Yemen Emergency Food Assistance (YEFA) – Project Quarterly Report - FY19-Q1

The program, implemented by Global Communities, began in October 2018 and will run through March 2020, with a total of 26,775 persons targeted for assistance. The YEFA program will utilize market-based interventions, including food vouchers, to deliver assistance to 3,825 host community and IDP households in four governorates: Aden, Al Dhale, Ibb, and Dhamar. The program will coordinate closely with ongoing OFDA-supported projects, including CREATE Yemen and IMPACT Yemen, to maximize impact and leverage support from USAID and other organizations. Implementation of the YEFA program is contingent upon obtaining approval from the Government of Yemen (GOY) through the National Authority for Management and Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Response (NAMCHA) and the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation (MOPIC). As of the reporting period, MOPIC in Aden has approved the sub-agreement, while NAMCHA in Sana'a is still reviewing the program description, approach, and budget. Global Communities has made significant progress in preparing for the YEFA program, including conducting project mobilization meetings, developing a detailed workplan, and creating tools for the baseline study and market assessment. The program has also coordinated with the Food Security and Agriculture Cluster (FSAC) and other organizations providing food assistance in the target areas to avoid duplication and promote integration. The Monitoring and Evaluation team has developed tools for tracking progress and generating reports, including the baseline assessment tool, monitoring forms, and a community feedback mechanism. However, due to delays in government approvals, the baseline assessment has been delayed, and the project team is requesting an extension of the baseline submission date to USAID. The YEFA program has also made progress in staffing and human resources, with key staff hired and an organizational chart refined. However, hiring for program-related staff has been put on hold until final approval is received from the GOY. The program's progress against indicators is not yet available, as the baseline assessment has not been conducted. However, the program aims to deliver lifesaving food assistance to 3,325 of the most vulnerable host community and IDP households through market-based interventions using food vouchers. Overall, the YEFA program is making progress in preparing for implementation, but is contingent upon obtaining government approvals and finalizing the baseline assessment.