IFAD/ BFFS Eritrea  The JP works in some of the poorest countries in Africa

The Joint Programme works in the poorest countries in Africa, focusing on areas of high food insecurity and malnutrition.

A country or region is selected on the basis of the following criteria:

• high food insecurity and incidence of malnutrition
• low Human Development Index, which measures life expectancy, literacy, educational attainment and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita
• a post-conflict or crisis situation
• areas not reached by other development aid programmes
• good governance over the previous ten years
• partner countries of Belgium

An example. Moma district in Mozambique is one area in which the JP has chosen to operate. The district has 52,000 inhabitants, but only one poorly equipped hospital with two medical doctors. Medication to combat malaria, diarrhoea, HIV/AIDS and other diseases is rarely available. Less than 1 per cent of the population has improved sanitary facilities, and more than 50 per cent has no access to clean drinking water. Only 40 per cent of children attend primary school, and the teacher-pupil ratio is 1:120. Almost no other donors are active in the district.