Food (cash) assistance in the Daymirdad, Hesa-e-Awal-e-Behsud, and Jalriz districts of Wardak Province Afghanistan has been going through one of the hardest catastrophes in its history. Droughts, the collapse of the Afghanistan government by the Taliban, and the freezing of Afghanistan’s assets by the U.S have hit the Afghan population hard. According to a report by UNDP stating “According to the appraisal, this combination of factors could cause the baseline poverty rate, now at 72 percent “and as well as this report expresses that 97 percent of the population is at risk of sinking below the poverty line. Likewise, the IPC has also highlighted the unprecedented food insecurity crisis in Afghanistan. However, Afghanistan's food security situation remains highly concerning, exacerbated by economic decline and high food prices, with 38% of the population targeted for Humanitarian Food Assistance (HFA), nearly 20 million people, representing half the country's population, are still experiencing high and critical levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 and above) between March and May 2022 and projection for June-November 2022. According to the WFP, Afghanistan’s total population is 41.8m, with around 18.9 Million people having acute food insecurity, and nearly 6 million people facing an emergency level of food insecurity.
Economic decline, conflict, and drought have been the major drivers of this crisis. These driving factors have affected the population of Wardak province too indicating that the Wardak province is in the IPC phase 3,4 (45 percent of the Population is estimated to be food insecure. In reference to the 2021 AHF 3rd Reserve Allocation and to the HRP 2022 Strategic Objective 1 (SO1): Lives are saved in the areas of highest need, STARS will target three districts – Daymirdad, Hesa-e-Awal-e-Behsoud, and Jalrez of Wardak province, which suffered more due to severe drought and disasters, with a particular target group of those families headed by women hosting children.

The proposed project will directly benefit 940 households, of which 6581 individuals direct beneficiaries will be reached. STARS will undertake a rapid household survey on a community level to identify the target households. STARS will provide food assistance in form of cash to cover the food needs of the most vulnerable and affected food-insecure households in the target area through a cash transfer modality. The proposed project will cover 6581 individuals, in Daymirdad, Hesa-e-Awal-e-Behsud, and individuals in Jalrez districts. The beneficiary’s breakdown has been calculated based on provincial statistics and household data. The assistance will be distributed in six rounds, where each household will receive a 72 USD which make almost 70% of the full food package six times. Each HH will receive USD 72 monthly which become a total of USD 432 for  the six-round distribution in six months. This assistance will help the IPC Phase 4 located households secure their minimum food security packages for at least six months. STARS' presence in Wardak Province has been for so long. 

Based on the World Bank report " Prices for basic household goods, including food and fuel, increased substantially". Our information from the local market indicates that local markets are functional across the provinces, food items are available in local markets, and the report of the World Bank for the price increases is the ground fact. Therefore, food assistance in form of cash is the most appropriate model in emergency situations. Cash assistance is preferred because it will bring the local markets into motion and will purchase those food items that they really need. 
STARS will be distributing the cash for food in six rounds. In each round 72 USD will be given to every household, STARS will use the HAWALA system as Banking system-imposed limitations. A spot-check at the end of the survey for the identification of beneficiaries will be conducted to ensure accountability and transparency. The STARS monitoring team will be present at sites while the cash is district.