GRB Presentation for WFP, 8 January 2018

1. GRB in Food Security
Dr. Paramita Majumdar
8th
January 2018
New Delhi

2. NOTE
This ppt was prepared for a session at WFP.
Hence its scope is limited to the focus areas of WFP
only and is not a comprehensive presentation on GRB
and food security
NOTE
This ppt was prepared for a session at WFP.
Hence its scope is limited to the focus areas of WFP
only and is not a comprehensive presentation on GRB
and food security

4. What is the focus of our Policies in terms of
Gender Equality ?

5. Contextualising…
Yes/No
1 WFP in its work systematically includes
both women’s and men’s concerns,
experiences and needs
2 Gender perspective is normal within WFP
as an organization
3 To include gender perspective, special
units are set up within WFP

6. Identifying …..
01/11/18 6
TPDS – Almost Universal
distribution irrespective of gender,
caste, religion - EQUALITY
TPDS – What about vulnerable
categories, e.g. widows,
trafficked, FHHs – What needs
to be done?

7. 01/11/18 7
process product process product process product
policy
formulation
policy
statement
budget
compilation budget
expenditure
on activities outcomes
revenue
collection
GRB - From Policy to Outcomes
Policy appraisal
(Gender appraisal) Audit
(Gender Audit)
Budget appraisal
(Gender budgeting)

8. Mandate of PDS
• PDS – food security system for the poor people - a means of
dealing with nutritional deficiency
• Administered by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and
Public Distribution.
• Central government - procurement, storage, transportation,
and bulk allocation of food grains,
• State governments responsibility - distributing the same to the
consumers through the established network of approximately
5 lakh Fair Price Shops.
• Major commodities distributed include wheat, rice, sugar, and
kerosene.

9. Tools for Deepening GRB
Programmatic Dimensions Organisational Dimensions
1. Situational Analysis
2. Policy Analysis including program
design, guidelines and framework of
implementation
3. Budgetary Allocations &
Expenditure
4. Monitoring
5. Impact Analysis / Evaluation
1. Organisational Culture –
(Mechanisms/Practices/Attitudes )
2. Gender Policy & Staffing
3. Resources spent on gender
mainstreaming e.g. Capacity
Building
4. Gender sensitive products and
services (infrastructure)
5. Advocacy, and communication
strategy
01/11/18 9

10. Entry Point Tools
01/11/18 10
Budget Call Circular
Gender Budget Statement
Pre-Budget Consultations
Program Guidelines
Monitoring Reports
Staff & Fund Flow
Performance monitoring
Gender Disaggregated data
Using Gender Sensitive
Checklist
Outcome Budget
Performance Audit Parliamentary
Standing Committee
Budget
Cycle
(ii) Budget Decision making
(i) Budget Planning

11. Integrating Gender in Budget Process
01/11/18 11

12. GRB in WFP

13. Why focus on Gender and food security?
Number of
people
affected by
hunger and
malnutrition
is still
unacceptably
high with
disproporti
onate
impacts on
women and
girls
Number of
people
affected by
hunger and
malnutrition
is still
unacceptably
high with
disproporti
onate
impacts on
women and
girls
190.7 million people (14.5%) undernourished
51.4% of women (15 to 49 years) anaemic
The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World,
2017
India ranks (31.4) 100 out of 119 countries - Global
Hunger Index 2017
60-80% of all farming work done by women
Only 13% of women own the land they work on
23% women & 20% men are undernourished
Certain socioeconomic groups or HHs are more at risk than others, e.g.
HHs with fixed or low incomes, HHs with a high dependency ratio
(large families with few earning members); and female-headed HHs
(widows, separated, deserted or abandoned)present a high dependency
ratio

14. Understanding the 4 pillars of food security
https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/bitstream/handle/123456789/5245/IDS_Bridge_Food_Security_Report_Online.pdf
Linked to
global
trade
Linked to
global
trade
Women as
producers
recognised
Women as
producers
recognised
•Access to land, water & credit
•Unpaid labour /Decision making
•GBV
60% of the
under
nourished are
girls and
women
globally
60% of the
under
nourished are
girls and
women
globally
Through
TPDS
Supply side Demand Side

15. Focus Areas - WFP

16. 1. Transforming PDS
- Aadhar & Entitlement
Check
- Sex Disaggregated Data?
- Reduction in the
allocation of foodgrains
- Aadhar & Entitlement
Check
- Sex Disaggregated Data?
- Reduction in the
allocation of foodgrains
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx
?relid=157984
Current Focus of
the Government
End-to-end
Computerization of
TPDS Operations
Scheme
Enable correct
identification of
beneficiaries,
 Timely availability of
food grains to intended
beneficiaries at Fair Price
Shops
2.33 crore Ration Cards
deleted during 2013 & 2016
[upto 15-11-2016]
2.33 crore Ration Cards
deleted during 2013 & 2016
[upto 15-11-2016]
Is GPS tracking enough
to ensure timely
availability?
Is GPS tracking enough
to ensure timely
availability?
SHG run
FPS/women
friendly
Licensing
mechanism
SHG run
FPS/women
friendly
Licensing
mechanism

17. • Reduction in the allocation of food grains is the major cause of worry for the state.
While the average annual targeted PDS allotment for Kerala in 2010-13 was around
16.01 lakh metric tonnes, under NFSA, the state is entitled to an annual food grain
allocation of 14.25 lakh metric tonnes only
• Targeted PDS under NFSA has resulted in a large chunk of its existing PDS
beneficiaries being left out from the purview of the Act. Although the central
government determined NFSA coverage for Kerala – 1,54,80,040 persons – is much
more than the total number of Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Antyodaya Anna Yojana
(AAY) beneficiaries in the state – 96,03,601 persons (in June 2016) – implementing
NFSA would have implications for those left out from the targeted coverage.
• Identification of the eligible households has seen much resentment among the public,
with 14 lakh complaints being filed, signifying the shortfalls that beset targeting.
• According to the Situation Assessment Survey of Agricultural Households conducted
by the NSSO in 2013, a massive 77.7% of the agricultural households in Kerala were
reported to be indebted as against the national average of 52%.
https://thewire.in/109447/why-implementation-of-national-food-security-act-in-kerala-is-flawed/

18. Concerns….
(Accessing the Right to Food in Delhi, Vol 52, Issue No.23, 10 June 2017 http://www.epw.in/journal/2017/23/web-exclusives/accessing-right-food-delhi.html)

19. Concerns…. Price fraud

20. Other Concerns….
• PDS is the core, but what about entitlements for particular vulnerable
groups such as widows, victims of trafficking, migrants, HIV/AIDS affected,
destitute, disabled...... Government has not set any specific guidelines or scientific
method of identification of priority households. Identification of homeless people,
state migrants, destitute people, tribals, etc. is a challenging task due to the
complexity involved in the process.
• If the same coverage limits of 75 % for rural and 50 % for urban area is continued
for years to come, it would be a possible cause of exclusion of many eligible or
needy individuals from urban areas, because of rapid urbanisation
• Structural adjustment without structural transformation -- Hunger needs more
than PDS ration. Need to remove the structural causes that exacerbate
hunger, for example role of women in agriculture and management of natural
resources.
• Stringent poverty line and faulty projections – need to demarcate the
percentage of men and women in absolute hunger and malnourished from those
who are not so hungry.
• The system should have in-built mechanisms to allow for the entry of new
households that suddenly find themselves in financial distress, while others can
exit it based on changed circumstances.

21. 2. Food Fortification
Fight Hidden
Hunger
Focus on Early
adolescence (11-
14 years)- among
girls is crucial
Weight, BMI,
Menstrual
Cycle etc.

22. Food fortification is not the only solution: it is part and
parcel of a national nutrition programme
Community
Garden/Kitchen
Garden (ATMA
scheme)
Community
Garden/Kitchen
Garden (ATMA
scheme)
National Nutrition Week (FNB)
Nutrition Games for Boys/Girls, MDM,
information notice board
AWW, ASHA, SHGs, EWRs etc.
National Nutrition Week (FNB)
Nutrition Games for Boys/Girls, MDM,
information notice board
AWW, ASHA, SHGs, EWRs etc.
TPDS, ICDS,
MDM
TPDS, ICDS,
MDM
ICDS, Anaemia
prophylaxis
programme
ICDS, Anaemia
prophylaxis
programme
National Food
Security Mission
National Food
Security Mission
First iron-rich pearl millet
named Dhanashakti was
released in 2012 in
Maharashtra, and in 2013
across India
First iron-rich pearl millet
named Dhanashakti was
released in 2012 in
Maharashtra, and in 2013
across India

23. MDM
http://mdm.nic.in/Files/OrderCirculars/2016/Revision-of-Cooking-Cost_wef_1stJul2016%20.pdf
Revised cooking cost per child per school day w.e.f. 1 July 2016
Stage Total
Cost
Central-State Sharing
Non-NER States (60:40) NER States (90:10) &
3 Himalayan States
All UTs
(100%)
Central State Central State
Primary Rs.4.13 Rs.2.48 Rs. 1.65 Rs.3.72 Rs.0.41 Rs. 4.13
Upper Primary Rs.6.18 Rs.3.71 Rs.2.47 Rs.5.56 Rs.0.62 Rs.6.18

24. Challenges
• Regulation on paper will not improve fortification compliance without real
incentives. Investments/Cost Sharing needs to be clearly spelt out between
Private/ Govt / Donors, particularly one time cost vs Recurring Cost
• Monitoring and Capacity to test fortified foods at the local level
• Budget Allocation required for effective monitoring of fortification programs and
enforcement . There is a need for more women inspectors, more training,
and improved laboratory micronutrient testing capacities with skilled
women personnel.
• GoI has made fortification of salt, wheat flour and oil mandatory in foods served
to children in all anganwadi centres - whether the 27 lakhs AWWs and
helpers at 14 lakhs AWCs aware of it?
• Capturing information on the consumption of fortified and fortifiable foods among
many segments of the population- AWWs and SHGs can be trained
• Impact of calcium and vitamin D fortification in the post-menopausal age
group, e.g. in preventing breast cancer, osteoporosis (1 out of
3 females in India suffers from osteoporosis) or heart attacks not addressed

25. Opportunities
• In a remote village in rural Rajasthan 10 local women own and operate a
factory delivering 30 metric tons of a flour (Raj Nutrimix) fortified with
vitamins and minerals monthly to 6,000 children under the age three and
nearly 3,000 pregnant or lactating women.
• Train the SHGs in Food Fortification
• Train the Anganwadi workers regarding the benefits of Food Fortification
• Rice fortification will succeed only if women are willing to feed fortified
rice to their families and especially their children, concerns about product
safety are addressed.…. Consumer acceptability becomes easy with SHGs
and AWWs.
• Strengthening the capacity of the local governments (EWRs) to manage
nutrition services better
https://www.gainhealth.org/knowledge-centre/10-women-rural-rajasthan-improving-nutrition-thousands/

26. 3. Food insecurity mapping and monitoring
• Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping software - what is the approach
to identify and tap the knowledge of the most vulnerable, how are
adaptation actions formulated so as to deliver gender responsive equitable
benefits. Building on women’s knowledge and experiences can
deliver gender-responsive adaptation benefits..
• State-level Food Security Analysis Unit – Is there a Gender Focal
Point in the Unit? Its critical to have a gender focal point who will make
sure that analysis and actions are gender responsive. WFP therefore must
insist on having a GFP and invest in building the capacity to increase
the number of expertise on gender mainstreaming in food security analysis
efforts.
Is food security a social or economic goal in India – do we have
the proper conceptualization?-
Research required
Is food security a social or economic goal in India – do we have
the proper conceptualization?-
Research required

27. What can be done?
• Break the stereotypical approach of food security policies and programmes
mainly being considered as technical areas, with gender as an add-on.
• Ensure that scheme/project objectives and implementation design are fully
informed by a gender analysis of the food security problem being
addressed and anticipated project benefits e.g. access to food & control over
it
• Refer to the available gender analysis or other relevant national strategic
papers, especially with regard to rural gender issues. Where little gender
analysis of the sector exists, commission a gender needs assessment
• Integrate gender and develop a gender-responsive monitoring,
evaluation and learning (MEL) framework for programs based on a
participatory approach.
• Engage women (SHGs, EWRs, AWWs, ASHA’s, Women Farmer
Cooperatives/Food Security Groups) in the process of developing indicators
as well as for monitoring the change. Having a gender responsive MEL
empowers women to voice their needs throughout the process.
• Break the stereotypical approach of food security policies and programmes
mainly being considered as technical areas, with gender as an add-on.
• Ensure that scheme/project objectives and implementation design are fully
informed by a gender analysis of the food security problem being
addressed and anticipated project benefits e.g. access to food & control over
it
• Refer to the available gender analysis or other relevant national strategic
papers, especially with regard to rural gender issues. Where little gender
analysis of the sector exists, commission a gender needs assessment
• Integrate gender and develop a gender-responsive monitoring,
evaluation and learning (MEL) framework for programs based on a
participatory approach.
• Engage women (SHGs, EWRs, AWWs, ASHA’s, Women Farmer
Cooperatives/Food Security Groups) in the process of developing indicators
as well as for monitoring the change. Having a gender responsive MEL
empowers women to voice their needs throughout the process.

28. What can be done? (contd..)
• Refer to the gender outputs and outcomes in the NFSA
• Address lack of gender-differentiated data and indicators and of a deeper
understanding of the role of women in food security - Collect and critically
analyse context specific, gender-differentiated data for problem analysis
and project design, establishing a baseline and M&E. Include gender-sensitive
indicators.
• Coordinate with GBCs where it exists to align the SDGs with national
commitments and gender in food security, agriculture and rural development,
to develop operational details and responsibilities. Where no focal
point exists, liaise with Ministry of WCD as the nodal ministry for GE. For
example, to ensure household food and nutritional security, train the Farm Women’s Food Security
Groups (FSGs) at the block level. These FSGs are provided support for training, publication and access to
inputs @ ` 10,000 per group by the MoA. These FSGs should serve as “Model Food Security Hubs” through
establishing kitchen garden, backyard poultry, goatery, animal husbandry & dairying, mushroom cultivation,
etc.....
• Allocate budget lines in programmes for capacity-building activities of staff
and mainstreaming gender in a consistent and systematic way in
schemes/Progs.
• Refer to the gender outputs and outcomes in the NFSA
• Address lack of gender-differentiated data and indicators and of a deeper
understanding of the role of women in food security - Collect and critically
analyse context specific, gender-differentiated data for problem analysis
and project design, establishing a baseline and M&E. Include gender-sensitive
indicators.
• Coordinate with GBCs where it exists to align the SDGs with national
commitments and gender in food security, agriculture and rural development,
to develop operational details and responsibilities. Where no focal
point exists, liaise with Ministry of WCD as the nodal ministry for GE. For
example, to ensure household food and nutritional security, train the Farm Women’s Food Security
Groups (FSGs) at the block level. These FSGs are provided support for training, publication and access to
inputs @ ` 10,000 per group by the MoA. These FSGs should serve as “Model Food Security Hubs” through
establishing kitchen garden, backyard poultry, goatery, animal husbandry & dairying, mushroom cultivation,
etc.....
• Allocate budget lines in programmes for capacity-building activities of staff
and mainstreaming gender in a consistent and systematic way in
schemes/Progs.

29. Sustainable Development Goal 2
End hunger, achieve food security & improved nutrition & promote sustainable agriculture
Targets Indicators
2.1 By 2030, end hunger and
ensure access by all people, in
particular the poor and
people in vulnerable
situations, including infants,
to safe, nutritious and
sufficient food all year round
2.1.1 Prevalence of undernourishment
2.1.2 Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity
in the population, based on the Food Insecurity
Experience Scale (FIES)
2.2 By 2030, end all forms of
malnutrition, including
achieving, by 2025, the
internationally agreed targets
on stunting and wasting in
children under 5 years of age,
and address the nutritional
needs of adolescent girls,
pregnant and lactating
women and older persons
2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting (height for age <-2
standard deviation from the median of the World
Health Organization (WHO) Child Growth Standards)
among children under 5 years of age
2.2.2 Prevalence of malnutrition (weight for height
>+2 or <-2 standard deviation from the median of the
WHO Child Growth Standards) among children under 5
years of age, by type (wasting and overweight)

30. Thank You
drparo2017@gmail.com

31. Deleted Ration Cards
Unstarred Q.No. 844, Lok Sabha, M/o Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Answered on 7
2331165823311658

32. • https://www.kit.nl/grf/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2017/09/Factsheet-
Gender-Mainstreaming-in-Food-Security.pdf
• Implementing National Food Security Act in India: issues and challenges (PDF
Download Available). Available from:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/276884397_Implementing_Nati
onal_Food_Security_Act_in_India_issues_and_challenges [accessed Jan 07
2018].