In-kind Poultry Packages Assistance in Qush Tepa district of Jowzjan Province IPC Analysis Mar-Nov 2022 indicates that High acute food insecurity persists across Afghanistan, as a combination of a collapsing economy and drought is depriving nearly 20 million Afghans of food, classified in Crisis or Emergency (IPC Phases 3 or 4), between Jun and Nov 2022, latest data shows. Among these are about 6.6 million people in Emergency (IPC 4) and 13 million in Crisis (IPC 3). A significant amount of Humanitarian Food Assistance (HFA) was provided, easing the food crisis for the most affected households. However, Afghanistan’s food security situation remains highly concerning exacerbated by economic decline and high food prices. The number of Afghans classified in Crisis (IPC 3) or worse is increasing or persisting in some areas. The current 2022 IPC analysis shows nearly half of Afghanistan’s population experiencing high levels of food insecurity. This is among the highest number of food-insecure people ever recorded in Afghanistan since the first IPC analysis in 2013, and makes it the world’s second-largest food crisis, in absolute terms. The complexity of the crisis in Afghanistan has reached a peak in the period covered by this analysis. The combined impact of a collapsing economy and multiple hazards have pushed the crisis to unprecedented levels, with people’s ability to access food constrained like never observed before.

The IPC also reveals that nearly 20 million people, representing half the country's population, are still experiencing high and critical levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phases 3 and above) between March and May 2022. Among these, about 6.6 million people are classified in Emergency (IPC Phase 4), characterized by large food gaps and/or employing emergency coping strategies to access food. The proportion of households falling into the “poor” category of the Food consumption score (FCS) nearly tripled from 2020 (14 per cent) to 2021 (close to 40 per cent) across all population groups. The food crisis severity has been compounded by the economic sanctions placed on Afghanistan following the change in de-facto government in August 2021.

Jowzjan province is classified under the IPC phase 4 in the IPC analysis for Jun-Nov 2022 it is among the provinces with the highest priority given the effect imposed by the drought. 20% of its population (32,499) from the Urban, and 20% (32,499) from the rural areas are classified in IPC phase 4 (Jun-Nov 2022. The FEWS NET Report for 2022 shows that an increase in food insecurity, acute malnutrition, and hunger-related mortality is expected through March, and levels are expected to be higher than normal due to the drought and increased food insecurity in the country. Worst affected households not receiving assistance are expected to engage in extreme coping and face Emergency (IPC Phase 4) outcomes, with particular concern for drought-affected areas, urban areas, and hard-to-reach highland areas where livelihood options are more limited. The drought conditions driven by La Niña, the current political crisis and conflict further compound the food security situation of a population which was already on the brink of a hunger crisis.

Through the proposed project, AWRO will provide in-kind Poultry Packages assistance to 680 HHs (4,760 individuals – based on average family size of 7) in Qush Tepa district of Jowzjan province classified in IPC Phase 3 and above, food insecure, and those anticipated to be affected by flood, dry spell and other risks, as per the IPC analysis 2022. Based on the FSAC cluster standards and the allocation strategy paper, every eligible HH will receive in-kind Poultry Packages each package will include the following items:
	Chicken (3 Roasters and 27 Hens) (30 x 6$ = 180$)
	Feed (150 KG) (150 x 0.55$ = 82.5$)
	Drinker (3 units) (3 x 2$ = 6$)
	Feeder (3 units) (3 x 2$ = 6$)
	Chicken Coop Support for Material (1 coop) (a x 120$ = 120$)

The total items per package will cost 395 USD.