SECOND QUARTERLY REPORT FOR USG FY 2011

Funded by USAID/Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), the project aims to increase food security, enhance community resilience, and strengthen the protective environment for vulnerable populations, including children, women, and men affected by conflict in the Mbomou prefecture. The project's goal is to provide continued urgently needed support to LRA conflict-affected survivors through interventions in child protection, agriculture, food security, and socio-economic support, as well as humanitarian coordination and information management. The project will also enable Mercy Corps to build the capacity of local organizations to respond to protection needs. Expected results include increasing access to protection services for 33,381 vulnerable people, restoring assets for 3,500 vulnerable people, and improving agriculture livelihoods and income generation opportunities for 2,000 vulnerable people. During the reporting period, June 15 to September 30, 2013, the project achieved several key milestones. The Mercy Corps sub-office in Mbomou prefecture was reinstalled, and program and operations staff were recruited. Baseline data collection, analysis, and completion of indicator targets were finalized. Program volunteers were trained, and child protection support and outreach activities were initiated to raise community awareness on GBV prevention and child protection committees in Bangassou and surrounding areas. The project also mobilized protection committees and other community networks for effective protection monitoring and community sensitization on GBV. The Listening Center's activities were started, and psychosocial support was provided to LRA and GBV affected survivors. An Emergency Market Mapping Assessment (EMMA) was conducted to assess the real needs in livelihoods restoration. The project faced continued insecurity in the Bangassou zone during the reporting period. The military leader of the Seleka rebels stationed in Bangassou had set up barriers at entry points to the town, forcing anyone moving across town to pay a tax or pay in-kind with crops. However, the central forces arrested the military leader in late September, which may lead to an improved climate of security in the Mbomou zone. Mercy Corps began training sessions on agricultural production with 300 of the 400 targeted producer households, most living in the IDP camp of Tokoyo in Bangassou town. Priorities for training were identified after participatory discussions with beneficiaries, and training sessions covered topics related to soil fertilization techniques, regional plant diseases, crop storage, and good governance with regards to negotiating selling prices. The trainings were facilitated by agricultural agronomists from the Agriculture Ministry extension agency located in Bangassou with support from Mercy Corps agronomists. In August 2013, Mercy Corps conducted an EMMA to guide the activities under the agriculture and food security sub-sector. The EMMA results concluded that it would be possible for Mercy Corps to intervene and reinforce local production of agricultural tools in Bangassou before giving out vouchers to beneficiaries under this sub-sector. The reporting period was also marked by trainings and capacity building support to local blacksmiths in order for them to increase local production of hoes and machetes.