Philippines: World Food Programme amps up Government’s response as coronavirus bites
WFP is lending its technical expertise in cash distribution and food security monitoring to protect communities
Like so many countries across the world, the Government of the Philippines has initiated community quarantine and physical distancing measures to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the Philippines. While these measures have saved lives, staying at home for months has led to economic hardships for many Filipinos with the loss of jobs and incomes.
Daily-wage earners and those working in informal economies were the hardest hit. In order to alleviate the sufferings, the Government of Philippines moved swiftly to provide financial assistance through the Social Amelioration Programme (SAP).
In support to the Government’s response to the pandemic, the World Food Programme adapted its technical assistance to ensure COVID-19 prevention measures were observed while providing assistance to the communities.
The Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) reached out to WFP for technical assistance on digital solutions to reach the most vulnerable populations in the implementation of the SAP — this is a region in southern Philippines where, since 2006, WFP has been present supporting the peace process.
With most service providers unable to operate as usual because of quarantine restrictions, WFP was able to support MSSD in its desire to distribute cash rapidly for vulnerable communities through the SAP.
To achieve this, WFP leveraged its technological solutions including SCOPE, a beneficiary data registration and management platform that works both online and offline, with necessary adaptation given the risks imposed by COVID-19. The assistance was a progression from the previous deployments of SCOPE during the aftermath of emergencies such as the Marawi siege of 2017, Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018, and the eruption of Taal Volcano in January, to accurately register and identify affected families.
Within 37 days, MSSD deployed 600 enumerators using their own personal devices, served 2.3 million people, and had their records placed in a single digital platform that was flexible and easy to use. WFP met the government’s priorities and enabled the use of a customized SCOPE environment where MSSD could control and manage their own data. MSSD needed a swift technical solution to support over 480,000 affected households in an accountable and efficient manner. WFP’s solution was readily available and did not require the procurement of hundreds of gadgets.
In supporting the Government in the creation and use of this environment, the groundwork for a longer-term approach to developing a digital ecosystem was set. WFP’s solution looks towards building deeper trust with the Government on digital assistance delivery for programming, well beyond a single operation.
WFP’s assistance to the Government was also extended to the area of understanding the impact of the SAP. It also offered the use of its remote monitoring tools and assessments to gather information on the impacts of COVID-19 on the food security and essential needs of Filipinos under quarantine.
Monitoring and assessment toolkits include mobile Vulnerability Assessment and Mapping (mVAM) and remote Monitoring and Evaluation (rM&E). The former will focus on Metro Manila, the region with the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, and BARMM, one of the regions with the highest poverty rates in the country. It will enable mobile surveys through phone interviews to gauge food security and nutrition levels.
In spite of the pandemic’s many challenges, WFP has, over the past few months, proved a reliable partner to the Government. It provides an enabling environment for the Government to do its work and serve the people using its expertise and trustworthy technological solutions.
Additional reporting by Isabelle Lacson and Juanito Berja
