The Food Basket & Emergency Response Information Brief Prepared by the Food Aid Quality Review (FAQR) Phase III

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Office of Food for Peace (FFP) defines three categories of emergency activities: Relief, Recovery, and Protracted Crisis. Relief activities focus on meeting immediate, life-saving food assistance needs, while Recovery activities aim to assist populations recovering from a shock and place them on a trajectory for development. Protracted Crisis activities meet the food needs of populations in environments where a significant proportion of the population is acutely vulnerable to death, disease, and disruption of livelihoods over a prolonged period. To meet emergency response needs, food products must meet three criteria: they must be delivered quickly and in good condition, safe for serving multiple populations with varying nutrient needs, and appropriate for preparation requirements given the available resources and infrastructure. High-Energy Biscuits (HEBs) are a baked product resembling a shortbread cookie, fortified with vitamins and minerals. They do not require cooking or preparation and can be consumed in various portion sizes, making them an attractive option for emergency response. HEBs have been programmed by USAID/FFP in the past, but the original version had a 12-month shelf life, which proved too short. Since 2016, USAID/FFP and the World Food Programme (WFP) have worked together to create a "HEB 2.0" product that retains the essential characteristics of the original HEBs while achieving an extended shelf life. Ready-to-Use Supplementary Food (RUSF) is a fortified lipid-based paste packaged in single-serving sachets. It is generally made with heat-treated oil seeds/pulses/cereals, sugar, milk powder, vegetable oils, vitamins, and minerals. RUSF can be safely consumed by adults and pregnant women, making it a suitable option for emergency response. The product costs $2,550/MT in the current fiscal quarter. A20 paste pouch, A28 rice bar, and A29 wheat bar are pastes and compressed bars intended to be used as meal replacements for a period of three to seven days. They are expected to be the sole source of food and provide adequate energy, protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals to promote survival. However, these products have not been recently procured by USAID for programming, and specifications could be updated and reissued to address product needs in emergencies. Medium Quantity Lipid-based Nutrient Supplement (MQ-LNS) and Small Quantity Lipid-based Nutrient Supplement (SQ-LNS) are fortified lipid-based pastes packaged in single-serving sachets. MQ-LNS has typically been used as a food supplement to prevent undernutrition for children six months of age and older, but recently it has also been used as a supplement for pregnant and lactating women. SQ-LNS added to a general food distribution has the potential to improve nutrient adequacy for infants, young children, and pregnant and lactating women. These products are not formally in the USAID/FFP food basket but could continue to be used to meet emergency response needs.