Food Aid ProgramSierra Leone

Alissara JayaphornMonica MayorgaZi Wang

Problem

War and Crime

Starvation

Low Productivity

Poor Economy

Many under-developed countries cannot provide enough food for their population even though they have the natural resources.

While Sierra Leone possesses substantial mineral, agricultural and fishery resources, there is widespread poverty caused by a decade-long civil war.

Even though the United Nations succeeded in its peacekeeping operation, and help end the conflict in 2002, it will be difficult to revitalize the country’s economy if it relies on a battered population.

Empowerment in the form of a Food Aid Program that relies on a food stand as a place to impart knowledge on sustainable agricultural practices and on nutritious food.

Problem & Solution

Features

Train Volunteers Food Stand

Teaching Curriculum

Record Progress

Lab(Research & Analysis)

ResearchThe national production of rice in 2005 was only 60 percent of the total domestic requirements.

In Sierra Leone, agriculture is carried out mainly by traditional methods like up-land rice farming, which tends to erode the soil.

The northern part of the country is the most affected by damaged soil, increasing the prevalence of savanna vegetation.

The main target of the current WFP’s Country Programme are young girls, pregnant women and people living with HIV.

The WFP has a “Field Communications” system that allows aid workers to communicate with its headquarters.

Teaching CurriculumFocus on local products.

Teaching CurriculumSustainable Agricultural Methods

TargetNorthern District

TargetWorking Men

Recording ProgressCommunicate progress and give instant feedback.

Personas

TalibLocal

SullayLocal

Volunteer

ChrisVolunteer

SophiaResearcher

AnnaResearcher

Storyboard

11:30 amTalib leaves his house to go to the Food Stand.

12:00 pmTalib arrives at the Food Stand and waits in line.

12:15 pmTalib gives Tracking Sheet to volunteer, gets weighted and receives his food.

12:30 pmTalib sits down and eats meal in dinning area.

1:00 pmTalib attends the lesson.

2:00 pmTalib goes home.

Prototyping Framework

The prototype is a run-through of the Food Stand process: the user arriving at food stand, using the tracking sheet, getting a meal and sitting through the lessons.

Purpose: provide inisghts on how the user will react to the program.

Focus: Food Stand, the most important part of the Food Aid Program, and where most exchanges happen.

Prototype 1

food

kitchen

scale

table

hand-washer water trush

lessonhandouts

NameDistanceDate of Birth

DateFood

Vegetable Protein Starches Fruit Weight Lesson Of Day

Date Volunteer Lesson Practice Yes/No

Notes:

Notes:

*Food Stand

*Lesson Practice

Prototype 2

Prototype 3

Limitations

• A newly instated democratic government that is facing the challenge of keeping its country safe and in peace.

• Poor infrastructure in the country, which would make transportation and communication difficult.

• Willingness to fund a second program in the region.

Future

The Food Aid program will start with one Food Stand in a community in Sierra Leone, but it is flexible. It can expand to several communities within a country and reduce its prescence as time goes by.

The Food Aid Program could ultimately be used simultaneously in different regions within different countries.

Bibliography

CIA World Factbook Website

World Resources Institute WebsiteEarthtrends: The Environmental Information Portal

Encyclopedia Britannica Webiste

The Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture Website

World Food Programme Website