Lifesaving emergency livelihoods assistance to cyclone affected most vulnerable farmers and fisher folks in Rakhine State, Myanmar. ltpgtltspangtCyclone Mocha caused lives and devastation to the livelihoods of
thousands of people in Rakhine State, Myanmar.  About 279,147
hectares of cropland were flooded and substantial quantities of rice as well as
vegetable seed stocks as well and other household assets have been damaged or
lost. The fisheries sector, a main source of livelihood in Rakhine state,
was also heavily impacted, with at least 50% of fishing equipment destroyed
or damaged. The effects of the Cyclone will further impact the already
severe food security situation in Rakhine, which is one of the most food-insecure states
in Myanmar. As of late 2022, the FAO-WFP Food Security Monitoring
Livelihood Survey reported that a significant number of people in Rakhine State
(59% of respondents) were resorting to emergency or crisis-level measures to
sustain their livelihoods. This was the highest percentage recorded among the
fourteen assessed state/regions in the country. lt/spangtltbrgtlt/pgtltpgt

lt/pgtltpgtltspangtThelt/spangtltspangt
project will target Cyclone Mocha most affected communities in Sittwe,
Ponnagyun, and Rathedaung townships of Rakhine State, to support 35,000 people
(7,000 households: HHs). Villages of the aforementioned townships will be
prioritized based on the magnitude of the impact of the cyclone. FAO
recently conducted key informant interviews in eleven townships of Rakhine
state that will determine the extent of the damage and losses per township. The
project will specifically target poor women, mothers with children under 5
years old, women-headed households, and other HH with high vulnerability and
low resilience index.lt/spangtlt/pgtltpgt

lt/pgtltpgtltspangtThe project will restore and protect the livelihoods of the severely
affected and vulnerable small-scale farmers, fisher folk, and landless seasonal
/ farm workers in Sittwe, Ponnagyun and Rathedaung townships in Rakhine state,
impacted by Cyclone Mocha and compounding shocks. A total of 20,000 people
(4,000 HH) will be provided with farm inputs for each to establish an
average 0.25 acres of vegetable garden growing 6 kinds of vegetables for food
consumption, with excess to be sold in the local market for income. A total of
7,500 people (1,500 HH) fisher folk affected by the cyclone whose
fishing equipment was damaged will be supported with fishing
gear/equipment in order to resume their livelihoods. In
addition, a total of 7,500 people (1,500 HH) will be provided with
temporary employment through cash-for-work (CfW) for 20 to 30 working days to
repair/rehabilitate small irrigation and other community-based infrastructures.lt/spangtlt/pgtltpgt

lt/pgtltpgtltspangtOne month after the cyclone the markets in project townships have
resumed to about normal with the availability of basic commodities, except
for construction materials, thus the use of cash transfer programming through
CfW would be feasible. In all project interventions mentioned above, attention
will be paid to the disproportionate compounded impact of the disaster and
crisis on women and women-headed households in vulnerability ranking and
selection of beneficiaries.lt/spangtlt/pgtltpgt

lt/pgtltpgtltspangtFAO
long-term local partner (LP) - People for People (PfP) – has worked with FAO
for the past 3 years, will support community consultations, validation of and
communication with beneficiaries, distribution of agriculture and fisheries
inputs procured by FAO, cash for work, and awareness-raising activities.
Another LP, Action Based Community Development (ABCD)   will also be
selected to work in the project townships, and be provided with technical
inputs, supervision, and quality control by FAO. PfP will work in Ponnagyun,
while ABCD will be implemented in Sittwe and Rathedaung. Post-distribution
monitoring will be also conducted by the local partners and analyzed by FAO.
PfP and the LP will ensure close coordination and maintain good working
relationships with their respective village authorities, key stakeholders, and
the community in general.  The cash payout for the Cash for Work laborers
will be paid by the local partner or by a financial service provider.lt/spangtlt/pgt