What are the biggest challenges in delivering food to WFP beneficiaries in Tajikistan?
How is WFP overcoming them? The biggest challenge for WFP is the lack of funding for food assistance programs. It has been difficult to attract the attention of conventional food assistance donors, because Tajikistan is not a least-developed country and so it is not frequently reported about by international media. Another challenge is logistics, because Tajikistan is very mountainous and difficult to access, particularly during the winter months. WFP doubled its operations in the country during 2008, deploying additional staff and becoming more active in advocating for the hungry. WFP also introduced a new assessment system which will ensure regular monitoring of the food-security situation and the needs of the people, with a focus on particularly vulnerable groups. As a result, funding significantly improved in 2008; however, noticeable gaps still remain. In the field of logistics, WFP has structured its delivery mechanisms to ensure fast and timely deliveries to those in need. For e
