Food Aid Quality Review Phase II: Technical Report No.17

The report was prepared under the terms of contract AFP-C-00-09-00016-00 awarded to Tufts University in October 2011, with a two-year extension contract and a third-year extension in 2013. The Food Aid Quality Review (FAQR) is part of a series of activities aimed at enhancing product choice under Title II of Public Law 480 (PL480), improving quality control and assurance, and updating technical guidance and the evidence base for programming approaches. The FAQR Phase II focuses on implementing recommendations made in Phase I for changes in food aid products, programming, and processes. The report highlights three areas of focus: products, programs, and processes. In the products area, the FAQR Phase II focuses on the development of specifications for updated Fortified Blended Foods (FBF), including Corn Soy Blend 14 (CSB14), milled flours, enhanced vegetable oil, and micronutrient premixes. The team also conducted laboratory and pilot production testing, acceptability trials, and assessments of supply chain and related issues. In the programs area, the FAQR Phase II focuses on strengthening the evidence base for food assistance programming through expert consultations and workshops on key topics with representatives of the various Title II implementing agencies and other stakeholders. The team conducted several field studies, including a study in Malawi to assess the extent to which beneficiaries use oil as instructed by implementing partners to prepare CSB porridge for beneficiary children. The FAQR Phase II also focuses on processes, including the formation of an Interagency Food Aid Technical Committee and implementing regular meetings with major food aid agencies to address the need for harmonization of food products and related procurement and quality assurance processes used in Title II food aid. During the quarter of October 1, 2015, to October 31, 2015, the Tufts team updated and expanded the product rollout report, analyzed the experience of USAID during the period of FAQR Phase II, and made recommendations for the processes of future product rollouts. The team also provided technical assistance to USAID/FFP and worked on documents, specifications, and templates related to future product introduction and rollout. The FAQR team continued data analysis, final report revisions, manuscript preparation, and formative research report writing for the Malawi study, as well as data analysis and manuscript preparation for the Sierra Leone study. The team also relocated activities for the treatment study that was terminated in Sierra Leone.