Strengthening emergency response system by rolling out food packages from 2021 guidelines

By 2027, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR), in collaboration with the Ministries of Health and Family Welfare (National Nutrition Services and Bangladesh National Nutrition Council), Food, Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives, Commerce, Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock, Primary and Mass Education, Women and Children Affairs, Social Welfare and Finance; civil societies; private sector; UN agencies; and development partners and relevant clusters, commits to enhance the nutrition sensitivity of emergency response systems (e.g., SMART survey, early warning system, contingency plan including food baskets) to address the nutrition needs of affected populations during crisis.

Key actions include creating flexible and resilient mechanisms to identify the most vulnerable households and ensure appropriate, rapid responses to meet their nutrition needs and ensuring the rapid transfer of nutritious food baskets or cash assistance following the agreed guidelines of Food Packages for Disaster-Affected Populations in Bangladesh, 2021. Necessary adjustments (e.g., ‘Appropriate, nutrient-rich foods or cash assistance to improve diets and nutrition outcomes for the most vulnerable households in the face of shocks and crises’) will be made in the response frameworks, including strengthening capacity of the workforce along with rollout of nutrition-sensitive packages.

MoDMR, in collaborating with relevant ministries, will implement, coordinate and monitor the progress of strengthening the system. An estimated cost of BDT 50 million will be mobilised from the public, both operating and development budgets, and development partners.