WFP Syria Country Office - documents.wfp.org · TPM and mobile VAM. A total of 13 percent of all interviews were conducted with households headed by females, but in total 25 percent

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.

Ph

oto

: WFP

/Fatim

a M

oh

am

ma

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


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).


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



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


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



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


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.




The DDS of both female and male headed households remained the same compared to Q1.


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.


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.



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


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



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.


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


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


• 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


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


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


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.

Documents

WFP Syria Country Office - documents.wfp.org · TPM and mobile VAM. A total of 13 percent of all interviews were conducted with households headed by females, but in total 25 percent