EOIs: Emergency Food Assistance for Displaced Communities (Colombia)

Deadline: 10-Jun-2026

The World Food Programme (WFP) is seeking cooperating partners to implement emergency food assistance interventions for conflict-affected and displaced communities in Ciénaga, Magdalena, Colombia. The initiative aims to improve food security, support vulnerable households, strengthen resilience, and provide three months of food assistance to families impacted by armed conflict and displacement.

Overview

The emergency food assistance initiative launched by the World Food Programme focuses on addressing food insecurity among vulnerable populations affected by displacement, armed conflict, and livelihood disruptions in the municipality of Ciénaga.

The program seeks to ensure access to nutritious food, stabilize household consumption, support recovery efforts, and strengthen food and nutrition security for affected communities. Through a call for expressions of interest, WFP aims to identify a qualified cooperating partner capable of managing the logistics, storage, transportation, and distribution of food assistance in remote rural areas.

Program Details

• Program: Emergency Food Assistance Intervention
• Lead Organization: World Food Programme (WFP)
• Location: Ciénaga
• Department: Magdalena Department
• Country: Colombia
• Target Population: Conflict-affected and displaced households
• Assistance Type: Food basket distribution
• Distribution Period: Three consecutive months
• Implementation Model: Partnership with a Cooperating Partner

Background and Humanitarian Context

Between January and February 2026, armed clashes and insecurity caused the displacement of approximately:

• 1,137 individuals
• 407 households

The affected communities include:

• La Secreta
• La Tigra
• La Mojana
• Cerro Azul

Although many families have returned to their communities, significant humanitarian needs remain. Continued insecurity, movement restrictions, limited market access, and disruptions to livelihoods have reduced household income and increased vulnerability to food insecurity.

The intervention aims to address these immediate challenges while supporting broader recovery and resilience-building efforts.

Key Focus Areas

The initiative supports activities related to:

• Emergency food assistance
• Food security
• Nutritional security
• Humanitarian response
• Livelihood recovery
• Community resilience
• Displacement response
• Conflict-affected populations
• Access to nutritious diets
• Rural food assistance logistics
• Protection-sensitive humanitarian programming
• Long-term food and nutrition security

Program Objectives

The initiative seeks to:

• Improve food security among vulnerable households.
• Provide access to nutritious and diverse food.
• Reduce food consumption gaps.
• Support early recovery of livelihoods.
• Strengthen resilience to future shocks.
• Address the humanitarian impacts of displacement.
• Improve nutritional outcomes.
• Support institutional protection mechanisms.
• Promote long-term food and nutrition security.

Target Beneficiaries

The intervention specifically targets:

• Families affected by armed conflict.
• Recently displaced households.
• Returnee populations.
• Vulnerable rural communities.
• Households facing food insecurity.
• Communities with limited livelihood opportunities.
• Families living in hard-to-reach rural areas.

The primary beneficiaries are households located in communities that experienced displacement and ongoing humanitarian challenges due to conflict.

Food Assistance Package

WFP plans to provide food assistance through food basket distributions.

Key features include:

• Distribution period of three consecutive months.
• Food baskets containing seven basic food products.
• Assistance designed to meet immediate food needs.
• Support for vulnerable families experiencing food insecurity.

The food baskets aim to stabilize household consumption and reduce negative coping mechanisms associated with food shortages.

Role of the Cooperating Partner

The selected cooperating partner will play a central role in implementing the intervention.

Core responsibilities include:

Food Supply Management

• Receive food commodities from WFP.
• Maintain custody of food supplies until final delivery.
• Ensure proper storage and handling.

Logistics and Transportation

• Organize packaging and dispatch operations.
• Manage transportation to distribution sites.
• Ensure compliance with national transportation regulations.

Distribution Operations

• Conduct food distributions according to WFP standards.
• Coordinate distribution schedules.
• Ensure safe and efficient delivery processes.

Inventory and Reporting

• Manage inventory systems.
• Track stock movement.
• Prepare beneficiary and distribution reports.

Community Coordination

• Coordinate with community leaders.
• Communicate operational updates.
• Support local engagement activities.

Protection and Risk Management

• Implement protection measures during distributions.
• Develop contingency plans for operational challenges.
• Support safe access to assistance for beneficiaries.

Beneficiary Characterization

• Conduct household assessments.
• Verify beneficiary information.
• Apply WFP targeting and registration guidelines.

Expected Results

The intervention is expected to achieve:

• Delivery of food baskets to targeted households.
• Improved household food consumption.
• Reduced vulnerability to food insecurity.
• Enhanced access to nutritious food.
• Strengthened humanitarian response capacity.
• Improved support for conflict-affected communities.
• Greater resilience among vulnerable households.
• Better protection and assistance mechanisms.

Who Is Eligible to Apply?

The call for expressions of interest is intended for organizations capable of implementing humanitarian food assistance programs.

Potential applicants may include:

• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
• Humanitarian organizations
• Community-based organizations
• Development organizations
• Non-profit entities
• Organizations with food assistance experience
• Partners with logistics and supply chain expertise

Applicants should demonstrate experience in:

• Food assistance delivery
• Humanitarian operations
• Logistics management
• Rural program implementation
• Community engagement
• Inventory control and reporting

How the Program Works

Step 1: Expression of Interest Submission

Interested organizations submit an expression of interest outlining their qualifications and implementation capacity.

Step 2: Evaluation Process

WFP assesses applicants based on operational experience, technical capacity, logistics expertise, and ability to comply with program requirements.

Step 3: Partner Selection

A qualified cooperating partner is selected to implement the intervention.

Step 4: Operational Planning

The selected partner develops implementation plans, logistics arrangements, and contingency measures.

Step 5: Beneficiary Identification

Households are characterized and verified according to WFP guidelines.

Step 6: Food Distribution

Food baskets are delivered to eligible households over the three-month intervention period.

Step 7: Monitoring and Reporting

The cooperating partner monitors implementation, tracks results, and reports progress to WFP.

Why This Initiative Matters

Conflict-induced displacement continues to create severe food security challenges in many rural areas of Colombia.

This intervention helps:

• Prevent worsening food insecurity.
• Protect vulnerable populations.
• Support recovery after displacement.
• Improve access to nutritious food.
• Strengthen community resilience.
• Maintain humanitarian assistance in remote areas.
• Reduce vulnerability among affected families.
• Support long-term recovery and stabilization efforts.

Tips for a Strong Expression of Interest

• Demonstrate experience in humanitarian food assistance.
• Highlight logistics and supply chain capabilities.
• Provide evidence of operations in remote rural areas.
• Show strong community engagement experience.
• Explain inventory management systems.
• Demonstrate compliance with humanitarian standards.
• Present risk management and contingency planning capacity.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Providing incomplete organizational information.
• Failing to demonstrate logistics expertise.
• Limited experience in food distribution programs.
• Weak monitoring and reporting systems.
• Lack of contingency planning.
• Insufficient protection and safeguarding measures.
• Poor understanding of humanitarian operational standards.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the objective of this WFP initiative?

The program aims to provide emergency food assistance to conflict-affected and displaced households while improving food and nutrition security.

Where will the intervention take place?

The project will be implemented in the municipality of Ciénaga in Magdalena Department, Colombia.

How many people are expected to benefit?

The intervention targets approximately 1,137 individuals from 407 households affected by displacement and armed conflict.

What type of assistance will be provided?

Eligible households will receive food baskets containing seven basic food products for three consecutive months.

Who can apply as a cooperating partner?

Organizations with experience in humanitarian response, food assistance, logistics, and community-based operations may apply.

What are the main responsibilities of the cooperating partner?

Responsibilities include storage, transportation, packaging, distribution, inventory management, beneficiary reporting, and coordination with communities and WFP.

Why is this intervention needed?

Although displaced families have returned to their communities, food insecurity, livelihood disruptions, movement restrictions, and humanitarian needs remain significant.

Conclusion

The WFP Emergency Food Assistance Program in Ciénaga, Magdalena represents an important humanitarian response to the ongoing impacts of displacement and armed conflict in Colombia. Through strategic partnerships and targeted food assistance, the initiative seeks to improve food security, protect vulnerable households, strengthen resilience, and support the recovery of communities facing prolonged humanitarian challenges.

For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.