Safeguarding livestock production of rural households during the winter season 2023/24 in areas affected by war escalation in Ukraine. ltpgtThe Russian Federation's invasion of Ukraine is significantly impacting rural households' livelihoods, particularly in the livestock sector. The Kakhovka dam's destruction has reduced fishing activities, exposing local communities to vulnerabilities. ltspan style="font-size: 14px"gtThe war has severely impacted the livestock sector, with cattle and pig populations being the most affected. Access to animal feed, mineral supplements, shelter materials, veterinary supplies, medicines, and services is crucial to ensure livestock survival and prevent further destocking, which will have long-term implications.lt/spangtlt/pgtltpgtltbrgt
Under the proposed intervention, FAO plans to protect the productive livestock assets of 9 900 highly vulnerable households (25 480 persons) in rural areas of Kharkivska, Donetska, Zaporizka, and Khersonka oblasts through a combination of sectoral cash and voucher interventions to enable them to meet their immediate food needs and resume food production activities that had been disrupted by military activity and/or occupation. ltspan style="font-size: 14px"gtUsing an integrated approach for the livestock sector at the household level that combines a set of interventions to meet the specific needs of rural households and to protect livestock through the winter season of 2023-24. The approach will build on past and ongoing FAO interventions in Ukraine, including 2022 winterization activities, as part of which FAO supported 27 000 livestock-keeping households with winter season support (e.g. animal feed and vouchers for livestock shelter repairs) in seven affected oblasts: Sumska, Mykolaivska, Odeska, Kharkivska, Donetska, Dnipropetrovska, Zaporizka.lt/spangtlt/pgtltp style="" class=""gt ltbrgtFAO’s support will be channelled through a Cash+ approach, which includes sectoral cash for animal feed for all participants as well as the provision of vouchers for veterinary medicine and support (via voucher) for animal shelter rehabilitation. Through FAO’s approach, a total of 3 600 households (9 265 persons) will receive a comprehensive pack of livestock assistance comprises of (i) 140 USD value voucher for veterinary medicine, (ii) 150 USD sectoral cash for animal feed and (iii) 400 USD value voucher for animal shelter rehabilitation. Another 5600 households (14,414 persons) will receive 140 USD value voucher for veterinary medicine and 150 USD sectoral cash for animal feed. A final group of 700 households (1,801 persons) will receive only150 USD sectoral cash for animal feed.ltbrgt ltbrgtFurthermore, acting upon Post-delivery monitoring (PDM) findings from last winterization project implemented by FAO in 2022, using a participatory approach, a small group of the most vulnerable households (elderly, people with disabilities and female-headed HHs) shall be identified and assisted with an additional sectoral cash to cover external manpower livestock shelter rehabilitation services (120 USD value).ltbrgt ltbrgtThis intervention will not only contribute to enhancing food availability and access, thereby reducing acute food and nutrition insecurity and supporting the recovery of livelihoods, but will also ensure the safety of food products by preventing the spread of animal diseases.To raise the awareness of beneficiaries on animal health and promote cooperation with the State Veterinary Service, FAO will include in the emergency assistance package an information leaflet on raising of poultry, pig, and cows and basic biosecurity requirements for disease prevention.ltbrgt ltbrgt FAO is utilizing a voucher modality as an alternative to in-kind distribution because PDM findings have demonstrated that vouchers are often preferred by beneficiaries, owing to greater flexibility and choice, and can often be more cost-effective than in-kind distributions. Moreso, preliminary market assessments indicate a high-level of market functionality in rural areas of Kharkivska, Donetska, Zaporizka, and Khersonka oblasts and a wide diversity of needs among different rural households. ltbrgt ltbrgtTargeting this project will focus on highly conflict-affected oblasts and areas recovering from occupation.lt/pgt