This fund has been completed and financially closed

Fund Dates

• Start Date: 1 July 2008
• End Date: 31 May 2013

JP Liberia Food Security - Reports

• 2013 Consolidated Report
• 2017 Annual Financial Report
• Final Source and Use of Funds Statement

Overview

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), and World Food Programme (WFP) have established a "Joint Programme in Support of the National Response to Food Price Increases and the Food Security & Nutrition Strategy” using a pass-through modality. This Joint Programme responds by supporting the Government of Liberia’s strategic priorities regarding emergency preparedness, and supporting medium-term poverty reduction strategies.

The Joint Programme, in support of the Government of Liberia’s National Response to Food Price Increases and the Food Security & Nutrition Strategy encompasses:

• A duration four years, from 01 July 2008 to 30 June 2011; and
• Partnerships with the Government of Liberia Ministries including: Agriculture; Health and Social Welfare; Planning and Economic Affairs; Gender and Development; and other Participating UN Organisations, which act as interim advisors.

Central to the efforts of the Government of Liberia to achieve its ambitions of peace, reconciliation, stability, and development is the realization of food security and improved nutrition by the nation as a whole. Improving food security and nutrition is deeply embedded in the government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy. 

The Joint Programme in Support of the National Response to Food Price Increases and the Food Security & Nutrition Strategy is administered by the Multi-Donor Trust Fund Office (MDTF Office) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in accordance with its financial regulations and rules.  

Assistance Strategy

Taking cognizance of the Government of Liberia’s key policy documents; the Poverty Reduction Strategy, the National Food Security and Nutrition (FS&N) Strategy, and the Food Crisis Response, the Joint Programme in Support of the National Response to Food Price Increases and the Food Security and Nutrition Strategy’s two main goals are:

• Emergency Preparedness and Response in Support of the Government’s Strategic Priorities; and
• Medium Term Support to the Poverty Reduction Strategy.

Within the two main goals and to ensure cross-cutting linkages, the Joint Programme’s main objectives are to:

• Support national leadership and coordination;
• Support the development of FS&N-related policy, legislation and guidelines;
• Increase access to markets and factors of production;
• Increase access to basic services and safety nets; and
• Support priority nutritional interventions.

The Joint Programme contributes to all four pillars of the Poverty Reduction Strategy, in particular Pillar 2 (Revitalizing the Economy), and Pillar 4 (Basic infrastructure and social services). The Joint Programme contributes directly to United Nations Development Assistance Framework (2008-2010) Outcome 2: Equitable Socio-Economic Development, by improving household food security, sustaining natural resource management, protecting the environmental, and addressing gender-based violence. It also addresses Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 1 - Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, MDG 3 - Promote gender equality and empower women, MDG 7 - Ensure environmental sustainability and MDG 8 - Develop global partnership for development.

Governance

The Joint Programme in Support of the National Response to Food Price Increases and the Food Security and Nutrition Strategy is implemented jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), World Food Programme (WFP) using a pass-through funding modality. The programmatic and financial accountability rests with the Participating UN Organisations, which manage their respective components of the Joint Programme. 

Steering Committee

The main objective of the Steering Committee is to facilitate effective implementation and coordination of the Joint Programme in Support of the National Response to Food Price Increases and the Food Security and Nutrition Strategy. The Steering Committee consists of representatives from: key government ministries (Agriculture, Health and Social Welfare, Planning and Economic Affairs, Gender and Development), FAO, UNDP, UNICEF, UNIFEM, WFP, and implementing partners.

Administrative Agent

The Multi-Donor Trust Fund Office (MDTF Office) of the UNDP serves as the Administrative Agent (AA) of the Joint Programme in Support of the National Response to Food Price Increases and the Food Security and Nutrition Strategy. The AA is responsible for concluding Standard Administrative Arrangements (SAAs) with donors and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Participating UN Organisations (FAO, UNDP, UNICEF, UNIFEM, WFP).

Decision Making

The Steering Committee discusses and approves work plans and budgets as well as any substantive or financial issues pertaining to implementation of the Joint Programme in Support of the National Response to Food Price Increases and the Food Security and Nutrition Strategy or related to applicable internal rules and regulations of any of the Participating UN Organisations or implementing partners. The members jointly monitor the performance and implementation of the Joint Programme’s activities. Decisions are made by consensus. Members propose any necessary corrective actions to resolve problems, ensure accountability, and make recommendations.

The Administrative Agent [Multi-Donor Trust Fund Office (MDTF Office) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)] for the Joint Programme in Support of the National Response to Food Price Increases and the Food Security and Nutrition Strategy is responsible for the receipt, administration, and management of contributions from donors; disbursement of funds to the Participating UN Organisations; and consolidation of financial reports produced by each of the Participating UN Organisations and Participating Non-UN Organisations and provision of these reports to the Steering Committee for onward submission to the donor(s).