Islamic Relief and the World Food Programme

IR is continuing its partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP) in Albania. Since September 2002, IR has been implementing "Food for Work" activities throughout Shkodre and Kukes Prefectures while later in 2002, IR will commence activities in Peshkopi Prefecture and potentially during 2003 in the Pogradec District of Korce Prefecture. Food for Work will build upon and expand IR's successful small-scale rural infrastructure improvement programme which has been operational in Albania since 1999.

Under this latest initiative, Islamic Relief is responsible for identifying and evaluating potential projects; drafting, and submitting mini-project proposals; scheduling, coordinating and supervising the implementation of projects; and finally the transporting and distributing of food commodities to project participants.

Discussions are also currently underway aimed at ensuring Islamic Relief's role in WFP's "Communal Forestry and Pasture Management"; as well as "Social-Sector Assistance" programmes in Albania, further reinforcing Islamic Relief's status as WFP's largest non-governmental implementation partner in Albania.

"Food For Assets" Improved Rural Livelihoods in Northern Albania
Islamic Relief and the World Food Programme

From May 2001 until June 2002 Islamic Relief worked in close partnership with the World Food Programme's Albanian "Food for Assets" programme. As WFP's largest partner in Albania, Islamic Relief also had this small republic's most difficult region to serve in; namely Shkodre Prefecture and Kukes Prefecture (which includes Shkodre, Puke, Kukes, Has and Tropoje Districts).

Islamic Relief warehouses in Shkodre city and Kukes city served not only their locally adjacent populations but also acted as bases from which to make deliveries and distribute food in isolated mountain villages.

Logistically, the long distances across the rugged terrain and barely existent roadways when combined with weather-related difficulties like regularly occurring torrential rainfall and seasonal heavy snowfall as well as security issues such as armed banditry and general lawlessness; made this work extremely challenging.

Overall, this programme aimed at family household security protection. Beneficiaryy families were selected based upon a monthly verification of low-levels of real household income due to the chronic local levels unemployment.

Those selected were provided food entitlements as a last resort when the head of household and/or other family members were unable to provide adequate financial support for a family.

In spite of all the difficulties faced, in Shkodra Prefecture the total number of the beficiaries per month reached by Islamic Relief were equal to 3,040 households x 5 persons (average number of the members of the family) = 15,200 persons. In Kukes Prefecture the total number of beneficiaries per month reached by Islamic Relief is equal to 1,620 households x 5 persons = 8,100 persons During the life of this project, Islamic Relief helped approximately 310,000 people.

Shkodra Prefecture: 15,200 persons x 13.5 months = 205,200 beneficiaries
Kukes Prefecture: 8,100 persons x 13 months = 105,300 beneficiaries

This average monthly ration provided during this joint project consisted of: 50 kg wheat flour; 5 kg pulses (Dry beans); 3.7 kg vegetable oil; and 5 kg sugar. In Shkodra Prefecture during the period of May 2001 to June 2002; 2,523.49 metric tons of commodities were distributed, while in Kukes Prefecture during the period of June 2001 to June 2002: 1,301.652 metric tons of commodities were distributed. This means Islamic Relief Worldwide in Albania from May 2001 to June 2002 distributed 3,825.142 metric tons to the poorest of the poor in northern Alb