CERF Allocation

Madagascar

Drought, 11 Sep 2020

Allocation $3,999,919
Emergency type Drought
Window Rapid Response
Recipient UN Agencies FAO, UNFPA, UNICEF, WFP
Beneficiary type Other affected persons
People targeted 115,309
Status Report Available
Allocation code 20-RR-MDG-44710
Title Madagascar RR Application Sep 2020 (Drought)

Overview of the humanitarian situation

During the 2019–2020 rainy season, southern Madagascar faced a rainfall deficit which entailed the failure of the crop and livestock production. Food security and malnutrition deteriorated and 554,000 people (24% of the population in the region) were in crisis situation (IPC3 and above). With the additional impact of COVID-19 restrictions, this situation was expected to (and in fact did) deteriorate as the lean season is approaching (January-March 2021). Some 120,000 children under five will be affected by acute malnutrition. According to the latest FEWSNET analysis from June 2020, the number of people in food insecurity will further increase between October and January, with part of the population at risk of emergency levels of food insecurity (IPC4). Water scarcity entailed an increase of the water prices along with an increase of diarrhea cases (+24% between 2018 and 2020) while the health system remains weak in the region. The disruption of the market due to the COVID-19 control measure also led to price increases for staple foods which affects the purchasing power of the most vulnerable people. In addition, food insecurity and COVID-19 paved the way for an increase in gender-based violence (from 90 cases reported in January 2020 to 1,090 in July 2020). Government and partners estimated the total needs in the Grand Sud at $44 million.

CERF-funded assistance

In response to the drought, the Emergency Relief Coordinator on 3 September 2020 allocated $4 million from CERF’s rapid response window. The CERF response included a focus on saving the lives of the most vulnerable, children under 5, and pregnant and lactating women in food insecure districts by providing critical health, nutrition and water, sanitation and hygiene services, and improving food security and securing livelihoods of households facing IPC3 and IPC4. This funding enabled UN agencies and partners to provide life-saving assistance to 201,726 people including 56,510 women, 54,436 men, 90,780 children, and 5,210 people with disabilities in the sectors of agriculture, food assistance, health, nutrition, protection from gender based violence, water, sanitation, and hygiene, and multi-use cash transfers. The CERF allocation served as a critical injection of early funds for the flash appeal and enabled UN agencies and partners to timely start the emergency response.

CERFs Strategic Added Value

CERF provided fast delivery of assistance, helping to respond to time critical needs with projects starting well before peak periods of crisis. CERF funding improved coordination within the humanitarian community, aligning projects with SPHERE standards, and partially contributed to enhanced resource mobilization through delivery of hygiene kits as well as COVID-19 surveillance and protection equipment to targeted populations.

Projects included in this allocation

Organization Project title Code Amount in US$
UNICEF Interventions multisectorielles vitales pour atténuer l''impact de la sècheresse, accompagnée par d’autres urgences multiples affectant simultanément le Grand sud de Madagascar 20-RR-CEF-047 US$1,850,000
FAO Assistance d’urgence pour la restauration des moyens de subsistance des ménages vulnérables affectés par la sècheresse 20-RR-FAO-027 US$599,918
UNFPA Réponses d’urgence pour la réduction de la violence basée sur le genre et la mortalité maternelle et néonatale liées à l’insécurité alimentaire dans huit districts sanitaires du Grand Sud de Madagascar 20-RR-FPA-028 US$400,001
WFP Assistance alimentaire d’urgence et nutritionnelle en réponse à la sécheresse, aggravée par le COVID-19, dans le Grand Sud de Madagascar 20-RR-WFP-040 US$1,150,000