Improving the food and nutrition security of affected vulnerable communities of Sheberghan District of Jawzjan Province, Afghanistan Latest data of the current March 2022 IPC acute food insecurity analysis for Afghanistan (May 2022), reports high acute food insecurity across Afghanistan. A combination of a collapsing economy and drought are depriving nearly 20 million Afghans of food, classified in Crisis or Emergency (IPC Phases 3 or 4), between March and May 2022 (the lean season). According to the IPC in Jawzjan urban area 81,247 people, around 50% are in IPC Phase 3 and higher. According to the Inter-Sector Spring Prioritization from March 2022 by the Inter-Cluster Coordination Team (ICCT) the Food security and agriculture priority of the district of Sheberghan, targeted by this intervention, rates high with 3.
In order to address the increased food and nutrition security risks and avoid the most vulnerable households to further resort to negative coping strategies, Welthungerhilfe (WHH) will provide timely lifesaving food assistance to 1,256 households (8,793 individuals) of the most vulnerable families in Sheberghan district of Jawzjan province with food assistance through unconditional -unrestricted cash distributions for food assistance, following a market analysis that indicates that markets are accessible, functional and food and non-food items are available. 

Each household will receive 6 months cash distribution, calculated at 75% of the FSAC standard cash basket. This is equivalent of $60 USD per month, for a total of $360 USD ($60*6 months=$360 USD) cash for food assistance over 6 months. The amount will be provided in cash, in AFN, through the hawala system. Over 6 months, the beneficiaries will receive 3 installments, 2 months apart, valued at $120 USD each.

WHH will distribute cash, following its own Cash and Voucher SOPs, which are currently under revision. WHH has a clear guidance on relevant steps required in country throughout the project cycle and specific guidance for different cash and voucher modalities as well as procedures in place, when using cash, e-cash, vouchers, and e-vouchers for emergency basic needs assistance in Afghanistan. In addition to strictly following the SOPs, WHH will select, based on its guidelines and TORs, a financial service provider. With adequate personnel to meet agreed upon caseloads and with their own security arrangements, the financial service provider will provide the transport of the cash to the distribution point and prepare the distribution site.  WHH will register and verify participant details, mobilize project participants, and sensitize local leadership structures on the activity before the actual distributions. WHH will conduct the distribution of cash, together with the financial service provider and relevant community members and elders. Payment will be done individually, and the exact amount of denomination given to each registered project participant. The project participant list is managed and controlled in line with WHH's data protection policy. WHH staff will on the distribution site during the whole distribution to verify participant details, ensure crowd control, COVID19 preventive measures and act as observer of the entire process. This approach has been successfully used in the past by WHH and therefore was identified as the best delivery mechanism. 

WHH will consult the local Project participant Selection Committees (BSC) formed by community leaders, and at the same time, conduct sound independent verification surveys.  In addition, the setup of the CRM will allow the timely identification of inclusion and exclusion errors. The project information is shared beforehand during community mobilization steps to explain the project. This includes explanation about criteria and targeting process as well as the CRM process. If community members have any have feedback or complaints to submit, they will either be re-directed to the official CRM channels (hotlines) or WHH staff can register their complaints in person.