Cash for food assistance for IPC phase 3 and 4 people in Charsadda and Dawlatyar districts of Ghor province According to IPC 2022 report, a staggering 19.7 million people (47 per cent of the population) continue to be in crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity (IPC 3+). Of these, 6.6 million people are at emergency levels of food insecurity (IPC 4), one of the highest numbers globally. 2022 saw another year of poor economic conditions, high food and agriculture inputs prices, below average precipitation, resulting in reduced wheat harvests. Coupled with atypical flash floods destroying agricultural land and increased incidences of animal diseases, and earthquake. 

Ghor is one of the provinces with highest number and percentage of people in IPC phase 3 and above. For the first time since the introduction of IPC in Afghanistan, Catastrophe conditions (IPC Phase 5) were detected for 20,000 people in the province of Ghor, one of the most remote, vulnerable provinces of Afghanistan and immediate action is needed to prevent further deterioration. 50% of people in Ghor province are in IPC phase 3 and above with 25% in phase 4 and some 20,000 people in IPC phase 5. The food security and agriculture outlook indicate a further deteriorating trend in Ghor. Harsh winters limiting access, increased incidences of livestock disease, reduced pastures will further limit food availability and erode livelihoods of those who rely on agriculture and livestock as their primary productive assets of people in Ghor province. Key risks for Ghor province for the winter ahead of us include widespread severe hunger, high morbidity, and mortality rates, limited access due to harsh winter because it’s a mountainous area, livestock diseases, drought and high food prices. The winter, which coincides with the lean season, is likely a highest risk period for famine-like conditions in more districts of Ghor if assistance is not provided in time.

In line with FSAC priorities, BARAN proposes to provide 950 households (6650 individuals) in Charsadda and Dawlatyar of Ghor province with cash for food assistance. Every targeted household will receive 432 USD in total in line with FSAC guidelines. The cash is aimed to supplement households purchasing food and sustain them over a period of 6 months. The cash assistance will be distributed in 3 instalments and every household will receive 144 USD in each installment.

Cash assistance has been envisaged as unconditional and unrestricted. The decision has been based on identification of food as the main household priority. Moreover, cash has been identified by target populations as the preferred assistance modality. Based on BARAN’s field information, markets are accessible and safe for both males and females. Furthermore, cash assistance will be carried out through the Hawala system, identified as the most viable and widely spread solution for remote areas such as Ghor. The present response priorities are in line with BARAN’s past experience and capability, and represent a scale up of relief and winterization emergency activities in the target area. 

BARAN will build and maintain close coordination with coordination bodies (e.g., CVWG), relevant UN agencies, NGOs and government line departments of the province, national amp regional cluster and other stakeholders as well as community for the smooth implementation of the project. As a cross-cutting matter in this assignment, BARAN will be accountable to the people it serves by providing information which people want and ways to give feedback including making a complaint. BARAN will also consider the minimum gender marker code within the proposed project. We will ensure that gender equality and gender awareness activities are mainstreamed within the scope of the project. Accordingly, women, men, boys, and girls of all ages including the people with disability will benefit equally from the proposed interventions.