{"id":370292,"date":"2020-10-09T07:05:10","date_gmt":"2020-10-09T14:05:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/about\/newsroom\/?post_type=blog&#038;p=370292"},"modified":"2025-05-08T19:58:21","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T02:58:21","slug":"world-food-programme-apps-afghanistan","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/about\/newsroom\/blog\/world-food-programme-apps-afghanistan","title":{"rendered":"World Food Programme Guides Operations in Afghanistan with Online GIS Apps"},"author":941,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"sync_status":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","castos_file_data":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[407892,291],"tags":[433621,288272,911,661],"industry":[],"esri-blog-category":[478762],"esri_blog_department":[478192],"class_list":["post-370292","blog","type-blog","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-field-operations","category-nonprofit","tag-afghanistan","tag-food-security","tag-humanitarian-aid","tag-operational-intelligence","esri-blog-category-humanitarian-response","esri_blog_department-gis-for-good"],"acf":{"video_source":"","video_start":"","video_stop":"","short_description":"The World Food Programme uses maps, apps, and dashboards to gather and convey context and plan every mission in Afghanistan.","pdf":{"host_remotely":false,"file":"","file_url":""},"flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"sidebar","layout":"standard","image_reference":null,"image_reference_figure":"","spotlight_image":null,"section_title":"","spotlight_name":"","position":"Right","content":"The World Food Programme (WFP) uses maps, apps, and dashboards to gather contextual information to guide its operational planning.\r\n\r\nKey Takeaways\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Real-time, map-based reporting tool helps WFP teams navigate weather, terrain, and security concerns.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Teams on the ground share data across the organization to streamline logistics and country-wide operations.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Detailed GIS dashboard displays information and maps to support WFP and partners in Afghanistan.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","snippet":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"With its inaccessible mountainous areas and complex and protracted conflict, Afghanistan poses unique challenges for the World Food Programme as it works to achieve zero hunger. Climate change, disasters stemming from natural events, demographic shifts, and a limited road network continue to constrain development efforts.\r\n\r\nEarthquakes, landslides and avalanches can block the few roads winding through the country\u2019s rugged terrain. Two decades of armed conflict add a distinct security element to an already challenging environment. More recently, drought, floods and the COVID-19 pandemic have been driving more families into food insecurity across the country.\r\n\r\nTo navigate Afghanistan\u2019s challenging operating environment, WFP teams have come to rely on evidence-based decision making, with mapping apps sharing on-the-ground data to support actions before they make a move.\r\n\r\n\u201cA\u00a0major challenge for the delivery of assistance to the most vulnerable populations in remote areas is not only insecurity but also a lack of proper roads,\u201d said Falaknaaz Khan, senior logistics associate at WFP\u2019s Kabul Warehouse. \u201cMost of these locations are inaccessible during winter. Soon after the snow begins to melt, it starts raining from April to May and sometimes until June. Muddy roads again result in the cancellation of missions or cause delays in deliveries.\u201d"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":370322,"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"At the beginning of an operation, WFP teams use an online <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/en-us\/what-is-gis\/overview\">geographic information system (GIS)<\/a> to assess vulnerability and determine how many people in the region need of food. Once the work is underway, they call up the same app that combines security, supply chain and programme layers to monitor what\u2019s happening.\r\n\r\n\u201cI find it very useful to visualize different aspects of operations\u2014from needs, road conditions, security context, and supply routes,\u201d said Vladimir Jovcev, head of WFP\u2019s supply chain in Afghanistan. \u201cIt allows us to better plan the deliveries, mitigate the risks in a very complex environment and ensure that food is received by the intended beneficiaries.\u201d\r\n\r\nThis <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/en-us\/arcgis\/products\/mapping\">online mapping<\/a> enables informed decision-making as key operational staff often discuss districts or locations that others can\u2019t relate to. By visualizing the access or operational issues on a shared platform with layers for security, supply chain, vulnerability analysis and mapping or programmatic goals, stakeholders achieve a common understanding. It helps to break down silos and connect the dots.\r\n\r\nThe security layers provide an understanding of areas controlled by armed actors and conflict hot spots, which then enables operations and security staff to work on access strategies based on humanitarian negotiations and avoidance of conflict. WFP taps into its networks to prepare the ground for fleet and staff movement, as well as programmatic activity.\r\n<h3><strong>Understanding a Shifting Operational Context <\/strong><\/h3>\r\nThe Afghan government maintains control of Kabul, provincial capitals, major population centers, most district centers and the main supply routes, according to a June 2020 report from the <a href=\"https:\/\/media.defense.gov\/2020\/Jul\/01\/2002348001\/-1\/-1\/1\/ENHANCING_SECURITY_AND_STABILITY_IN_AFGHANISTAN.PDF\">US Department of Defense on security and stability<\/a>. However, the current level of Taliban violence and attacks is the highest ever recorded. The Taliban is gradually eroding security structures and expanding its areas of control.\r\n\r\nIn May 2020, an attack against a maternity hospital in Kabul was traced to ISIS. This was its first attack since ISIS lost its stronghold in Nangarhar province in November 2019, further complicating a difficult operating environment.\r\n\r\nThese challenging security issues continue to impede the work of international humanitarian staff, who must navigate shifts in local and regional control to reach and serve people in need.\r\n\r\nIn line with the humanitarian principle of neutrality, WFP negotiates with all stakeholders. \u201cWe don\u2019t limit ourselves to government-controlled areas as we have to reach all the people in need,\u201d said Henry Chamberlain, head of security for WFP in Afghanistan. \u201cWe work with most Non-State Armed Groups (NSAG) that control territories and access.\u201d"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":370362,"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"The combination of data and analysis has allowed WFP to pioneer a new global acceptance policy in which communities are not considered as passive recipients of aid, but are asked to provide security guarantees and become stakeholders in programme delivery. This data-driven approach determines who to engage and negotiate with to build relationships and gain acceptance of the aid before it\u2019s delivered. This, in turn, has allowed WFP to move away from the conventional armed escorts approach, which relies on military force and deterrence and can cause humanitarian convoys to become a target for armed groups. This has lowered the risk of field missions and allowed WFP to deliver aid to areas that were too risky to supply in the past.\r\n\r\n\u201cFor field missions into NSAG-controlled areas, we can now clearly understand the geographical limits of those missions, the conflict hot spots and priority areas,\u201d Chamberlain said. \u201cThis allows us to formulate an engagement and communications plan for areas that are easier or that we must access. Viewing fleet truck routes provides incredible insight into where we have security and support. This has improved delivery in many areas and allowed us to avoid security incidents.\u201d\r\n<h3><strong>Gathering and Sharing the Current Context<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nIn Afghanistan, WFP delivers food primarily by truck given the mercurial weather and steep terrain. When there\u2019s a physical roadblock or a security access constraint, drivers on the ground can gather and report information about changing conditions. Fleet managers collect information from drivers and the whole organization benefits from this up-to-date information.\r\n\r\n\u201cThe online editing options make it easy for a non-GIS user to input information,\u201d said Lara Prades, head of the Geospatial Unit in the Emergency Division at the WFP headquarters.\u201c Warehouse operators quickly get it, because they have a GPS and GIS already in their brain and don\u2019t even need to see a map. Now, the system captures their knowledge.\u201d"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":370332,"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"The value of this information was quickly understood by different units within the organization and field offices across the country. WFP staff also share data and tools with other in-country partners, including UNICEF.\r\n\r\n\u201cThe tool has been instrumental in supporting operations and access negotiations in Afghanistan,\u201d said Robert Kasca, acting Country Director for WFP in Afghanistan. \u201cIn today\u2019s highly complex operations theater, we cannot imagine working without modern mapping tools anymore.\u201d\r\n\r\nThe new WFP system got its start four years ago to address the complex security challenges in Afghanistan. It has since evolved to incorporate many different aspects of WFP\u2019s mission, including its assets, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wfp.org\/cash-transfers\">cash transfer program<\/a>, food delivery and nutrition programmes.\r\n\r\n\u201cWe would typically build a dashboard for security alone,\u201d Prades said. \u201cBut this time, we brought all the datasets from different areas of WFP together.\u201d\r\n\r\nBy merging all crucial data into one place, WFP staff could operationalize information\u2014a move the head of security in Afghanistan considers a paradigm shift.\r\n\r\n\u201cAn information-led operation has not been the case in the past and has to be the future. This system provides the core information I need to make important security decisions, and I can\u2019t live without it. It would be like returning to running security operations blind\u2014just reacting,\u201d he said.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLearn more about how <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/en-us\/solutions\/industries\/sustainability\/humanitarian\">GIS is used to provide humanitarian assistance<\/a>."},{"acf_fc_layout":"sidebar","layout":"standard","image_reference":null,"image_reference_figure":"","spotlight_image":null,"section_title":"","spotlight_name":"","position":"Center","content":"<h2><strong>Maps Help Manage a Massive Global Supply Chain to Stop Hunger<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nIn 2019, WFP delivered assistance to 97 million people in 88 countries\u2014often in conflict zones. In 2019, the Food Procurement Unit bought 3.5 million metric tons of food, worth US $1.7 billion, with 81 percent sourced from developing countries.\r\n\r\nOn any given day, WFP coordinates an average of 5,600 trucks, 50 ocean shipments, 92 aircraft and a network of 650 warehouses to deliver assistance to people living in the most food insecure and inaccessible corners of the world. When no other means are available, the aviation service airlifts and airdrops vital assistance.\r\n\r\n\u201cWe produce reference maps with the transportation network for logistics staff to plan their routes and see what roads they can access with what trucks,\u201d said Thierry\u00a0Crevoisier, GIS officer\u00a0at WFP headquarters in Rome, Italy.\r\n\r\nCrevoisier and his team also create operation maps to show current food needs in the country, where the food is coming from and in what volumes.\r\n\r\nLogistics data can get technical and complicated. \u201cWhen managers need to plan for an operation, it\u2019s very helpful for them to visualize it on a map and look at it more simply,\u201d Crevoisier said.\r\n\r\nWith roughly two-thirds of WFP\u2019s life-saving food assistance going to people facing severe food crises, overwhelmingly as a result of conflict, the teams use geospatial tools to carefully assess current needs and conditions.\r\n\r\n\u201cThe first thing we have to answer is, how many people are in need of food assistance, and where they are located,\u201d Crevoisier said. \u201cThe next focus is to determine which areas we can access and how.\u201d\r\n\r\nWorkers on the ground receive information from colleagues using a the ArcGIS Survey123 mobile app. The organization\u2019s GIS collects all relevant information to show the current situation so teams can plan and reach people in need.\r\n\r\nAdvancements in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/en-us\/location-intelligence\">location intelligence<\/a> backed by GIS technology are helping WFP speed up access to the data they need to make decisions.\r\n\r\n\u201cWe\u2019ve worked a lot to automate the process, streamline workflows, standardize analysis and identify reliable and accurate data sources,\u201d Crevoisier said. \u201cAutomation has helped get these maps out as quickly as possible. It was all done manually before.\u201d","snippet":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"Below are maps related to food security that the WFP produces to share intelligence about areas of higher vulnerability. (Click on the map images to zoom in.)"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":372071,"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/about\/newsroom\/app\/uploads\/2020\/09\/AFG_ICA_SevereFoodInsecurity.png"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":372061,"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/about\/newsroom\/app\/uploads\/2020\/09\/AFG_ICA_LTPlanPerc.png"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":372051,"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/about\/newsroom\/app\/uploads\/2020\/09\/AFG_ICA_AddtnlPop.png"}],"references":null},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.9 (Yoast SEO v25.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>World Food Programme Guides Operations in Afghanistan with Online GIS Apps<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The World Food Programme implemented a system to collect 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