5.4 Arrangements for the final distribution of food commodities to beneficiaries will be agreed jointly by the Government and UNHCR, in full consultation with WFP and in conformity with the UNHCR commodity distribution guidelines. These arrangements will respect UNHCR and WFP's policy of ensuring the maximum possible appropriate involvement of the beneficiary community, and of women in particular, in all aspects of distribution. The final distribution of food commodities will normally be the responsibility of an implementing partner of UNHCR, whose designation shall be jointly agreed by UNHCR and WFP. The distribution modalities and the responsibilities of the implementing partner for reporting on the distribution and use of food commodities will be the subject of a tripartite agreement among UNHCR, WFP and the implementing partner. UNHCR is responsible for ensuring that implementing arrangements also provide appropriate guidance to beneficiaries on how to prepare food in a manner that minimizes cooking time and safeguards its nutritional content.
5.5 In targeted feeding programmes such as school feeding, food for work, and in non-camp situations in the country of asylum or in situations where food assistance is targeted to both IDPs and refugees, UNHCR and WFP may agree to transfer the responsibility for distribution to WFP.
5.6 There is no automatic retroactive entitlement when full distribution of the agreed ration has not been possible. The decision on any retroactive distribution will be made jointly by UNHCR and WFP, taking into account the nutritional status of beneficiaries, measures taken by them, and any liabilities incurred in coping with the shortfall, its economic impact, and the future availability of resources.
6. RESPONSIBILITIES FOR FUNDING AND APPROACHES TO DONORS
6.1 UNHCR and WFP will each mobilize the cash and other resources necessary for the discharge of their respective responsibilities. Thus, WFP will mobilize all international and land transport, storage and handling (LTSH) costs, milling costs, if applicable, and any other resources required for the transport of its commodities up to the EDPs, storage at, and the management of, EDPs. UNHCR will mobilize cash and other resources necessary for all other aspects of commodity management and distribution from the EDPs onwards, and for all aspects from mobilization and purchase to delivery and distribution of the commodities for which it is responsible.
6.2 UNHCR and WFP will ensure that the resource implications for each organization are set out in all approaches to donors and related documentation in a manner that makes these responsibilities and their complementarity clear. Details on country-specific LTSH and distribution costs will be provided. Approaches to donors will be coordinated, and UNHCR will share with WFP in advance the text covering food needs in any appeal to donors. Joint approaches will be made whenever appropriate, both at the start of a new operation and at any time should it appear that the response of donors will not ensure the timely delivery of the necessary commodities.
6.3 UNHCR and WFP will urge donors to pledge commodities and cash for all food requirements under this MOU through WFP, rather than bilaterally. WFP will manage all contributions channelled through it, and coordinate and monitor donor pledges and shipments, including bilateral and non-governmental donations, of all commodities, seeking to adjust delivery schedules as necessary.
UNHCR will be kept informed accordingly.
6.4 WFP will seek to ensure that bilateral food resources for refugees, returnees and IDPs falling under this agreement, whether channelled through WFP or not, are accompanied by the full cash resources needed to cover LTSH and other related support costs.
6.5 UNHCR will support WFP's specific approaches to donors to provide cash for local, regional or international purchase, so as to ensure that the needs of beneficiaries are met in the most timely and cost-effective manner possible. UNHCR will also support WFP's general approaches to donors for cash contributions to bring the Immediate Response Account (IRA) of the International Emergency Food Reserve (IEFR) up to, and maintain it at, the approved level, and for contributions to any similar fund, so that WFP can respond swiftly to new emergency food needs.
7. MONITORING AND REPORTING
7.1 WFP will maintain an effective system for monitoring the food pipeline and keep UNHCR closely and regularly informed, at the field and headquarters levels, of its status and developments. WFP will immediately alert UNHCR should it appear that the pipeline may not be able to meet agreed needs.
7.2 UNHCR will organize regular nutrition surveys and maintain, in consultation with WFP, an effective surveillance system for monitoring the nutritional status of beneficiaries. The results will be shared with WFP as an important element to measure the progress and efficiency of the joint feeding programme.
