only
small portions of food, while prioritizing food commodities which cannot be stored for long
periods of time. Consequently, families consume produce and dairy when available, then
proceed to consume the dry rations. These are but some of the strategies used, as they worry
constantly about whether there will be another food assistance delivery.
• In Madamiyeh, a 13 year old was witnessed to have very dry and dirty hands, his mother
explained that her son is the breadwinner in the family. The boy works with melting plastics
and other materials to produce fuel; the boy only earns SYP 1,000 per week (less than two
USD). It was reported that employers who produce fuel, hire children above 8 or 9 years of
age instead of adults in order to pay lower wages.
• Interviewed individuals and families in Madamiyeh reported an equal distribution of food
assistance amongst the residents given that Madamiyeh is a close-knit community. Disabled
and elderly living on their own receive their assistance through delegates without providing
any type of payment. Sale of food assistance was not reported; however, families tended to
exchange commodities when needed.
• Some informal information about market functionality in besieged areas were reported.
Key informants alleged that shop owners close their shops upon the delivery of food
assistance. Later, after most assistance had been consumed/exhausted by the majority of the
population, the shops will re-open to offer food commodities at very high prices.
6Humanitarian Needs Overview - August 2016 data
11
Syria WFP Q2 M&E Report
Food Consumption Score (FCS)
During Q2, WFP increased the number of PLW interviews by 55 percent when compared to Q1 (to 197
interviews). The proportion of PLW beneficiaries with acceptable FCS has decreased by 17 percentage
points to 83 percent when compared to Q1. However, the acceptable FCS remained as a major
improvement over the baseline.
One possible reason for the decline in food consumption is the increase in prices of basic food
commodities over the quarter affecting purchasing power. The increased number of interviews with
beneficiaries residing in Homs, may have provided more representative results rather than indicative.
Voucher Based Nutrition Support to Pregnant and Lactating Women7
42%
3% 0% 0% 3%
29%
23%
2%14%
29%
74%
98% 100%
83%
4.90
6.536.90
6.956.54
0.00
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
6.00
7.00
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Baseline 2015_Q1 2015_Q4 2016_Q1 2016_Q2
Poor Borderline Acceptable DDS
Figure 9: FCS of households with PLW members
Dietary Diversity Score (DDS)
87 percent of interviewed beneficiaries have an average DDS of 6 or higher. Using the International
Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) thresholds, we can assume that 79 percent of PLW beneficiaries
have a good diversity score, while 14 percent have a medium DDS and the remaining seven percent have
poor diversity score.
When disaggregating the analysis results by geographical area, a better response for both indicators was
observed in Lattakia, when comparted to Homs. Only 50 percent of PLW beneficiaries in Homs have a
good diversity score, compared to 100 percent in Lattakia, indicating the variety in food items consumed
by these individuals, including the consumption of fruit and fresh vegetables at least three times per
week. This will be further investigated by WFP to allow for necessary value adjustments.
7 79 percent of respondents were PLW beneficiaries, while the remaining interviewees were either female or male family members.
PLW Process Monitoring
12
Iran PDM, 2015
Syria WFP Q2 M&E Report
In Homs and Lattakia governorates, WFP and partners distributed a total amount of USD 589,833 to a
maximum of 11,199 PLW beneficiaries. The number of assisted individuals per month increased from the first
quarter due to the continued scale-up.
During the reporting period, the monthly voucher value was adjusted twice; for May cycle and again for June
(from SYP 8,300 to SYP 9,500, and then to SYP 10,725). The overall 29 percent increase in voucher value was
informed by evidence-based market monitoring and the devaluation of the Syrian pound against the US
dollar, which has adversely affected beneficiaries’ purchasing power.
The overall average distance between beneficiaries’ homes and distribution points was 24 minutes (~35 and
~16 minutes in Homs and Lattakia respectively). The same applies to the distance between the shop and
residence.
The paper vouchers could be redeemed in four retail shops (two in Homs and two in Lattakia). However,
some beneficiaries complained about the transportation costs listed below:
Table 1: Destination ~ transportation cost paid in Homs ~ transportation cost paid in Lattakia
To the voucher distribution point SYP 237 SYP 297To the shops SYP 177 SYP 303To the residence from shops SYP 177* SYP 678
~ Transport cost (3-way trip) SYP 591 SYP 1,279
*To be followed up on by Homs Sub-Office
Programme unit is planning to expand the number of contracted shops to a total of four
shops in Homs and three shops in Lattakia and has increased the voucher value to
encompass the transportation costs.
Beneficiary Contact Monitoring
While only considering the preferences of PLW respondents, the results showed that a mix
of cash and voucher assistance is favored over adding more items to the food basket as well
as other assistance modalities.
Figure 10: Preferred assistance modality by PLW respondents
24%
14%
19%
44%
Voucher
Additional items in GFAbasket
Cash
Mix of Cash and Voucher
PLW Process Monitoring
13
Iran PDM, 2015
Syria WFP Q2 M&E Report
Interestingly, the majority in Lattakia (75 percent) selected a mix of vouchers and cash
assistance beneficiaries, while 36 percent of surveyed beneficiaries in Homs preferred cash
and 35 percent preferred voucher assistance only.
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