WFP signs agreement with Kurdistan Regional Statistics Office 

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Kurdistan Regional Statistics Office (KRSO) signed a new agreement on Sunday on research into food security to support informed decision-making on efforts to support vulnerable families in the Kurdistan Region.

The WFP said in a press release received by Kurdistan 24 that an important element of the partnership is training and helping strengthen the skills and expertise of KRSO staff in food security monitoring. 

"Building on WFP's successful skills workshops with KRSO in the past, the agreement includes comprehensive training on food security and data analysis, including Kurdistan Region government staff from other departments. WFP experts will also deliver training on key digital solutions," the WFP said.

"Our joint assessments with WFP will help improve understanding of food insecurity among households in the Kurdistan Region," said President of KRSO in Ministry of Planning of Kurdistan Region Government Serwan Mohamed. "The results will help us plan and provide the most effective food assistance required for vulnerable families."

WFP and KRSO signed the Letter of Understanding (LoU) in a ceremony in Erbil. It formalizes the collaboration between WFP and KRSO over the next three years.

"Through this new agreement, WFP and KRSO are creating a sound evidence base on food security, for informed policy making," WFP Iraq Representative Ally-Raza Qureshi told Kurdistan 24. "Together, our research and analysis help improve the food security and nutrition of families in need." 

"The agreement is part of our wider social policy work with the government, to help families receive the most helpful social protection support they may require."

The WFP said that it will provide key digital tools, including hardware and software, to help KRSO establish and improve its data infrastructure. 

"In this way, the partners can maintain expert monitoring and analysis. The results will help support an early warning system, for quick response in the case of a crisis or shock," the WFP said.

Moreover, in December, the WFP and its partner, World Vision International (WVI), provided 235 flood-affected Syrian refugee families in Erbil's Qushtapa camp with emergency ready-to-eat food assistance.

Read More: WFP provides support to 235 flood-affected Syrian Kurds in Erbil

Since last year, the WFP in Iraq has been scaling up its assistance to provide more support to vulnerable communities amidst the increasing dangers posed by climate change.

WFP also provides food and cash assistance to thousands of displaced Iraqis and Syrian refugees in Iraq.