Annual Results Report FY18

The project aimed to improve food security and nutrition among vulnerable households. The country's political and operational environment was stable, although a constitutional referendum was held in May and international non-governmental organizations were suspended at the end of the fiscal year. The humanitarian situation in Burundi improved during FY18, particularly in the areas of food security, nutrition, and displacement. The number of food insecure people decreased by 35% from 2.6 million in July 2017 to 1.7 million in April 2018. Food security in Muyinga improved due to a good harvest from cropping season B2 2018, resulting in lower prices of staple foods. Favorable rainfall in the Northern-Eastern part of the country and Imbo valley led to good agricultural performances, benefiting vulnerable areas. The SMART survey conducted by Unicef in March 2018 showed that the prevalence of chronic malnutrition in Muyinga was below 60%, compared to previous rates. Muyinga remained relatively stable, allowing Amashiga's planned activities to be implemented without significant changes. However, the program team reduced its field profile during the campaigning period to avoid interference with political activities. The country continues to suffer from a Fall Army Worm infestation, although it has been contained. A Small Ruminant plague epidemic also affected rural livelihoods during the reporting period. Amashiga's project activities focused on improving nutrition and health, agriculture and livelihoods, governance and resilience, and gender equality. The project's key achievements include the implementation of the Faithful House approach, Islamic Family House approach, and commodity management. The project also monitored and evaluated its activities, with a focus on direct participant receiving multiple interventions by sector. Challenges faced by the project included the suspension of international non-governmental organizations and the Fall Army Worm infestation. The project's successes include the reduction of food insecurity, improvement of food availability, and stabilization of staple food prices. The project also achieved its goal of improving nutrition and health outcomes among vulnerable households. Lessons learned from the project include the importance of adapting to changing circumstances and the need for continued support from stakeholders. Amashiga's project activities were implemented in partnership with local organizations, including the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Health, and the National Office for Seed Certification and Commercialization. The project's geographic focus was on Muyinga province, with a specific emphasis on improving food security and nutrition among vulnerable households. The project's timeframes were aligned with the fiscal year, with a focus on implementing activities during the cropping season. Recommendations for future projects include the need for continued support from stakeholders, the importance of adapting to changing circumstances, and the need for a strong focus on nutrition and health outcomes.