Food (in-kind) Assistance for 4 Months to IPC Phase 3+ and Vulnerable Drought Affected Communities in Badghis Province. ltpgt2023/2024 continued to be an increasingly challenging year, economic crises and severe natural disasters caused a malnutrition crisis in the country, especially in the drought-affected areas. ltbrgtAccording to the IPC analysis issued in May - 2024, for the projection period. A total of 28.2% of the population on the country level consisting of 12.3M people are in IPC 3+ across the country, including nearly 2.3M in (IPC 4) “emergency” and 10M in IPC 3 “crises” in the period from May-October-24.ltbrgtBadghis with the highest poverty rate is one of the poorest provinces and affected by continuous years of drought in the past decade. ltbrgtAs of May 2024, 35% of Badghis population, consisting of 258,622 people are currently living in (IPC 3+), which is expected to increase from May 2024 onward due to recent flash floods, economic crises, and reduced HFA. ltbrgtDIEM Round 8 Feb 2024 in Badghis Rural Reports: FCS (46%) in borderline, RCSI (96%) in Medium coping, HDDS (36%) in 2-4, LCSI (73%) in Crises, RFI (IPC3+) 9.4 (+4.3) with livestock being deteriorated More than 50%, distress sales (due to the inability to feed animals), animal death, and pasture conditions are the main reasons affecting HHs negatively. Ref: (HRP 2024, IPC data, DIEM, Relief web, FewsNet).ltbrgtThe three consecutive years of drought and recent flash floods have harmfully affected agriculture production, washed out farming lands, reducing farmers' capacity to feed their families and livestock. Badghis with a total population of 738,918 is an IPC 3 province with 61K elderly, and 20K PWDs, 57% of the population falls below the official poverty line. ltbrgt91.4% reported not having enough food to eat in the last 30 days, 81.8% ate unhealthy, and 67.7% ate less than two meals per day.ltbrgtTo address the above-mentioned needs, this project is designed to provide FSAC standard food baskets for four months at 50% of in-kind food baskets (50 kg wheat flour, 4 kg pulses, 4 liters oil, and 0.5 kg salt to provide 1050 kcal/person/day) to 3,500 HHs in (Ab Qamari 700 HHs, Bala Murghab 1330 HHs, Ghormach 980 HHs, and Muqur 490 HHs) consisting of 24,500 individuals (3675 men, 3920 women, 7350 boys, and 9555 girls) including 3675 PWDs, 700 WHHs in targeted districts. The assistance will be provided for Four Months/Rounds which is allocated as per the needs and population of each targeted district. Ref (Pp Table in NA). In consultation with the FSAC cluster, OCHR will use the FSAC vulnerability guideline or scoring or scoring card to identify the most vulnerable 3,500 HHs selected for in-kind food assistance. For this project, OCHR will hire the project staff on a 60/40 percentage model, including 40% female staff from the local communities, particularly the Community Mobilizers, who will be hired as couples and will reach out to vulnerable female beneficiaries, and WHHs under this project. ltbrgtThe targeted locations are aligned with the FSAC cluster Prioritized districts for 2024 1st R.A. which are in high priority (Priority 3). OCHR having an oral confirmation from the local authorities (ANDMA, PRRD, and Provincial governor office) will convince them to allow female project staff (couples) in beneficiary screening, selection, ME, PDM, and in assistance/distribution..ltbrgtThe project is aligned with cluster priorities “Emergency Food Assistance (Cash and or in-kind) in Badghis province. And is also aligned with HNRP's (2024) Strategic Objectives SO-1: and SO-3. ltbrgtAnd is aligned with the 2024 HRP FSAC Cluster CO1, CO2, CO3, CO4: To ensure Communication and Community engagement will provide regular awareness to the project beneficiaries using tools and guidelines the AAP-TWG has developed. OCHR has also mainstreamed GBV and PSEA in all the proposed interventions.ltbrgtOCHR has an active presence and recently implemented Two projects including the CERF/CBPF-funded Emergency Winterization response project (26306) in Badghis, which this project will prove as complementary support further enhancing CERF/CBPF humanitarian efforts.ltbrgtlt/pgt