~
Food Security & Nutrition Working Group
Central and Eastern Africa
LA NINA ALERT Dec’10
La Niña event already affecting Food Security prospects in the region
Need for coordinated assessments and preemptive responses at country level to
mitigate impact and protect livelihoods
Weather forecast: Over the last two months, a significant rainfall deficit
has been registered in pastoral areas of Somalia, Northern and North-
Eastern Kenya, South-Western Ethiopia, Rwanda and Northern - Eastern
Burundi. The bulk of the main rainfall system, which was forecasted to
affect the Northern part of the Western sector of the region, is likely to
shift into Tanzania. The Northern sector will therefore risk early cessation
of current rains and drier than normal conditions in the Northern sector
while heavy rains are forecasted for Rwanda, Burundi and Western part of
Tanzania, with risk of flooding over the coming weeks.
Impact on Food Security: Short rains dependent areas are likely to
experience unfavourable crop and livestock productions (e.g. Somalia,
Ethiopia, Kenya, Burundi and Djibouti).
Following the first alert, the FSNWG La Niña Task Force collected
information from partners on ground situation and preemptive responses
at country level.
1. Ground truthing confirmed the effects of La Niña in some areas (e.g.
Somalia, early crop failure and deterioration of grazing condition; Burundi,
delay in start of agricultural season with less than of 50% fields cultivated
in the Northern and Eastern part of the Country; Kenya, abnormal
pastoralists migration of pastoralists for water and pasture, high food
deficit at HH level, crop wilting).
2. FSNWG partners shared with the Group planned responses/ Source: NOAA/CPC (www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov)
preemptive actions to mitigate the effects of La Niña and protect livelihoods, such as (Example taken from TROCAIRE, FAO-
Ethiopia, Save the Children UK, IFRC actions):
Pastoralists Destocking and redistribution of small stocks; Support to existing Veterinary services-CAHW (following LEGS
approach); Food for Asset Program/ Cash for asset depending on food availability: Focus on rehabilitation of
water sources/ ponds, water harvesting; Peace and reconciliation forums; Distribution of chicken for the most
vulnerable HH; supporting livestock off-take at slightly above normal market prices; livestock feed
supplementation; DRR analysis with local communities to be translated into community plans.
Agro -
Water harvesting; Drought resistance seeds banks; Distribution of chicken for the most vulnerable HH.
Pastoralists
Some countries have planned multi-stakeholders coordinated assessments but more needs to be done in terms of actions.
The FSNWG La Niña Task Force calls for:
Assessments and strategic response planning at country level, coordinated through national clusters and/or
relevant working groups, to optimize resources, highlighting gaps and avoiding duplications;
Livelihood based long-term intervention to increase communities’ resilience to climatic shocks (through current
programming or preemptive projects);
Immediate actions to mitigate the effects of La Niña.
Technical support from the Regional Task Force for strategic actions based on prioritized tools is available
More information on the FSNWG La Niña Task Force, including rainfall performance and climatic forecasts, tools and best practices, available on line at
http://www.disasterriskreduction.net/La_Nina