Food Aid Quality Review Phase II: Technical Report No.5

The contract, known as the Food Aid Quality Review Phase II (FAQR Phase II), aims to improve the quality of Title II food aid commodities and programming. The FAQR Phase II builds on the work performed under the original FAQR and focuses on implementing recommendations made in Phase I for changes in food aid products, programming, and processes. The FAQR Phase II activities include advancing the evidence base through production and testing of improved food products, their packaging and delivery methods, and comparative studies of products' nutritional effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. The work of the FAQR Phase II continues to address three areas of focus: products, programs, and processes. Specific areas of concentration include the development of specifications for updated Fortified Blended Foods (FBFs), including Corn Soy Blend 14 (CSB14), as well as milled flours, enhanced vegetable oil, and micronutrient premixes. The FAQR Phase II also focuses on strengthening the evidence base for food assistance programming through expert consultations and workshops on key topics and issues with representatives of the various Title II implementing agencies and other stakeholders. Field studies have been initiated in two countries to assess the feasibility of ensuring that CSB is programmed with oil, and the impact of package changes, in conjunction with appropriate behavior change messages, on correct use and other aspects such as intrahousehold sharing. In addition, the FAQR Phase II focuses on the formation of an Interagency Food Aid Technical Committee as well as 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. Regular work is being done with industry and other stakeholders to promote public/private partnerships for innovation and ensure stakeholder input. During the quarter of October 1, 2012, to December 30, 2012, the FAQR Phase II focused on providing technical support on draft Commodity Requirement Documents (CRDs) and Commodity Information Documents (CIDs), conducting domestic consumer taste tests on Corn Soy Blend (CSB) with oil, planning for field-based CSB with oil taste tests, and identifying the procurement process for food aid products for the effectiveness studies. The FAQR Phase II also finalized the protocol and implementation plans for the feasibility and acceptability studies, planned effectiveness and cost-effectiveness studies, continued commodity costing activities, reviewed uses of data and program guidance given to implementing agencies, and finalized a publication on the Protein Quality Workshop. Furthermore, the FAQR Phase II continued the process to make progress toward harmonization of products and programming, formed a new research initiative (Research Engagement on Food Innovation for Nutritional Effectiveness, REFINE), and continued interagency coordination with USAID and USDA.