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USAID provides food assistance to vulnerable Senegal communities

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$4 million in grants will strengthen resilience

For Immediate Release
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Zack Taylor

DAKAR – In response to needs identified by the Government of Senegal and its partners, and in line with the United Nations Strategic Response Plan, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing $4 million (1.9 billion francs CFA) to assist the most food insecure in Senegal who have suffered from the effects of a poor agricultural campaign in 2013-2014.

“This assistance aims to address acute food and nutrition needs, and also to enhance the resilience of the most vulnerable households in rural communities,” said USAID/Senegal Mission Director Susan Fine. “As a key partner in Senegal’s development, the United States through USAID is assisting the government to safeguard the food security of its most vulnerable populations at this difficult time.”

Through a grant to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), USAID has provided $3 million (1.4 billion francs CFA) in cash and food to be distributed in three of the most affected departments of Matam region. These funds will support targeted food and cash assistance, including general food distributions, cash-for-work projects to improve community infrastructure, and nutrition programs for families in the most vulnerable areas. It will serve to strengthen complementary partnerships with Government of Senegal counterparts to provide an integrated assistance package.

In addition, USAID has provided a $1 million (482 million francs CFA) to the Center for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI) to work in partnership with the Fouta Development Associations Federation (FAFD), a local NGO, and Action Against Hunger to support vulnerable households of Matam and Podor departments.

Beneficiaries of this assistance will receive cereal and vegetable seeds, gardening tools, and animal feed. The assistance will also support rehabilitating wells, and managing and treating acute malnutrition for children under five in areas found with global acute malnutrition rates at or above 15 percent. Cash assistance is to be provided to the most in-need households in Podor during the lean season.

In 2013-2014, decreased cereal production during the last agricultural harvest and localized flooding aggravated the food security situation for as many as 25 percent of families living in rural areas. USAID will continue to work in partnership with Senegal to ensure food security is maintained in the country’s most vulnerable regions.