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133. Observing that the main constraint on WFP’s work was instability, the Country Director said that the ICSP aligned with the Government’s national recovery and peacebuilding plan and United Nations development strategies and maintained WFP’s crisis response while promoting recovery through purchase for progress (P4P) and other food for asset activities. WFP would work with the Government, national partners, FAO and other United Nations organizations towards the five strategic outcomes, with an emphasis on sustainable development, while each component had gender objectives. WFP would implement protection initiatives through the protection cluster and open new transport corridors to accelerate deliveries and reach all needy populations.

134. Board members expressed approval of the priorities of the ICSP, noting that the Central African Republic was last on the human development index and was characterized by high levels of poverty and gender inequality, weak markets and widespread insecurity. Food insecurity was at alarming levels, affecting women and children disproportionately. A quarter of the population was displaced internally or in neighbouring countries.

135. Members praised the alignment of the ICSP with the country’s United Nations development assistance framework and peace building plan, which had the potential to drive reconciliation and economic recovery, as well as the focus on human development, calling for more support for smallholder farmers. Some members said that WFP and its partners should seek to increase agricultural productivity in all sectors in line with the zero hunger goal and the United Nations development assistance framework. The provisions for partnerships with local NGOs and with United Nations organizations and the plan for transferring responsibilities to the Government were praised, as was the proposed national data management and accounting system, which could facilitate the development of gender transformational programmes.

136. Members decried attacks on humanitarian teams, saying that access had to be assured and WFP’s logistics capacities optimized. Some suggested that the ICSP might be overambitious and sought clarification of its links with national initiatives.

137. The Country Director thanked the Board for its support, affirming that the ICSP matched assessed needs and capacities; WFP was increasing its presence, upgrading storage facilities, pre positioning food and increasing staff capacity in accordance with requirements. Complaint systems were being upgraded to enable beneficiaries to give feedback; rapid response teams were being assembled to scale up food distributions to beneficiaries; and the nutrition programme included both prevention and treatment for moderate acute malnutrition and scaled up P4P activities focusing on women’s agricultural cooperatives.

138. The Regional Director thanked the Board for its recognition of the commitment and courage of WFP staff in the Central African Republic.