Strategic Objectives:

Strategic Objectives:

This program is part of the IOFS strategy which is “Food Crisis Response - Objective # 4: Establish humanitarian food relief programs to support crises hit situations for Member States.

The Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) stands committed to addressing the complex challenges of food insecurity and humanitarian crises across its member countries. At the core of IOFS's strategic framework is the Food Crisis Response pillar, a dedicated initiative designed to provide timely and effective assistance during crises. A key component of this overarching strategy is the Humanitarian Assistance Programs, strategically crafted to establish and implement humanitarian food relief initiatives in one of the major staples in the OIC geography wheat flour.

Program Description:

Flour for Humanity, a pivotal initiative within the framework of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), is dedicated to addressing pressing food security challenges in countries facing crises. This program aims to provide essential wheat flour to communities in need, emphasizing a measured and sustainable approach. By focusing on the immediate nutritional requirements of vulnerable populations, Flour for Humanity aligns with the IOFS's commitment to fostering global food security

Background:

Considering the dire and bleak humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, on 18-19 December 2021, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan hosted, in Islamabad, the 17th Extraordinary CFM on the Humanitarian Situation in Afghanistan in which a comprehensive Resolution was adopted by the participating Member States, which launched an “Afghanistan Food Security Programme” and identified the IOFS for taking necessary efforts for the implementation of this Programme on the following operative paragraphs:

Decides to launch an Afghanistan Food Security Programme, and requests the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) to undertake necessary work in this regard using the capacity of the Organization’s Food Security Reserves, when necessary;

Encourages OIC Member States, international donors, the UN Funds and Programmes and other international actors to generously contribute to the Afghanistan Food Security Programme.

In adherence to its mandate, Flour for Humanity has been launched and stands poised for scalability into additional regions, contingent upon the assessment of need and the availability of resources.

Goals:

Going beyond mere immediate relief efforts, the Humanitarian Assistance Programs embrace a comprehensive approach from relief to recovery. Prioritizing the consumption of sufficient, safe, and nutritious food, these programs aim to safeguard populations affected by humanitarian crises.

The threefold mission of the Humanitarian Food Assistance is outlined as follows:

1. Ensuring Adequate Food Access: To safeguard the availability, access, and consumption of sufficient, safe, and nutritious food for populations affected by ongoing, forecasted, or recent humanitarian crises. This is essential to prevent excessive mortality, acute malnutrition, and other life-threatening consequences.
2. Protecting Livelihoods: To shield livelihoods threatened by recent, ongoing, or imminent crises, minimizing damage to food production and marketing systems. Creating conditions conducive to the rehabilitation and restoration of self-reliance is paramount in these efforts.
3. Strengthening Humanitarian Aid Systems: To enhance the capacities of the international humanitarian aid system, promoting efficiency and effectiveness in delivering food assistance across the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) geography. This commitment extends to addressing both natural and conflict-induced crises wherever they may arise.

Implementation:

1. Strengthen collaboration on humanitarian assistance among OIC Member States
2. Foster partnerships in the humanitarian field with OIC Institutions, as well as other relevant international and national organization: seeking their support for the facilitation, delivery, and equitable distribution of humanitarian flour to OIC Member Countries.
3. Identify and designate a network of flour producers and suppliers within OIC countries, ensuring a reliable and efficient supply chain for humanitarian flour.
4. Establish a Tender Commission and articulate transparent supplier selection criteria to streamline the procurement process and ensure the highest standards of quality and efficiency.
5. Execute the procurement and transportation of humanitarian flour to the identified needy OIC Member Countries, adhering to established guidelines and timelines for an effective humanitarian response.

Outcomes:

The Flour for Humanity Program, with its strategic focus on providing wheat flour as emergency humanitarian aid in Afghanistan, not only addresses the immediate nutritional needs of the population but also establishes a replicable model for other crisis-hit regions within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). By aligning with standard planning criteria and recognizing local nutritional conditions, particularly the prevalence of wheat consumption, the program offers a versatile solution applicable to similar contexts. The emphasis on meeting or exceeding recommended standards for essential nutrients and vitamins ensures adaptability to diverse nutritional requirements. This approach, rooted in cultural sensitivity and community acceptance, creates a blueprint that can be readily implemented in other OIC regions facing humanitarian crises, promoting sustainable solutions to food insecurity and malnutrition.

Highlights of implemented activities :

First Convoy (16-17 April 2023):

• Initiated the Humanitarian Food Assistance Program "Flour for Humanity" in Afghanistan in collaboration with the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS).
• Provided aid to 'Neediest Houses' (Marastoon) in Kabul and supported several orphans.
• Implemented food distribution concurrently in Kabul and other households by ARCS in Herat, Baghdes, Farah, and Ghour, reaching 3,000 families.
• The first shipment included 267 tons of wheat flour with support from the IOFS partners, the Afghan Red Crescent Society.

Second Convoy (20-21 June 2023):

• Continued the Flour for Humanity program with a second convoy in Afghanistan.
• Handed over the second shipment of IOFS aid (68 tonnes) to representatives of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)  which demonstrated international collaboration and support for humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan
• Distributed aid to five rehabilitation centers in Kabul, Herat, and Kandahar across three provinces.
• Received generous support from the Republic of Kazakhstan, Republic of Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan

Highlights of planned activities:

In 2024, the Flour for Humanity program is poised for significant expansion, with a primary objective of extending its successful humanitarian efforts beyond Afghanistan to other crisis-hit countries and regions, with a specific emphasis on Gaza. Concurrently, the program is adopting a forward-thinking strategy encapsulated in the 'humanitarian-development nexus.' This innovative approach integrates responses to immediate needs while concurrently addressing the underlying issues that may arise from poor development policies. Acknowledging the intricate relationship between humanitarian crises and development challenges, the program's joined-up approach aims to deliver interventions that are not only impactful but also sustainable. In line with its commitment to international collaboration, the program continues to seek support from governments, organizations, and partners, recognizing the collective strength required to address the complex interplay of humanitarian and development issues in crisis-hit areas. As the program evolves, these planned activities represent a comprehensive and visionary approach towards creating a lasting impact on communities facing adversity.