§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what targets the Department has for the implementation of early warning systems for food shortages in Africa; which targets have been met; and to which such systems the Department has contributed. [120489]
§ Hilary BennDFID's aim is to continue improving early warning systems rather than meeting specific targets. Internationally, DFID is providing support to the UN World Food Programme (WFP) to strengthen its capacity to identify and respond to emergencies, including enhancing monitoring systems and Vulnerability Assessment and Mapping (VAM) and the inter-agency Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information and Mapping System (FIVIMS) initiative at the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. In Ethiopia DFID is supporting the development of early warning systems in pastoralist areas with Save the Children UK and working with the UN Emergency Unit for Ethiopia (UN-EUE). In southern Africa DFID is active in regional donor co-ordination networks and is supporting the development of a regional strategy for food security.