Summary of IFADC Kansas City Food Aid Quality Review: Product Findings & Recommendations

1. IFADC Kansas City 27-29 June 2011 USAID Food Aid Quality Review: Summary on Product Findings & Recommendations Quentin Johnson, Team Member FAQR, Tufts June 2011

2. 3 broad recommendations for each domain Products 1. Keep FBFs, but upgrade 2. Other FBFs and fortified cereals very important 3. Lipids have role to play, but cost-effectiveness matters Programming 1. Rations should be appropriately tailored for purpose 2. Serve FBF with oil; improved bagging; enhanced BCC 3. Stronger say in product development and policy Processes 1. Improve oversight of USG food aid agenda (coordination) 2. Revise and update CRG and related guidance 3. Procurement processes need ‘industry standard’ upgrades

3. Recommendations on Products (i) • FBFs more effective than often portrayed. • Keep in tool-box—but not for generic ‘quality’. • Add Whey Protein Concentrate (80) at 3% to CSB/WSB • Revise micronutrient targets to c.115% acrossdiet • Combine forms of iron (add NaFeEDTA with other iron sources) • Add vitamin D to oil • Modify & upgrade premixes (add iron and zinc to vitamins)

4. Recommendations on Products (ii) • 2. More attention needed to improve quality of overall food basket; • (i.e. cereal fortification. Don’t use FBFs as the only means • of delivering ‘quality’). Upgrade basic tools in tool-box. • Enhance premix for milled cereals and uncooked FBFs • Move to fortified milled cereals as norm for delivery • of micronutrients to the household (not CSB) • Add cereal premix to Title II commodities list • (to accompany grains where local milling feasible and • cost-effective). • Establish Public-Private Partnerships to support local • capacity development.

5. Recommendations on Products (iii) • 3. Lipid products offer value-added (effectiveness despite higher unit costs). Add to tool-box as appropriate, define uses clearly. • Identify cost-effective products to deliver adequate micronutrients to children 6-24m in emergency settings (where the general ration insufficient) to meet their needs • Consider home fortificants, further new products, including new forms of cereal-based FBFs.

6. Recommendations on Processes (iii) • A comprehensive food aid quality assurance strategy needed • Procurement and quality control processes need ‘industry standard’ upgrades • Greater transparency and equity in all processes • New product approval/modifications to be contingent on demonstrated demand and field testing • Food safety/quality assurance oversight under ICFA; • labs, premix vendors, local inspectors all to be audited, certified, and monitored according to performance • Establish performance-based specifications for all value-added Title II products • Establish rigorous performance criteria, with transparent penalties for non-conformance • More focus on food safety issues such as mycotoxins

7. Broad Conclusions • USAID’s renewed focus on quality of food aid is appropriate. FFP can • achieve greater impact through: • Changes in composition of suite of fortified products • Promoting explicit demand approach to defining product need • Improving programming with enhanced guidance that tailors • product use to specific objectives • Promoting cross-agency synergy and problem resolution through • enhanced interagency coordination mechanisms • Enhancing quality control and assurance systems