WFP policy on HIV/AIDS
A policy document, 'Programming in the era of AIDS : WFP's response to AIDS/HIV', submitted in February 2003 to the World Food Programme (WFP) Executive board1 has been approved.
The document begins with the premise that food security can be viewed as one more way to prevent the spread of AIDS and reduce its impact, and that people affected by HIV/AIDS need both treatment and food. The document notes that little work has been carried out on how food - and, specifically, food aid - can be best integrated into programmes designed to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on poor households' food security.
The document states that, when associated with other inputs, food assistance in all WFP programming categories can:
- create opportunities for less risky livelihoods, and strengthen household and community capacity to respond to HIV/AIDS impact on food security, through initiatives such as food for training and food for assets
- improve and maintain human capital through nutrition programmes, food for training and school feeding
- reduce the vulnerability of families to food insecurity and malnutrition through safety-net initiatives, such as home-based care projects and mother-and-child health programmes, and initiatives targeted at child-headed households
- through partners, be used as a conduit for the dissemination of HIV/AIDS messages and information.
The board adopted the following recommendations contained in the policy paper:
- WFP will incorporate HIV/AIDS concerns in all of its programming categories - Country Programmes, Protracted Relief and Recovery Operations (PRROs), and Emergency Operations (EMOPs). Food insecurity driven by HIV/AIDS can be addressed directly through WFP programmes and WFP activities can be used as platforms for other types of HIV/AIDS programmes, such as preventative education.
- WFP will work with local and international partners, non-governmental organisations, governments and United Nations agencies to ensure that food is incorporated into HIV activities when and where appropriate. WFP will work particularly closely with UNAIDS cosponsors and the UNAIDS Secretariat in this regard.
- WFP will adjust programming tools such as needs assessments, vulnerability analysis, the design of rations and other nutritionrelated activities as information and research results become available, to reflect the new reality presented by HIV/AIDS.
- When HIV/AIDS threatens food security and influences mortality in ways similar to other disasters, WFP will consider HIV/AIDS as a basis for a PRRO, consistent with the current WFP policy on PRROs.
For further information, contact Rita Bhatia, WFP at email: Rita.Bhatia@wfp.org
1Executive board first regular session - 5-7th February, 2003. Policy Issues Agenda Item 4. Programming in the era of AIDS; WFP response to HIV/AIDS
More like this
FEX: Issue 19 Editorial
This issue of Field Exchange is dedicated to Prof. John Kevany (ENN Director) who died on 20th April 2003. John was instrumental in establishing the ENN. Given John's...
FEX: Issue 25 Editorial
This special issue of Field Exchange focuses on the food aid component of HIV related programming and was made possible through additional funding from DFID RSA. How the ENN...
FEX: On the ground perceptions of WFP food assistance and PMTCT in Zambia
Summary of a qualitative study1 By Pamela Fergusson The risk of mother to child transmission is approx 40% in Zambia Pamela Fergusson is a dietitian/nutritionist whose...
FEX: Integrated Approach to Supporting Chronically Ill in Malawi
Interview by Mary Corbett with Mrs Nellie Nyang'wa, Oxfam For the past three years, Nellie Nyang'wa has been the Country Programme Manager for Oxfam in Malawi. Her previous...
FEX: The Triple Threat: Southern Africa’s emergency behind the emergency
By George Aelion, WFP A Junior Farmer Field Life School site in Swaziland, one of five pilots started in 2006. George Aelion is Senior Regional Programme Advisor, with the...
en-net: WFP Swaziland Nutrition & HIV Consultant
Job title: Nutrition & HIV Consultant Functional Area: Programme, Nutrition & HIV Level: Consultant (8 - 10 years experience) CO/Division-Unit: WFP Swaziland Country...
FEX: Update from Food Security, Livelihoods & HIV/AIDS Working Group
An AIDS orphan collects her food ration A second meeting of the Food Security, Livelihoods & HIV/AIDS Working Group (WG), co-chaired by Rebecca Brown (AAH) and Laura Phelps...
FEX: Lutheran Development Services
By Marie McGrath, ENN Name Lutheran Development Services (LDS) Formed 1994 Address P. O. Box 388, Mbabane, Swaziland Director Bjorn Brandberg Telephone +268 404-5262...
FEX: Issue 22 Editorial
The more cynical amongst us in the emergency nutrition sector may sometimes be heard complaining that there is nothing new in this profession and that we just keep re-inventing...
FEX: WFP HIV/AIDS Programming in Malawi
By Jeremy Shoham, ENN Households headed by the elderly may be vulnerable This article was written based on a WFP consultation to Malawi in February 2005. The WFP Malawi...
FEX: Better Practice in Targeted Food Assistance
Summary of published report1 C-Safe, a consortium of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for the southern Africa food security emergency, has recently completed its second...
FEX: The effects of HIV on Botswana’s development progress
By Siddharth Krishnaswamy Siddharth was a part of the Vulnerability & Mapping Unit (VAM) of the WFP. Prior to this he worked for an international NGO in Northern Uganda. He...
FEX: Integrating CTC and HIV/AIDS Support in Malawi
By Saul Guerrero, Paluku Bahwere, Kate Sadler, and Steve Collins, Valid International Saul Guerrero is a Social and Community Development Advisor. Dr. Paluku Bahwere (PhD) is...
en-net: WFP DRC IS SEEKING A NUTRITION ADVISOR
Terms of Reference: Nutrition Advisor/World Food Prorgamme/Kinshasa, DRC Background Despite large investment and government renewed committed to combat malnutrition, the...
FEX: Issue 23 Editorial
This edition of Field Exchange carries a number of articles which challenge the effectiveness of our standard responses to food and nutrition emergencies. A review undertaken...
FEX: ENN in the Field - Editorial by Mary Corbett
Editorial Mary Corbett is a food security and nutrition consultant who visited southern Africa on behalf of ENN in early 2005. When approached to be part of a team to collect...
FEX: Global crisis – global action: an international effort to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS
Alarmed by the accelerating epidemic and its global impact, the United Nations General Assembly convened a special session on HIV/AIDS at the highest political level (UNGASS)....
FEX: Nutrition Programming in the Southern Africa Emergency
Summary of unpublished report1 A review of UNICEF and World Food Programme (WFP) nutrition programming was carried out in six southern African countries (Lesotho, Malawi,...
FEX: Learning about Exit Strategies in Southern Africa
By Kara Greenblott Kara Greenblott was formerly the programming section manager for C-SAFE's regional office in Johannesburg, and is now a freelance consultant working for...
FEX: HIV/AIDS Home Based Care in Zimbabwe
By Hisham Khogali Hisham Khogali is currently the Senior Food Security Officer of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. Prior to this, Hisham worked...
Reference this page
WFP policy on HIV/AIDS. Field Exchange 19, July 2003. p20. www.ennonline.net/fex/19/wfp
(ENN_3678)