WFP Dominican Republic Country Brief October 2025 – ReliefWeb

Report on Strengthening Shock-Responsive Social Protection in the Dominican Republic through SDG-Aligned Initiatives

Strategic Partnerships for Institutional Strengthening (SDG 16, SDG 17)

A multi-stakeholder partnership has been formalized to enhance disaster risk governance and build effective, accountable institutions in the Dominican Republic, directly contributing to Sustainable Development Goals 16 and 17.

• A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Social Development Directorate of Supérate (DDSS) to embed anticipatory action within national social protection systems.
• This collaboration is supported by a US$ 600,000 investment from the host government, demonstrating national ownership and commitment to the goals.
• A Technical Working Group on Anticipatory Action for Social Protection was established to advance these objectives. Key participants include:
  1. World Food Programme (WFP)
  2. Social Development Directorate of Supérate (DDSS)
  3. Single Beneficiary System (SIUBEN)
  4. Dominican Institute of Meteorology (INDOMET)
• The group’s initial focus is on designing an activation protocol for hurricane-triggered early response, defining institutional roles and enhancing coordination with national risk governance entities like the Emergency Operations Center (COE).

Advancing Climate Action and Community Resilience (SDG 11, SDG 13)

Initiatives are underway to strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards, aligning with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

• The ANACAONA system—an Automated System for Weather Analysis and Issuance of Operational Alerts developed with funding from DG-ECHO—was utilized during Tropical Storm and Hurricane Melissa.
• This geospatial intelligence platform provided real-time monitoring to support decision-making for national and local institutions, reinforcing the link between adaptive social protection and emergency response.
• The system enabled the activation of preparedness measures, demonstrating a proactive approach to making communities more resilient to climate shocks.

Protecting Vulnerable Populations and Reducing Inequalities (SDG 1, SDG 2, SDG 10)

The project prioritizes the protection of vulnerable populations from climate shocks, contributing to the goals of No Poverty (SDG 1), Zero Hunger (SDG 2), and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10).

• During a recent weather event, WFP activated the readiness phase for anticipatory actions targeting over 4,000 households in the Yaque del Norte watershed.
• A contingency agreement was established to facilitate the rapid deployment of food assistance to up to 6,000 families, safeguarding them against food insecurity in a crisis.
• In line with the principle of “leaving no one behind,” WFP coordinated with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to design support strategies for populations outside the formal social protection system, directly addressing inequalities in emergency response.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 1: No Poverty – The article focuses on strengthening social protection systems to protect vulnerable populations from shocks, which is central to poverty reduction and building resilience.
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger – The World Food Programme’s (WFP) role and the establishment of a contingency agreement for the rapid deployment of food assistance directly address food security in emergencies.
• SDG 13: Climate Action – The entire initiative is a response to climate-related hazards, specifically tropical storms and hurricanes, aiming to enhance adaptive capacity and resilience.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – The article highlights extensive collaboration between a UN agency (WFP), national government bodies (DDSS, SIUBEN, INDOMET, COE), and other international partners (DG-ECHO, UNHCR) to achieve these goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 1.3: Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all. The article details the formalization of a collaboration between WFP and the Social Development Directorate of Supérate (DDSS) to “strengthen shock responsive social protection in the Dominican Republic” and design support for “populations outside the social protection system.”
2. Target 1.5: By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters. The project’s aim to embed “anticipatory action within national systems” to protect vulnerable populations from hurricanes is a direct effort to build resilience and reduce vulnerability to climate-related disasters.
3. Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people… to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round. The article mentions a “contingency agreement was established to enable the rapid deployment of food assistance to up to 6,000 families,” which is a direct measure to ensure food access during an emergency.
4. Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. The development and use of “ANACAONA —the Automated System for Weather Analysis and Issuance of Operational Alerts—” and the design of an “activation protocol for hurricane-triggered early response” are concrete examples of strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate hazards.
5. Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships. The article is a case study of this target, describing a partnership involving WFP, DDSS, SIUBEN, INDOMET, COE, SINI, UNHCR, and funding from DG-ECHO, all working together on a shared goal.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Implied Indicator for Target 1.3: Proportion of population covered by social protection systems. The article implies a focus on this by not only strengthening the existing system but also coordinating with UNHCR to “design support strategies for populations outside the social protection system,” indicating an effort to increase coverage.
2. Implied Indicator for Target 1.5 & 13.1: Number of countries that have national and local disaster risk reduction strategies. The article describes the creation of such a strategy through the “joint project aimed at embedding anticipatory action within national systems” and the development of an “activation protocol for hurricane-triggered early response,” which are key components of a national disaster risk reduction strategy.
3. Implied Indicator for Target 2.1: Prevalence of severe food insecurity. The activation of “readiness phase for anticipatory actions for over 4,000 households” and the contingency plan for “food assistance to up to 6,000 families” are direct measures intended to prevent food insecurity in the aftermath of a disaster.
4. Implied Indicator for Target 17.16: Number of countries reporting progress in multi-stakeholder development effectiveness monitoring frameworks. The formal “Memorandum of Understanding” and the establishment of the “Technical Working Group on Anticipatory Action” are mechanisms that formalize and allow for the monitoring of this multi-stakeholder partnership. The $600K host government investment is a measurable financial commitment to the partnership.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: reliefweb.int