Summary
Content
OVERVIEW
Established in 2004, the NFI Common Pipeline is an inter-agency project managed by WFP-LCU, designed to ensure the timely provision of essential non-food items (NFIs) and emergency shelter (ES) to conflict and disaster-affected households. Maximizing economies of scale, the Pipeline promotes supply chain efficiencies by reducing costs, avoiding duplication of efforts, and standardizing items distributed.
NFI & EMERGENCY SHELTER SECTOR
As a result of WFP-LCU’s effective coordination of the NFI Common Pipeline, in 2007, WFP-LCU was asked to act as Sector Lead for the Non-Food Item and Emergency Shelter Sector in Sudan. Primary activities performed by WFP-LCU as Sector Lead include collecting information on other pipelines to avoid duplicity, tracking physical distributions, and spearheading planning, reporting and fundraising activities.
BENEFICIARIES
The NFI Common Pipeline is designed for life-saving interventions for conflict- or disaster-affected populations. These are populations who have lost their household assets due to events in their areas of origin or areas to which they have already been displaced. The items distributed help mitigate health threats, contribute to their protection from the elements, and restore minimal human dignity.
ITEMS
The items provided through the NFI Common Pipeline are designed for emergency response only and are not intended to be a permanent solution to the population’s losses. NFIs provided to targeted populations are selected based on needs established during assessments. Current NFI items sourced through the Common Pipeline include:
CURRENT OPERATIONS
Current Areas of Operation: Northern Sudan (Darfur , Rest of Northern Sudan )
Participants: UNJLC (Now WFP-LCU), UNICEF, IOM, OCHA, RCO, over 30 national and international NGOs
2009 Population Served:
Transition of Rest of Sudan (ROS):
Beginning in 2010, the Government of Sudan has assumed primary responsibility for NFI emergency response in ROS, ending Common Pipeline operations in the area. In December 2009, the Common Pipeline completed the handover of the NFI Common Pipeline contingency stocks, which were pre-positioned in key locations in ROS for emergency response, to the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC). The handover, valued at $81,000, is intended as in-kind support to assist the Government of Sudan in the assumption of emergency response responsibilities.
2010 Planning Figures:
In 2010, the NFI Common Pipeline continues to be the primary mechanism for the provision of non-food and emergency shelter items in Darfur. The NFI Common Pipeline in Darfur remains on standby to support the Government in the ROS during emergencies in a finite capacity as a provider of last resort. The total number of households the Common Pipeline plans to serve in North Sudan in 2010 is 255,000 households each for rainy and winter replenishment. Plans also include contingency stocks to serve an additional 50,000 households. This is 90% of all estimated conflict- and disaster-affected populations in need in Northern Sudan.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
Each of the main partners of the NFI Common Pipeline (UNICEF, WFP-LCU and IOM) has a distinct but complementary role, all of which are vital to the efficient and effective operation of the supply chain.
UNICEF procures the NFIs and delivers them to two main warehousing hubs in the north of Sudan (Khartoum and El Obeid). IOM manages the delivery of NFIs to sub-warehouses around Sudan (El Fasher, Nyala and El Geneina) and the transportation to distribution sites. WFP-LCU is responsible for the warehousing of stocks and also manages the overall supply chain.
Need assessments and distributions are carried out by over 30 national and international NGOs.
As manager of the overall supply chain WFP-LCU brings together all stakeholders in order to maintain coherence and harmonize activities, while ensuring that gaps and overlaps in coverage are identified. WFP-LCU field offices work with OCHA, the RCO, NGOs and local authorities to identify and verify needs, thereby ensuring that gaps are not overlooked.
Capitalizing on each partner’s strengths and expertise, the NFI Common Pipeline maintains a cost-effective and well-coordinated system for the delivery of essential non-food and emergency shelter items to vulnerable people.