FSL Cluster Dashboard, September 2020

FSL Cluster partners reached 1,060,000 people with either in-kind food distribution, cash or vouchers modality in September 2020 in both rural and urban areas. Among them, 817,000 persons received in-kind food assistance and 33,000 cash-based assistance in rural zones, while the remaining 214,000 received cash-based support in urban areas. Concurrently, a total of 224,000 beneficiaries were supported with agriculture and livelihood assistance. This includes 108,000 and 12,000 beneficiaries who received crop and livestock inputs respectively, 46,000 beneficiaries supported with extension and advisory services to manage crop pests and livestock diseases 56,000 assisted with critical assets rehabilitation.

Preliminary findings of the 2020 Rural Vulnerability Assessment (ZimVAC) were adopted by the Cabinet and shared publicly. According to the findings of the assessment, about 5.5 million or 56% of the rural population are estimated to be cereal insecure at the peak of the hunger season i.e. Jan to Mar 2021. Some of the main drivers of the food insecurity situation include the following:  i) COVID-19 and its restrictive measures; ii) drought and iii) heightened economic challenges. One of its main recommendations is the provision of food assistance to save lives and protect livelihoods. The Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) analysis for rural areas is taking place between 12th and 23rd of October.

The 2021 Humanitarian Programme Cycle has been launched in mid-September. The FSLC is working on the sectoral contributions to the Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) and Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP). The HNO and definition of the FSL People in Need (PiN) should be informed by the rural IPC analysis and planned urban ZimVAC assessment.