Lifesaving Winter Cash-for-Food Assistance in Sange Takht District of Daikundi Province ltpgtThe proposed intervention will provide 22,136 individuals (approximately 3162 households) through blanket coverage of IPC3 and IPC4 communities in Sange Takht district in Daikundi province with cash-based food assistance. CRS will adhere to the Joint Operating Procedures throughout this program.

ltbrgtlt/pgtltpgtltbgtJustificationlt/bgt: According to the Q2 WFP Afghanistan Food Security Update, 87% of people in Afghanistan experience inadequate food consumption, with households resorting to negative consumption-based coping strategies to meet their immediate food and household needs. Daikundi province, considered IPC Phase 3, faces a high degree of food insecurity, and Sange Takht district in particular has been ranked high-priority inter-sectorally, and for food security specifically, in the ICCT Winter Prioritization Strategy 2023. lt/pgtltpgtltbgtModality name:lt/bgt Cash for FoodltbrgtltbgtAmount and durationlt/bgt: 50% of $75 for three monthsltbrgtltbgtCalculation: lt/bgtCRS will distribute 50% ration of the $75 FSAC food basket per 7-person family for 3 months, totaling $112.50 USD. Actual transfer value will be adjusted based on household size. CRS' previous assessment under Cash Assistance projects in different locations of Bamiyan, Daykundi and Ghor showed that there is market access within the communities and normally people transport food items. They are not paying for transportation, therefore no additional amount will be provided on top of the food basket. CRS's rapid assessement in Sange Takht in September 2023 also confirmed that both men and women are able to and feel safe travelling to markets.ltbrgtltbgtCurrency of transfer: lt/bgtAFN at prevailing exchange rateltbrgtltbgtRestriction:lt/bgt Restricted to food needs. CRS will promote the use of cash assistance to cover essential food needs. Use of assistance will be monitored through PDM surveys 3-4 weeks following the distribution.ltbrgtltbgtFSP Type: lt/bgtHawala/MSP with post-paid contractltbrgtltbgtCash delivery mechanism:lt/bgt Cash in hand/envelope. The Hawala will provide cash in hand to participants.ltbrgtltbgtNumber of installments: lt/bgtOne. All households will receive a one-time transfer of assistance in late November or early December 2023 pending an October 8 start date and receipt of MOUs. CRS proposes a single transfer of assistance in light of the urgency of delivering assistance and to avoid delays caused by winter weather. Sange Takht is affected by harsh winters, severe cold, ice and snowy conditions. The terrain in Sange Takht is mountainous and roads are poor (unpaved and susceptible to avalanches). If roads are icy or blocked by avalanches, which happens frequently in winter months starting in December, it could lead to delays in distribution of a 2nd transfer, as well as create unsafe conditions for participants to travel to markets to utilize assistance. Additionally, households are used to handling this amount of cash, which is approximately the price of two sheep. In CRS’s 2022 AHF-funded emergency food assistance project in Ashterlay, a single transfer of $160 covering 4 months of food assistance was provided and PDM results showed that 97% of participants reported using the cash as intended to purchase food, and that no protection or safety incidents were reported. In CRS’s 2023 AHF-funded project in Bamyan and Panjab districts of Bamyan province, each household will receive two transfers valued at $216 each, each covering 3 months of assistance PDMs indicate that 98% of participants have used the first transfer to buy food. ltbgtPlease see annex for FSAC support for a one-distribution approach in the proposed project in Sange Takht.lt/bgtltbrgtlt/pgtltpgt


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