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Mercy Corps

Port au Prince
February, 2010

On January 12, 2010, an earthquake of 7.0 magnitude hit the island of Haiti, approximately 25 km west of Port au Prince. Approximately 692,000 people have been displaced in Port au Prince, many of whom are living in spontaneous urban camps. This EMMA study was conducted about four weeks after the earthquake, focusing on the market system for rice, Haiti's staple food, and the earthquake-affected population in Port-au-Prince. To help restore rice markets while meeting the affected population's food needs, this report recommends ensuring transparency and communication between market actors and the humanitarian community; enhancing market-place security; targeted, diversified food distribution; monitoring market recovery and potential bottlenecks; simultaneous Cash-for-Work and Food-for-Work programs; and unconditional cash transfers to households and most affected market chain actors, particularly small wholesalers.

Report authors: 
not specified
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On January 12, 2010, an earthquake of 7.0 magnitude hit the island of Haiti, approximately 25 km west of Port au Prince. Up to 230,000 people died country-wide in the quake, and another 300,000 were injured. 180,000 to 300,000 households in Port-au-Prince (900,000 to 1.5 million persons) are estimated to have become IDPs as a result of housing destruction. This EMMA study focused on the market system for corrugated galvanized iron, a key material for housing reconstruction. To re-establish a flow along the supply chain ensuring income opportunities and CGI availability at all levels, a multifaceted approach that integrates the following elements is recommended: CGI vouchers to vulnerable households, redeemable at neighborhood hardware retailers; distribution of building material to very vulnerable HH who have limited mobility; cash grants for neighborhood retailers to rehabilitate shops and re-start business activities; facilitating small retailers' access to stocks; and advocating on behalf of market-based interventions to the international community.

Report authors: 
not specified
Download Report (260.77 KB pdf)

On January 12, 2010, an earthquake of 7.0 magnitude hit the island of Haiti, approximately 25 km west of Port au Prince. Up to 230,000 people died country-wide in the quake, and another 300,000 were injured. Approximately 800,000 have been displaced in Port au Prince, many of whom are living in spontaneous urban camps. This EMMA study focused on the construction labor market system in Port-au-Prince. Recommendations for demand-side responses include improving communication to the public on government support for rubble removal,property rights, building permits and zoning; improving access to credit for construction for both households and businesses; and building social housing. Supply-side responses recommended include NGO-run short-term skills trainings targeting future masons, carpenters and electricians; physical rehabilitation of training institutions; capacity building of management, faculty, and staff of training institutions; and organizing apprenticeships and facilitation of trainees' entry into the market. Finally, the report recommends a number of interventions intended to improve job placement services and improving construction-related laws and regulations.

Report authors: 
not specified
Download Report (1.16 MB pdf)

On January 12, 2010, an earthquake of 7.0 magnitude hit the island of Haiti, approximately 25 km west of Port au Prince. Up to 230,000 people died country-wide in the quake, and another 300,000 were injured. Approximately 800,000 have been displaced in Port au Prince, many of whom are living in spontaneous urban camps. This EMMA study focused on the construction labor market system in Port-au-Prince. Recommendations for demand-side responses include improving communication to the public on government support for rubble removal,property rights, building permits and zoning; improving access to credit for construction for both households and businesses; and building social housing. Supply-side responses recommended include NGO-run short-term skills trainings targeting future masons, carpenters and electricians; physical rehabilitation of training institutions; capacity building of management, faculty, and staff of training institutions; and organizing apprenticeships and facilitation of trainees' entry into the market. Finally, the report recommends a number of interventions intended to improve job placement services and improving construction-related laws and regulations.

Report authors: 
not specified
Download Report (180.35 KB pdf)

Port-au-Prince
February, 2010

On January 12, 2010, an earthquake of 7.0 magnitude hit the island of Haiti, approximately 25 km west of Port au Prince. Up to 230,000 people died country-wide in the quake, and another 300,000 were injured. Approximately 800,000 have been displaced in Port au Prince, many of whom are living in spontaneous urban camps. This EMMA study focused on the beans market system in Port-au-Prince. It recommends stimulating demand through cash transfers or vouchers, repairing the port to allow for trade, implementing cash for work projects to repair infrastructure and damaged roads, paying trader debts, transferring cash to farmers for seed purchase and increasing market security. Only if programs to restore the market chain fail should food aid be considered.

Report authors: 
not specified
Download Report (230.97 KB pdf)

Port au Prince
February, 2010

On January 12, 2010, an earthquake of 7.0 magnitude hit the island of Haiti, approximately 25 km west of Port au Prince. Up to 230,000 people died country-wide in the quake, and another 300,000 were injured. Approximately 800,000 have been displaced in Port au Prince, many of whom are living in spontaneous urban camps. This EMMA study focused on the beans market system in Port-au-Prince. It recommends stimulating demand through cash transfers or vouchers, repairing the port to allow for trade, implementing cash for work projects to repair infrastructure and damaged roads, paying trader debts, transferring cash to farmers for seed purchase and increasing market security. Only if programs to restore the market chain fail should food aid be considered.

Report authors: 
not specified
Download Report (155.47 KB pdf)

This assessment analyzes the stresses placed on the crucial market systems of wheat flour and tomatoes in eastern Libya, following the rise of civil conflict in mid-February 2011. The physical infrastructure and human capital that supports and operates the wheat market system remains entirely functional, while the tomato market system has been affected significantly. Many conflict‐related problems in the tomato market system lend themselves to interventions with which international organizations are familiar: provision of input vouchers, cash for work, crop insurance and debt relief. However, wheat flour has a much greater bearing on food security in eastern Libya than tomatoes. The inability to import wheat is the defining problem affecting the market system, but is caused by political and legal issues beyond the traditional purview of most humanitarian organizations.

Report authors: 
Not specified
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Wajir County
August, 2011

The Horn of Africa is experiencing the most severe food crisis in the world today following two consecutive seasons of significantly below-average rainfall. Crops have failed, substantial livestock mortality has occurred and local cereal prices are extremely high. In Kenya's northern and north-eastern districts, there are currently 2.4 million people needing food assistance, and this number is expected to increase. Mercy Corps conducted this EMMA assessment in August 2011 on three market systems that are critical to food security in Wajir - rice, maize and beans. For the immediate response, this report recommends vouchers and cash transfers for households to increase their access to food. Increased purchasing power will allow households to access food, repay debts and rebuild local credit systems, and vouchers for households and traders can improve dietary diversity by increasing supplies of milk, fruits, and vegetables. For mid-term interventions, this report recommends rebuilding productive assets in order to strengthen and diversify local livelihoods.

Report authors: 
Not specified
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Osh and Jalal-Abad oblasts
July, 2010

In June 2010, the Central Asian state of Kyrgyzstan experienced ethnic violence and rapid displacement in the southern districts bordering Uzbekistan following the ousting of the country's president in April. This EMMA assessment focused on early recovery needs for four selected critical markets, including cement, which is one of the most important building materials needed for reconstruction of homes and businesses damaged or destroyed in June. Following the crisis, the cement market system is still functioning, but at reduced capacity. This report concludes that the cement market system is healthy enough to not warrant direct intervention from the international community. It is therefore recommended that cement used in reconstruction be of domestic origin and purchased in the Kyrgyz market. The shelter cluster and other coordinating bodies are encouraged to provide strategic oversight and policy parameters for the purchasing of cement for reconstruction anticipated in the coming months.

Report authors: 
Benjamin Barrows, Eugenia Gusev
Download Report (652.32 KB pdf)

In June 2010, the Central Asian state of Kyrgyzstan experienced ethnic violence and rapid displacement in the southern districts bordering Uzbekistan following the ousting of the country's president in April. This EMMA assessment focused on early recovery needs for four selected critical markets, including corrugated galvanized iron (CGI), which is one of the most important building materials needed for reconstruction of homes and businesses damaged or destroyed in June. Following the crisis, the CGI market system is still functioning, but at reduced capacity. This report concludes that the CGI market system is healthy enough to not warrant direct intervention from the international community. This report recommends that NGOs dealing with shelter to identify processors and retailers able to absorb increased demand. It is recommended that CGI used in reconstruction be of domestic origin and purchased in the Kyrgyz market. The shelter cluster and other coordinating bodies are encouraged to provide strategic oversight and policy parameters for the purchasing of CGI for reconstruction anticipated in the coming months.

Report authors: 
Benjamin Barrows and Eugenia Gusev
Download Report (640.85 KB pdf)

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